Study and analysis of an Electromagnetic Energy Recovery Damper (EERD) for automotive applications

The aim of this paper is to develop an electromagnetic-mechanical model to analyse an Electromagnetic Energy Recovery Damper (EERD) for automotive applications to quantify the electrical power for various cycle of vibrations created by road irregularities. The EERD transforms the kinetic energy due to vibrations, to electrical energy. The developed model is based on the governing magnetic field equation expressed in terms of magnetic vector potential solved using the nodal-based finite element method and then coupled to the electromagnetic and mechanical equations obtained after modelling a quarter of vehicle system. The coupling is carried out firstly through the magnetic force, and then by the modified flux distribution due to the moving part displacements simulated by the MacroElement method. The cycles of vibrations are transmitted to the device as vertical displacements. The obtained results represent principally, the induced electromotive force and the electrical power output.