Numerical analysis of a tidal current generator with dual flapping wings

Penglei Ma, Yong Wang, Yudong Xie and Zhipu Huo

Energy, 2018, vol. 155, issue C, 1077-1089

Abstract: Flapping wings, inspired by the mechanism of birds and fish, can act as generators to harvest energy from tidal currents. The hydraulic system is simplified as a spring-damper system to establish the coupling equations relating to the wing motion and the hydrodynamic forces. To provide guidance for design of a fully flow-induced flapping wings energy harvesting system, the behaviors of both system response and energy extraction performance are analyzed using two-dimensional numerical approach. Depending on the rotary actuator radius R, and the volume ratio β between the cylinder and rotary actuator, three distinguishable behaviors are observed in the system response and energy extraction performance. At larger R and smaller β, the dual wings tend to undergo a damped reduction flapping motion because the pitching motion consumes a significant amount of energy. Both decreasing R and increasing β can reduce the energy consumption of the pitching motion, and thus allow the dual wings to achieve a sustainable flapping motion. Although an irregular response can achieve a self-sustained flapping motion, it is unfavorable owing to its unstable power output. The regular response essential for stable energy harvesting is realized over a range of coupling parameters. The energy extraction performance of the system is closely associated with β but also slightly depends on R.

Keywords: Tidal current generator; Dual flapping wings; Energy extraction; Hydraulic coupling system; System response; Flow-induced (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:155:y:2018:i:c:p:1077-1089

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.05.035

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