Design considerations for small-scale wind energy harvesters driven by broadband vortex-induced vibrations

摘要: In recent years, an increasing number of breakthroughs have been made in the field small-scale wind energy harvesting, where specialized materials are utilized to convert flow into electric power. Several studies on this power extraction rely a common harvester setup which stiff cantilever beam is attached trailing edge miniature bluff body. At these small scales boundary layer effects appreciable laminar regime, periodic vortex shedding can be used drive transverse vibrations beam. Interestingly, fluid dynamics involved unsteady process studied for decades not exploit their characteristics, but instead eliminate potentially destructive effects. As result, there still much room improvement and expansion design studies. A study how subtle changes body geometry effect output model will presented paper. The under consideration consists order tens millimeters diameter, piezoelectric at edge. This specifically designed transitional Reynolds Number flows (500−2800) periodicity approaches natural frequency speed further increased, lock-in occurs resonant motion resists change frequency. Vibration amplitudes reach maximum condition, thus maximizing generation efficiency system providing optimal condition operate harvester. effort meaningfully compare results, dimensionless parameters employed. influence such as length frequency, speed, utilizing COMSOL Multiphysics laminar, fluid-structure interaction simulations create guidelines improved