Energy converters and energy conversion systems

An energy converter for converting kinetic energy from a flow in a body of liquid by transverse galloping, comprising:

• a support,
• an elongate galloping body extending between a top end and a bottom end and being of a cross-section satisfying the Den Hartog criterion suitable for transverse galloping, and at least a part of the galloping body is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the galloping body,
• a substantially horizontal guide arranged outside the body of liquid for guiding the top end of the galloping body,
• one or more elastic elements substantially horizontally arranged and connected between the galloping body and the support,
• an actuator for rotating the rotatable part of the galloping body,
• a generator comprising a static generator component and a dynamic generator component, and wherein
• the galloping body is substantially vertically suspended such that the bottom end of the body extends into the body of liquid, and
• the dynamic generator component is operationally connected to the galloping body, and wherein
• the energy converter further comprises a pitch control system for sending commands to the actuator, wherein the commands are based on measurements of the position and/or velocity of the galloping body and velocity of the flow.

A method for converting kinetic energy from a flow in a body of liquid by transverse galloping, comprising:

• providing an energy converter in the body of liquid, wherein the energy converter comprises
• a support,
• an elongate galloping body extending between a first end and a second end and being of a cross-section satisfying the Den Hartog criterion suitable for transverse galloping,
• a substantially horizontal guide arranged outside the body of liquid for guiding the first end of the galloping body,
• one or more elastic elements substantially horizontally arranged and connected between the galloping body and the support, and
• a generator comprising a static generator component and a dynamic generator component, and wherein
• the galloping body is substantially vertically suspended such that the second end of the body extends into the body of liquid, and wherein
• the dynamic generator component is operationally connected to the galloping body and wherein the body of liquid has a flow speed above a critical flow speed of the energy converter.