Optimization of a Ship-Based Three-Magnet Energy Harvester Using Wave Excitation via the Flower Pollination and Simulated Annealing Algorithms

In response to the urgent requirement for sustainable power supply for deep-sea or offshore underwater sensing equipment, this work investigates autonomous power generation aboard marine vessels. The vertical vibrations induced by wave excitation at the bottom of the vessel are utilized to drive the vibration energy harvesters on the deck for power generation. In a scenario involving automatic steering, a multiplicity of magnetoelectric harvesters mounted on the deck would move vertically in response to surface wave motion, enabling continuous conversion of wave energy into electrical power. The key feature of this study is that the ship-based self-power generation system is simple to install and safe, with the vibration energy harvesters mounted above the sea surface to avoid the unpredictable underwater sea conditions. This study presents a numerical case analysis of a three-magnet energy harvester designed to generate induced electrical power under wave conditions characterized by a speed of V = 3.0 m/s, amplitude of Zo = 0.4 m, and wavelength of λ = 2.0 m. Prior to optimizing the ship-based energy harvester, the mathematical model of a three-magnet vibration system was validated against experimental data to ensure accuracy. Subsequently, a sensitivity study was performed to evaluate the influence of wave parameters (e.g., amplitude and wavelength) and the harvester’s geometric parameters on the electrical power output. To maximize power generation, the flower pollination algorithm—an efficient bio-inspired optimization method known for its robustness in global search—was integrated with the objective function defined as the root-mean-square electrical power. Simulation results indicate that the optimized harvester is capable of producing up to 0.1943 W. These findings highlight the potential of ship-based energy harvesters as a sustainable and reliable source of electrical power.