Modelagem numérica multifísica de um regenerador de energia eletromagnético utilizando o software COMSOL Multiphysics

Abstract

The field of research dedicated to making electrical systems more energy autonomous is constantly being graced with new technologies. Increasingly specific project requirements combined with environmental policy updates are major drivers for the emergence of new innovations in this area. Two of the bets in this segment are to increase the energy capacity of batteries and reduce the power consumption of hardware. However, systems powered only by batteries have a limited operating time, requiring periodic recharging and replacement. In this context, energy harvesters are devices capable of collecting different types of energy available in the environment and transforming them into electrical energy to power electronic systems. Several models with different operating principles have been proposed in the literature. For this work we will discuss electromagnetic energy harvesters. These devices capture the energy from mechanical vibrations through a moving magnet that performs an oscillatory movement in front of a copper coil. The movement of the magnet causes the magnetic flux density that passes through the coil to vary, inducing an electromotive force upon it. Due to their working principle, these devices can be built with low volume, allowing them to be applied to small electrical systems. However, to enable the construction and application of these models, it is necessary to maximize their energy conversion capacity. In this scenario, multiphysics numerical simulations are used to solve problems involving different physical phenomena, obtaining more stable and assertive results for the simulated models. In this work, a multiphysics numerical simulation methodology is proposed for a simplified model of an electromagnetic energy harvester using COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software. Through these simulations, encouraging qualitative results have been obtained that ensure the potential and scalability of this methodology.