Aerodynamic modification to a circular cylinder to enhance the piezoelectric wind energy harvesting

This study aims to expand the aeroelastic unstable range of a circular cylinder for improving the efficiency of a vortex-induced vibration (VIV)-basedwind energy harvester. The kineticenergy of the harvester is provided by flow-induced vibration of a circular cylinder. Two small-diameter cylindrical rods were attached on two sides of the circular cylinder parallel to the cylinder axis and symmetrical to the stagnation line at a series of circumferential locations. This was inspired by rain-wind-induced vibrations of stay-cables of cable-stayed bridges. It was found that attaching two small-diameter cylindrical rods at the circumferential locationθ = 60° significantly expands the aeroelastic unstable range for the circular cylinder. Thewind energy harvester with this configuration harnesses thewind energy beyond the VIV onset wind speed and is sustained over the range of wind speed. Therefore, this configuration possesses a dramatic superiority over a plain circular cylinder as the kinetic source of awind energy harvester.

Source: Applied Physics Letters - November 8, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Gang Hu, K. T. Tse, K. C. S. Kwok, Jie Song and Yuan Lyu Source Type: research