Flexible Plate in the Wake of a Square Cylinder for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting—Parametric Study Using Fluid–Structure Interaction Modeling

Emmanuel Mbondo Binyet, Jen-Yuan Chang and Chih-Yung Huang
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Emmanuel Mbondo Binyet: Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
Jen-Yuan Chang: Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
Chih-Yung Huang: Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-29

Abstract: Piezoelectric energy harvesters can scavenge energy from their ambient environment in order to power low-consumption electronic devices. The last two decades have seen a growing interest towards vortex-induced vibration harvesters; most harvesters consist in rigid splitter plates oscillating at higher frequencies. The concept presented here is a low-frequency undulating flexible plate placed in the wake of a square cylinder. Piezoelectric patches can be placed at the plate surface to harvest the strain energy arising when the plate bends. The flapping pattern mimics an anguilliform swimming motion. There is a great need to establish correlation between wake generating bluff body size, plate dimensions and power output. Geometric parameters were investigated using water tunnel experiments, particle image velocimetry and fluid–structure interaction modeling. Results showed that for a given plate length and within a given freestream velocity range, there is a square cylinder diameter and a thickness that optimize the plate–wake interaction. Longer plates yield greater power output but have lower flapping frequencies. Additionally, the more frequent curvature changes occurring can result in charge cancellation among the piezoelectric cells. Consequently, the estimated conversion efficiency from mechanical strain to electricity is higher for shorter plates.

Keywords: fluid–structure interaction (FSI); flow-induced vibrations; vortex-induced vibrations; cantilever flexible plate; piezoelectric energy harvester; particle image velocimetry (PIV); renewable energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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