An Investigative Study on Energy Harvesting by Hydrofoils: Simple vs. Undulated

Asad Mehmood, Saad R. Qureshi, Usman Ghafoor (), Raees Fida Swati, Fouzia Gillani, Sameena Bibi, Abu Bakkar and Muhammad Mahad Shah
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Asad Mehmood: Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Saad R. Qureshi: Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Usman Ghafoor: Department of Operations and Supply Chain, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Raees Fida Swati: Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Fouzia Gillani: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Sameena Bibi: Department of Mathematics, Air University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Abu Bakkar: Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Muhammad Mahad Shah: School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, National University of Sciences Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-18

Abstract: A series of experiments were performed using multiple configurations of hydrofoils to assess the energy harvesting capabilities present within the wake of streamlined bodies. The experiments were performed in a low-speed water tunnel, with energy harvesting assessed using a piezoelectric eel and imaging equipment. Half-sinusoidal undulations were introduced in different combinations on the leading and trailing edges of the hydrofoil. All hydrofoils utilized a NACA 0012 cross-sectional profile. A piezoelectric eel was placed at a variable distance downstream of the hydrofoil’s trailing edge, and the hydrofoil’s angle of attack (?) was varied in order to assess the variation in power generation. The maximum power output was achieved at x/c = 1–1.5 downstream of the trailing edge in all configurations. It was observed that harvested energy is dependent on the oscillation of the eel, ?, the streamwise distance between the trailing edge of the hydrofoils and the eel, as well as the geometry of the hydrofoils. Particle image velocimetry was also performed on selected cases for which the recorded energy harvest was high. The results showed that the NACA 0012 base profile has a higher extractable energy capacity in its wake than do the serrated hydrofoils, which confirms the results found in the literature.

Keywords: energy harvesting; hydrofoils; piezoelectric eel; water tunnel (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: 2024
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