Modeling of magnetic vibrational energy harvesters using equivalent circuit representations

This paper develops and analyzes an equivalent circuit model of magnetic energy harvesters using reduced-order lumped element modeling (LEM) methods. This model is intended to enhance the design and analysis of a magnetic energy harvesting system by enabling direct physical insight into the system dynamics and simple circuit analysis techniques to extract all relevant performance parameters. Moreover, the model provides the ability to use circuit simulation software (e.g. PSPICE) to model the entire system in conjunction with nonlinear and/or active power electronic circuits. The circuit model is experimentally validated through electrical and mechanical measurements on a prototypical electromagnetic energy harvester.