This paper presents the analytical modeling and simulation of an electromagnetic energy harvester (having linear behaviour) that generates power from pulsating fluid flow for pipeline condition monitoring systems. The modeled energy harvester is comprised of a cylindrical permanent magnet and a wound coil attached to a flexible membrane which oscillates due to the pulsating fluid flow in the pipe over which the prototype is considered to be mounted. In the harvester electrical energy is produced due to the relative motion between the coil and magnet. Based on the harvester’s architecture a lumped parameter model (single degree of freedom system) is developed and is simulated at different physical operational conditions. The simulation is performed at pressure amplitude of 625 Pa. When subjected to the operational frequency sweep, at the harvester’s resonant frequency (500 Hz) and damping ratio of 0.01, the devised model predicted the maximum open circuit voltage of 2.55 V and load voltage of 1.27 V. While operating under resonance, the maximum load voltage of 2.45 V is estimated at load resistance of 100 Ω. However, at an optimum load of 4.3 Ω, the simulation shows a production of 188151.2 μW power at a frequency of 500 Hz.

This work presents modeling, simulation, fabrication, and testing of a novel flow-based electromagnetic energy harvester (F-EMEH) for producing usable electrical energy from the pulsating fluid pressure levels within the pipeline. The power produced by the developed harvester can be effectively utilized for the operation of the wireless monitoring system of pipeline networks. The devised F-EMEH harvester consists of a stationary magnet positioned in the upper cap of the harvester and directly facing the wound coil that is fixed to a flexible latex membrane. The membrane along the coil when exposed to the pulsating fluid flow in the pipeline oscillates with respect to the stationary magnet. This relative motion of the membrane induced the voltage across the coil terminals. The harvester when applied to a pressure amplitude of 625 Pa generated an open circuit voltage of 1.2 V and a maximum load power of 18.6 μW when connected to 4.3 Ω load. Furthermore, when integrated to a voltage rectifier, an open circuit output of 4 V DC is achieved by the device at a pressure of 625 Pa. In addition, with the developed prototype, a 3.6 V, battery is charged up to 3.2 V within 30 min of duration. The voltage and power levels attained by the energy harvester can provide an easy solution for powering wireless sensor nodes mounted on a pipeline network for condition monitoring.

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