Rapid Demagnetization of New Hybrid Core for Energy Harvesting

Sensors (Basel). 2022 Mar 9;22(6):2102. doi: 10.3390/s22062102.

Abstract

This paper presents the results obtained using the rapid demagnetization method in the case of an NdFeB magnet and a new hybrid core. The developed core consists of three basic elements: an NdFeB magnet, Terfenol-D, and a specifically developed metallic alloy prepared by means of a suction casting method. The main goal of proposing a new type of core in the event of rapid demagnetization is to partially replace the permanent magnet with another material to reduce the rare-earth material while keeping the amount of generated electricity at a level that makes it possible to power low-power electrical devices. To "capture" the rapid change of magnetic flux, a small number of coils were made around the core. However, the very low voltage level at very high current required the use of specialized electronic transducers capable of delivering a voltage level appropriate for powering a microprocessor system. To overcome this problem, a circuit designed by the authors that enabled voltage processing from low impedance magnetic circuits was used. The obtained results demonstrated the usefulness of the system at resonant frequencies of up to 1 MHz.

Keywords: SMART materials; Terfenol-D; energy harvesting; magnetostriction.