On the nonlinear dynamics of self-sustained limit-cycle oscillations in a flapping-foil energy harvester

Wang, E., Ramesh, K. , Killen, S. and Viola, I. M. (2018) On the nonlinear dynamics of self-sustained limit-cycle oscillations in a flapping-foil energy harvester. Journal of Fluids and Structures, 83, pp. 339-357. (doi: 10.1016/j.jfluidstructs.2018.09.005)

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Abstract

The nonlinear dynamics of an airfoil at Reynolds number Re = 10,000 constrained by two springs and subject to a uniform oncoming flow is studied numerically. The studies are carried out using open source computational fluid dynamics toolbox OpenFOAM. Under certain conditions related to aerodynamic flutter, this two-degree-of-freedom system undergoes self-sustained limit-cycle oscillations (LCOs) with potential application as an energy harvester. When the system is given a small initial perturbation, it is seen that the response of the system decays to zero at flow velocities below the flutter velocity, or oscillates in a limit cycle at velocities greater than the flutter velocity. The flutter velocity at Re = 10,000 is shown to deviate significantly from the theoretical prediction (which is derived with an assumption of infinite Reynolds number) owing to the effect of viscosity. The LCOs at freestream velocities higher than the flutter velocity result in unsteady flows that are heavily influenced by leading-edge vortex shedding as well as trailing-edge flow separation. The influence of different system parameters on the onset of flutter and on the limit-cycle response characteristics is investigated in this research. This is done by defining a baseline case and examining the effects of varying aerodynamic parameters such as freestream velocity, and structural parameters such as the pitch-to-plunge frequency ratio and the type of spring stiffnesses. The conditions corresponding to the lowest flutter velocities (and consequently the lowest “cut-in” speeds for power extraction) and the parameter space that provide single-period, single-amplitude and harmonic LCOs (ideal for power extraction) are identified. Calculation of instantaneous and time-averaged power is presented by modeling the extraction of energy through a viscous damper. The highest power coefficients and efficiencies are obtained at velocities just higher than the flutter velocity. Introduction of positive cubic stiffening in the system springs is seen to make the system more stable, LCOs more harmonic and single-period, and to potentially increase power extraction efficiency of the system.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:The authors thank the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland who supported this project via the Collaborative Research Grant, UK titled “Investigation of Flapping Wings as a Means of Hydroelectric Power Generation”. Results were obtained using the EPSRC funded ARCHIE-WeSt High Performance Computer (www.archie-west.ac.uk), EPSRC, UK grant number EP/K000586/1.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Killen, Professor Shaun and Ramesh, Dr Kiran and Wang, Mr Enhao
Authors: Wang, E., Ramesh, K., Killen, S., and Viola, I. M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Autonomous Systems and Connectivity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Journal of Fluids and Structures
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0889-9746
ISSN (Online):1095-8622
Published Online:06 October 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd.
First Published:First published in Journal of Fluids and Structures 83: 339-357
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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