Self-powered Magnetorheological Damper Research Articles

Adaptive optimal fault-tolerant vibration control and sensitivity analysis of semi-active suspension based on a self-powered magneto-rheological damper

To reuse the energy dissipated by vehicle suspension, a semi-active suspension with a self-powered magneto-rheological damper is proposed. An electromechanical coupling model of self-powered semi-active suspension is established. The energy conversion efficiency is defined and investigated by changing the electrical parameters. By considering unmodeled dynamics and perturbation values, an adaptive optimal fault-tolerant control algorithm is proposed to ensure the vibration-isolation performance. The robust index of the adaptive optimal fault-tolerant control algorithm is constructed using the Lyapunov equation and evaluated by changing the key parameters. The sensitivity of the key parameters to the damping force is investigated using a grey relation analysis approach. Furthermore, multi-objective optimization between the vibration-isolation capability and energy harvesting is conducted. Via analysis, the proposed suspension can harvest more energy near the second resonance range. Compared to passive control and self-powered mode, the adaptive optimal control algorithm mitigates vibration more significantly in the time and frequency domains, respectively, under stochastic excitation. The robust index is most sensitive to inductance and the diameter of the magnetism cylinder. The length of the damping channel and the diameter of the magnetism cylinder influence the sensitivity of key parameters to the damping force most obviously.

Development and Performance Analysis of a New Self-Powered Magnetorheological Damper with Energy-Harvesting Capability

Magnetorheological (MR) dampers, used as intelligent semi-active vibration control devices to achieve low energy consumption, fast response, controllability, and other capabilities are generally installed with a variety of sensors on their exterior to ensure that the damping force can be accurately controlled. However, external sensors are often affected by external complications that reduce the reliability of the damper, and the cost of powering the damper coils in remote locations where power is not available can be significantly increased. Based on these problems, a new self-powered MR damper scheme is proposed. The proposed MR damper has both energy-harvesting capabilities and damping controllability, and greatly improves the stability and application range of the device by converting vibration energy into electrical energy to supply the excitation coil. The MR damper can drive the piston rod in a linear reciprocating motion by external excitation, which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy via a DC brushless three-phase generator after conversion by a double-linkage mechanism. At the same time, the electrical energy generated by the generator is passed into the excitation coil to change the output damping force of the damper. Meanwhile, the damping performance and energy-harvesting efficiency of the new self-powered MR damper is experimentally tested. Experimental results show the damping force of the device reaches 1040 N when the applied current is 0.6 A. The proposed self-powered MR damper has an instantaneous voltage amplitude of 1.782 V and a peak phase power of 4.428 W when the input excitation amplitude is 12.5 mm and the frequency is 3 Hz.

Development of a Magnetorheological Damper with Self-Powered Ability for Washing Machines

Magnetorheological (MR) dampers have been widely investigated and proposed for vibration mitigation systems because they possess continuous variability of damping coefficient in response to different operating conditions. In the conventional design of MR dampers, a separate controller and power supply are required, causing an increment of complexity and cost, which are not suitable for home appliances like washing machines. To solve these issues and to reuse wasted energy from vibration of washing machines, in this study, a self-powered shear-mode MR damper, which integrates MR damping and energy-harvesting technologies into a single device, is proposed. The MR damper is composed of an inner housing, on which magnetic coils are wound directly, and an outer housing for covering and creating a closed magnetic circuit of the damper. The gap between the inner housing and the moving shaft is filled with MR fluid to produce the damping force. The energy-harvesting part consists of permanent magnets fastened together on the shaft and induction coils wound directly on slots of the housing. The induced power from the induction coils is directly applied to the excitation coils of the damping part to generate a corresponding damping force against the vibration. In order to achieve optimal geometry of the self-powered MR damper, an optimization for both the damping part and the energy harvesting part of the proposed dampers are conducted based on ANSYS finite element analysis. From optimal solutions, a prototype of the proposed damper is designed in detail, manufactured, and experimentally validated.

Influence characteristics of electrical parameters and vibration isolation properties of the stretcher system based on parallel mechanism and self-powered magneto-rheological damper

For reducing multidimensional vibrations endured by supine patients on ambulances, a new ambulance stretcher composed of parallel mechanism and self-powered magneto-rheological damper is introduced. The main thrust of this work is to investigate the vibration isolation capability and energy conversion efficiency of the proposed stretcher with changes in electrical parameters. First, the kinematic and dynamic equations are deduced by geometry and Lagrange approach, respectively. Subsequently, the circuit model of self-powered magneto-rheological damper is created. The frequency response function is derived by Kirchhoff’s law, which indicates the electrical power utilization rate. Then, the vibration isolation capability of the self-powered stretcher system is analyzed with changes in electrical parameters. Compared with passive control, the vibration isolation capability of the self-powered stretcher is improved significantly in horizontal, longitudinal, vertical, and pitch directions. The first two resonance peaks of displacement response are insensitive to changes in electrical parameters in all directions. Last, the energy conversion efficiency of the self-powered stretcher is discussed. Decreasing resistance and inductance could improve energy conversion efficiency significantly.

Influential characteristics of electromagnetic parameters on self-powered MR damper and its application in vehicle suspension system

In order to reuse the energy dissipated by magneto-rheological (MR) damper, a self-powered MR damper is designed and analyzed theoretically. The main thrust of this work is establishing the mechanical-electromagnetic coupling model of quarter vehicle suspension based on self-powered MR damper, whilst the energy conversion efficiency of self-powered MR damper with electromagnetic parameters changing is investigated. The magnetic circuit model is formulated firstly. The influence of electromagnetic parameters on current in MR damper is analyzed systemically in frequency domain. A multi-objective optimization method is performed to determine the electromagnetic parameters. Subsequently a quarter vehicle suspension system with self-powered MR damper is introduced. The mechanical-electromagnetic coupling model is established. The frequency response function is derived under random road excitation. The vibration isolation capability of the proposed quarter vehicle suspension system is addressed in time and frequency domain respectively. Compared to passive control, the amplitude of sprung mass velocity, acceleration and transmissibility are reduced by 51%, 78% and about 10 dB in time and frequency domain respectively. Finally the energy conversion efficiency of self-powered MR damper with magnetic parameters changing under random road excitation is discussed. The vibration isolation performance of self-powered MR damper is more effective than passive control, especially in resonance range of the suspension system.

Development of a variable stiffness magnetorheological damper with self-powered generation capability

This article reports a compact stiffness controllable magnetorheological damper with a self-powered capacity. First, the structure, working mechanism, and analysis of the damper are presented. After the prototype of the magnetorheological damper, experimental tests were conducted to evaluate its variable stiffness feature and self-powered generation capability using a hydraulic Instron test system. The testing results demonstrate that its stiffness variation range can reach 70.4% when the applied current increases from 0 to 2 A. The energy generating capability of the magnetorheological damper was also evaluated using the Instron testing system under a harmonic excitation with 0.15 Hz frequency and 30 mm displacement. The testing results illustrate that the self-powered generation component can generate 2.595 W effective power, which is enough to control the magnetorheological component of the damper. The successful development, theoretical analysis, and experimental testing of this new variable stiffness self-powered magnetorheological damper make the concept of energy-free variable stiffness magnetorheological damper feasible.

Development of a Self-Powered Magnetorheological Damper System for Cable Vibration Control

A new self-powered magnetorheological (MR) damper control system was developed to mitigate cable vibration. The power source of the MR damper is directly harvested from vibration energy through a rotary permanent magnet direct current (DC) generator. The generator itself can also serve as an electromagnetic damper. The proposed smart passive system also incorporates a roller chain and sprocket, transforming the linear motion of the cable into the rotational motion of the DC generator. The vibration mitigation performance of the presented self-powered MR damper system was evaluated by model tests with a 21.6 m long cable. A series of free vibration tests of the cable with a passively operated MR damper with constant voltage, an electromagnetic damper alone, and a self-powered MR damper system were performed. Finally, the vibration control mechanisms of the self-powered MR damper system were investigated. The experimental results indicate that the supplemental modal damping ratios of the cable in the first four modes can be significantly enhanced by the self-powered MR damper system, demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of the new smart passive system. The results also show that both the self-powered MR damper and the generator are quite similar to a combination of a traditional linear viscous damper and a negative stiffness device, and the negative stiffness can enhance the mitigation efficiency against cable vibration.

Self-powered magnetorheological dampers for motorcycle suspensions

Dampers are the parts of suspensions which improve the ride comfort and the safety of vehicles including motorcycles. Magnetorheological dampers are very attractive for motorcycle suspensions, because of their controllable properties and their fast responses. Considerable energy is wasted owing to the energy dissipation by dampers encountering road irregularities and accelerating processes during everyday use of motorcycles. In addition, the current magnetorheological suspension systems depend on the power supply of batteries. Therefore, in this paper, a self-powered magnetorheological damper for motorcycle suspensions is proposed and implemented for the first time. It can convert the wasted mechanical energy into useful electrical energy to power itself. There are great merits in this such as energy saving, independence of extra batteries and less maintenance in comparison with conventional magnetorheological suspension systems, while keeping controllable performances. A customized prototype of the self-powered magnetorheological damper that is compatible with a motorcycle is developed and actually implemented in a motorcycle. Modelling for the self-powered magnetorheological damper is developed and validated by laboratory testing. Laboratory testing showed that the self-powered feature works well to generate the electrical power and to vary the magnetorheological damping force. Preliminary system-level testing showed that a self-powered magnetorheological suspension results in a better ride comfort, compared with that of a magnetorheological suspension without power generation. The results showed that implementing self-powered magnetorheological dampers in motorcycle suspensions is feasible and beneficial.

Study on Self-powered Magnetorheological Damper Characteristics for Automobile

Study on Self-powered Magnetorheological Damper Characteristics for Automobile

A novel self-powered MR damper: theoretical and experimental analysis

This paper presents a novel magnetorheological (MR) damper with a self-powered capability, which is proposed to have energy harvesting and MR damping technologies integrated into a single device. Vibration energy harvesting mechanisms were adopted, based on ball-screw mechanisms and a rotary permanent magnet dc generator, to convert the external vibration energy into electrical energy to power the MR damping unit. The configuration and operating principles of the proposed self-powered MR damper were presented. Considering the core loss effect on the magnetic field, a theoretical analysis of the proposed MR damper was carried out and a mechanical model was developed. Finally, a prototype with a capacity of 10 kN was fabricated and experimentally investigated in both the direct-supply mode and the supply-with-rectifier mode. The results indicated that the proposed configuration is feasible and that both modes can realize good self-adaptability of the MR damping force. However, the direct-supply mode has a sag effect in the force–displacement curve and provides a lower energy-dissipating capacity than the direct-supply mode does under the same conditions.

Design and Performance Evaluation of a Self-Controlled Magneto-Rheological Damper

Magneto-rheological (MR) dampers are semi-active control devices and use MR fluids. Magneto-rheological dampers have successful applications in mechatronics engineering, civil engineering and numerous areas of engineering. At present, traditional MR damper systems, require an isolated power supply and dynamic sensor, which requires large space. This paper presents the achievability and accuracy of a self-controlled, i.e., self-powered and self-sensing magneto-rheological damper using harvested energy from the vibration and shock environment in which it is deployed. Another important part of this paper is the increased yield stress of the Magneto-rheological Fluids. Magneto-rheological fluids that use replacement of glass beads for Magnetic Particles to surge yield stress is implemented here. Clearly this shows better result on yield stress, viscosity, and settling rate. The permanent magnet generator (PMG) is designed and attached to a MR damper. For evaluating the self-powered MR damper’s vibration mitigating capacity, an Engine Mount System using the MR damper is simulated with the help of ANSYS software. The ideal stiffness of the PMG for the Engine Mount System (EMS) is calculated by numerical study. The vibration mitigating performance of the EMS employing the self-powered & self-sensing MR damper is theoretically calculated and evaluated in the frequency domain.

Novel design of a self powered and self sensing magneto-rheological damper

Magneto-rheological (MR) dampers are semi-active control devices and use MR fluids. Magneto-rheological dampers have successful applications in mechatronics engineering, civil engineering and numerous areas of engineering. At present, traditional MR damper systems, require a isolated power supply and dynamic sensor. This paper presents the achievability and accuracy of a self- powered and self-sensing magneto-rheological damper using harvested energy from the vibration and shock environment in which it is deployed and another important part of this paper is the increased yield stress of the Magneto rheological Fluids. Magneto rheological fluids using replacement of glass beads for Magnetic Particles to surge yield stress is implemented here. Clearly this shows better result on yield stress, viscosity, and settling rate. Also permanent magnet generator (PMG) is designed and attached to a MR damper. For evaluating the self-powered MR damper's vibration mitigating capacity, an Engine Mount System using the MR damper is simulated. The ideal stiffness of the PMG for the Engine Mount System (EMS) is calculated by numerical study. The vibration mitigating performance of the EMS employing the self-powered & self sensing MR damper is theoretically calculated and evaluated in the frequency domain.

Self-Powered Magnetorheological Dampers

This study addresses the feasibility and effectiveness of a self-powered magnetorheological (MR) damper using in-situ energy harvested from the vibration and shock environment in which it is deployed. To achieve this, an energy-harvesting device is designed and added to a MR damper. This energy-harvesting device consists of a stator, a permanent magnet, and a spring and operates as an energy-harvesting dynamic vibration absorber (DVA). The dynamic equation for the self-powered MR damper is derived. To evaluate the vibration isolation capability of the self-powered MR damper, a single-degree-of-freedom engine mount system using the MR damper is simulated. The governing equation of motion for the engine mount system is derived. A parametric study is conducted to find the optimal stiffness of the energy-harvesting DVA for the engine mount system. The isolation performance of the engine mount system employing the self-powered MR damper is theoretically evaluated in the frequency domain.