Optimal electromagnetic energy extraction from transverse galloping

A fully coupled electro-fluid-elastic model for electromagnetic energy harvesting from Transverse Galloping is presented here. The model considers a one degree-of-freedom galloping oscillator where fluid forces are described resorting to quasi-steady conditions; the electromagnetic generator is modelled by an equivalent electrical circuit where power is dissipated at an electrical load resistance; the galloping oscillator and the electromagnetic model are coupled appropriately. Two different levels of simplification have been made depending on the comparison between the characteristic electrical and mechanical timescales. The effect of the electrical resistance load on the energy harvested is studied theoretically. For fixed geometry and mechanical parameters, it has been found that there exists an optimal electrical resistance load for each reduced velocity. On the practical side, this result can be helpful to design tracking-point strategies to maximize energy harvesting for variable flow velocity conditions. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.