Energy harvesting through pendulum motion and DC generators

Abstract In this paper a mathematical model was found, and numerical results obtained for the pendulum behavior when coupled to a DC generator. A simple pendulum is vertically excited on its support and consequently exhibiting oscillations and rotations. The motion of the pendulum spins the axis of a DC generator and inducing a current. The dynamic model involving the generator and the pendulum dynamics is developed and analyzed in this article. Bifurcation diagrams demonstrate doubling-period and saddle-node bifurcations with the chaos. The presence of chaos is verified by the Lyapunov exponents applied on the time series of the pendulum speed and position. Nonideal interactions of a DC motor with a pendulum by a crank-shaft-slider mechanism is analyzed and compared with an ideal excitation of the pendulum.