Vibration energy harvesting from railway tracks via a magnetic-piezoelectric system

Abstract

This research addresses the increasing need for renewable energy solutions in the railway transportation sector by proposing a method to convert vibrations into electrical energy. The proposed MagPVDF system uses the coupling of magnetic force and the piezoelectric properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films to harvest vibration energy. The system’s structural framework is fabricated using 3D printing with polyethylene terephthalate glycol filament. The design incorporates four PVDF films and four neodymium magnets, creating magnetic levitation that induces PVDF bending and enhances energy generation. Laboratory tests were conducted under cyclic low-frequency loading (4.67–5 Hz) using a mechanical shaker, simulating vibrational conditions with amplitudes comparable to railway track deflections. While sinusoidal loading was used for controlled testing, sensitivity analyses were performed using finite element method simulations, incorporating train-shaped Gaussian load patterns across a broader frequency range (5–30 Hz). Results demonstrated high responsiveness to cyclic loading, with the maximum output voltage (1.4 V per PVDF film) occurring at the resonance frequency (15–20 Hz). These findings highlight the importance of tuning the system for specific vibration frequencies to maximize performance. The MagPVDF system demonstrates potential for sustainable vibrational energy harvesting, making it a promising solution for powering low-energy devices.