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Energy harvesting is a more and more studied topic. This paper provides some necessary elements to optimise the energy conversion from mechanical vibration to electrical power with an electromagnetic feedback. A cantilever beam is studied around its first bending mode. A contactless electromagnetic transducer is used in a passive feedback loop. To study the influence of different types of feedback on the provided and scavenged energies, a numerical model was built, and as the problem is monodimensional a simple analytic model was developed. In the case of a purely resistive feedback, the study of the provided and harvested energies shows three interesting points: two points where the harvested energy is maximal, and one point which maximises the energy conversion efficiency. As these points are distinct, the harvesting and damping strategies are different. These analytical and numerical results are confirmed by the experimental measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on several economic events held in Canada during November 2006. Petro-Canada Inc. resumed the production of bitumen at Terra Nova after a six-month shutdown for repairs. TransCanada Corp. has received a contract for 20 years for supplying electricity to the Ontario Power Authority. Auto-parts maker Dana Corp. closed eight of its production plants in Canada and the U.S.