Layout optimization of an inertial energy harvester for miniature underwater mooring platforms

Comprehensive analyses of the layout influence on power performance of a low-frequency miniature horizontal-pendulum-type inertial energy harvester for underwater mooring platforms are presented in this article. The mathematical models are obtained utilizing the Newton-Euler method. The power performance is evaluated by simulations over different parameters, such as damping, excitation frequency, and layout position. Simulation results indicate that the harvester can extract energy from low-frequency excitations over the range of 0.1 Hz-0.4 Hz, and maximum output power can reach to 0.7 W under excitation frequency f = 0.4 Hz. Different layout positions influence the energy harvesting performance of the harvester dramatically. Changing the layout position to positive value can enhance and broaden the power performance. The amplitude responses with different layout positions do not show resonant characteristics, even near the natural frequency of the harvester, due to large amplitude vibrations and strong nonlinear characteristic. As excitation frequency f = 0.4 Hz, there is a zero output power point appears at layout position d = -1.3 m. Moreover, the harnessed power has a quadratic relationship with the layout position value.