Efficient design of non-contact magnetic induction-based energy harvesters from electromagnetic fields

Abstract

This paper presents the design and implementation of efficient non-contact magnetic induction-based energy harvesters utilizing various cores. Several cores are developed by adding a pair of ferrite magnetic flux collector parts to both ends of the rod core. This configuration enables the cores to guide more magnetic flux effectively. Exposing these cores to the magnetic flux enhances the energy harvesting rate. The proposed energy harvesters are based on non-contact coils with ferrite cores, so they do not need to be clamped around the conductor-an approach that often limits practical applications. Parameters such as the ability to charge a capacitor, the open-circuit voltage across the harvesters, and the output power are evaluated to assess the performance of the proposed structures. The results show that the structures meet acceptable specifications for practical requirements. Experimental results demonstrate the electrical output performance of the best proposed energy harvester (the $○$-shaped core) achieved a maximum open-circuit output voltage of 23.702 V and an output power of 1.994 mW under a magnetic field of 20 $\mu$T. Since the presented non-contact energy harvesting structures are very simple and low-cost, the proposed method can be widely applied in power transmission, distribution, and smart grid systems.