Study on the Efficiency and Dynamic Characteristics of an Energy Harvester Based on Flexible Structure Galloping

Peng Liao, Jiyang Fu, Wenyong Ma, Yuan Cai and Yuncheng He
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Peng Liao: Research Center for Wind Engineering and Engineering Vibration, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jiyang Fu: Research Center for Wind Engineering and Engineering Vibration, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Wenyong Ma: Innovation Center for Wind Engineering and Wind Energy Technology of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050043, China
Yuan Cai: Research Center for Wind Engineering and Engineering Vibration, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Yuncheng He: Research Center for Wind Engineering and Engineering Vibration, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: According to the engineering phenomenon of the galloping of ice-coated transmission lines at certain wind speeds, this paper proposes a novel type of energy harvester based on the galloping of a flexible structure. It uses the tension generated by the galloping structure to cause periodic strain on the piezoelectric cantilever beam, which is highly efficient for converting wind energy into electricity. On this basis, a physical model of fluid–structure interaction is established, and the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equation and SST K -? turbulent model based on ANSYS Fluent are used to carry out a two-dimensional steady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation. First, the CFD technology under different grid densities and time steps is verified. CFD numerical simulation technology is used to simulate the physical model of the energy harvester, and the effect of wind speed on the lateral displacement and aerodynamic force of the flexible structure is analyzed. In addition, this paper also carries out a parameterized study on the influence of the harvester’s behavior, through the wind tunnel test, focusing on the voltage and electric power output efficiency. The harvester has a maximum output power of 119.7 ?W/mm 3 at the optimal resistance value of 200 K? at a wind speed of 10 m/s. The research results provide certain guidance for the design of a high-efficiency harvester with a square aerodynamic shape and a flexible bluff body.

Keywords: galloping; energy harvester; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); numerical simulation (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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