Using One Dimensional Software Tools In Low Power Ambient Energy Harvesting And Generation Simulations

One dimensional design, analysis and simulation software tools are used by professionals and educators globally, and thus the students are given the chance to familiarize themselves with the operation of analysis and simulation software packages. One of the major labor area for engineering and technology students is to use one of the simulation software tools for the analysis and simulation of engineering systems. Recently the use and development of educational software and simulation tools have been considerably increased for both undergraduate and graduate levels. Software tools developers started giving attention to reduce amount of expensive commercial testing equipments by software and simulation tools which gives the upfront analysis opportunity to industry. Many educational institutions prefer using software simulation tools instead of buying expensive test equipments for their laboratories, and research facilities. Taking engineering education into account, a demonstration mostly engages with process modeling, testing and simulation, imitated data acquisition and process control. For the demonstration purposes high level graphical user interface is required for providing efficient communications. The virtual applications may enhance both theoretical and hands-on experience of engineering technology students by supporting laboratory experiments as well. MSC.Easy5 and LMS Imagine.Lab AMESim are some of the well known system modeling, analysis and simulation software tools that offer solutions to many problems in mechanical, thermal, hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical, control etc. areas. These practical software tools also help to improve learning speed and knowledge level of students in many engineering and technology subjects. It is very helpful to use LMS Imagine.Lab AMESim and MSC.Easy5 one dimensional analytical simulation tools to test overall energy harvesting system and its components before implementation of the system. This paper presents a number of case studies used in applied class projects, laboratory activities, and research works for various levels from B.S. to PhD degree programs in electrical and mechanical engineering technology areas. Students have found the software tools helpful and user friendly in understanding fundamentals of physical phenomena in engineering and technology areas. In the case studies low power ambient energy harvesting systems were analyzed and simulated with real specifications of the overall components including gear ratios, generator units, electrical circuits, and battery units. The case studies include power scavenging from hydraulic door closers and fitness equipments through human power and using fiber composite bimorph to capture waste mechanical energy from human body. Testing the interoperability of all components by analyzing and simulating them reduced the redundancy of the energy harvesting systems after the implementation of the systems. In the design of the analytical simulation interfaces, the flexibility of the part modifications made it possible to change the parameters of the system for future researches.