Design and performance tests of a high volumetric figure of merit regenerative damper for vehicle suspension systems

Regenerative dampers for vehicle suspension systems that can harvest power at low frequencies efficiently are challenging to realise. To increase their energy harvesting efficiency, a type of high volumetric Figure of Merit magnetoelectric regenerative damper is proposed. To increase the magnetic linkage gradient of its coil in the moving direction and in its motion region, lumped parameter equivalent magnetic circuit model is adopted in its magnetic structural parameter optimization. Finite element analysis is then used to verify the analytical model and theoretical results. Finally, 3 prototypes with different parametric combinations are manufactured and fabricated to do experiments. The experiments indicate that the optimised megnetoelectric regenerative damper can harvest vibration power of 16.3 watts and provide an adjustable damping coefficient that can reach 1605Ns/m when the damper in a relative velocity of 0.2m/s. The corresponding volumetric Figure of Merit can reach 8.3%, which is higher than most of the works presented in recent literatures. This type of regenerative damper can be used in vehicle suspension systems and meet their requirements. It also offers the opportunity to be applied in semi-active vehicle suspensions.