Maximum Power Transfer in Electromagnetic Vibration Energy Harvesters driven by Non-Sinusoidal Vibrations

In this paper, the problem of the Maximum Power Extraction is discussed with reference to Resonant Electromagnetic Vibration Energy Harvesters driven by non-sinusoidal vibrations. It is well known that, in order to maximize the harvested power in case of purely sinusoidal vibrations, the Maximum Power Transfer Theorem must be exploited. Instead, in case of non-sinusoidal vibrations, the Nonlinear Dynamic Maximum Power Transfer Theorem must be exploited. An active power electronics AC/DC architecture is considered and two different control algorithms are proposed and discussed. They are respectively used for the implementation of the Maximum Power Transfer Theorem and of the Nonlinear Dynamic Maximum Power Transfer Theorem. The differences existing between the two proposed controls techniques in terms of performances and implementation complexity are discussed and analyzed with the help of suitable numerical simulations.