The potential comb improves the efficiency of low-frequency energy harvesting

This paper introduces a nonlinear resonant magneto-elastic device with 2 degrees of freedom that can serve as a mechanical frequency multiplier effective for energy harvesting. The device allows energy harvesting at low and extra-low exciting frequencies. The concept of effective frequency multiplication is proposed. The frequency multiplication factor may vary in the range from 2 up to several dozens. The theoretical model, the results of the experiment, and a computer simulation are presented. With a frequency of 3.5 Hz and an amplitude of 12.5 mm of shaker oscillations, the experimental setup produces output oscillations that have the principal harmonic of the amplitude 3.55 mm at 14 Hz. The amplitude of the output acceleration is 27 m/s², which is 4.5 times the initial acceleration provided by the shaker. The numerical simulation of the setup with different elastic coefficients yields a frequency multiplication factor of 14, and the amplitude of output acceleration is equal tO₃5 to 60 m/s². The operating principle used in the device is supposed to be useful as a principle of inexpensively transforming the mechanical energy with frequency-upconversion.