Optimal control of a broadband vortex-induced vibration energy harvester

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-151
Author(s):  
E Azadi Yazdi

A vortex-induced vibration energy harvester consists of a relatively long cylinder mounted on a flexible structure. In a flow field, the periodically shedding vortices induce transverse vibrations in the cylinder that is converted to electricity by means of piezoelectric generators. In most vortex-induced vibration harvesters, the output power is considerable only in a narrow band around the wind speed where the vortex shedding frequency matches the natural frequency of the structure. To overcome this limitation, a tuned mass mechanism is employed in the proposed vortex-induced vibration energy harvester that can change the natural frequency of the turbine to match the vortex shedding frequency in a broad band of wind speeds. The tuned mass mechanism should work in close cooperation with the piezoelectric generators to maximize the electric power of the turbine. To this end, a nonlinear piezoaeroelastic model of the system is derived, and a model predictive control technique is formulated to find the optimal control inputs for the tuned mass actuator and the piezoelectric generators. Results of numeric simulations confirmed that the tuned mass mechanism not only increases the velocity band over which the turbine is effective but also increases the peak power output of the turbine by 294%.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seungtaek Oh ◽  
Sung-il Seo ◽  
Hoyeop Lee ◽  
Hak-Eun Lee

Vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of bridges, related to fluid-structure interaction and maintenance of bridge monitoring system, causes fatigue and serviceability problems due to aerodynamic instability at low wind velocity. Extensive studies on VIV have been performed by directly measuring the vortex shedding frequency and the wind velocity for indicating the largest girder displacement. However, previous studies have not investigated a prediction of wind velocity to raise VIV with a various natural frequency of the structure because most cases have been focused on the estimation of the wind velocity and peeling-off frequency by the mounting structure at the fixed position. In this paper, the method for predicting wind velocity to raise VIV is suggested with various natural frequencies on a road-rail bridge with truss-shaped girder. For this purpose, 12 cases of dynamic wind tunnel test with different natural frequencies are performed by the resonance phenomenon. As a result, it is reasonable to predict wind velocity to raise VIV with maximum RMS displacement due to dynamic wind tunnel tests. Furthermore, it is found that the natural frequency can be used instead of the vortex shedding frequency in order to predict the wind velocity on the dynamic wind tunnel test. Finally, curve fitting is performed to predict the wind velocity of the actual bridge. The result is shown that predicting the wind velocity at which VIV occurs can be appropriately estimated at arbitrary natural frequencies of the dynamic wind tunnel test due to the feature of Strouhal number determined by the shape of the cross section.


Author(s):  
Junxiang Shi ◽  
Steven R. Schafer ◽  
Chung-Lung (C. L. ) Chen

A passive, self-agitating method which takes advantage of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) is presented to disrupt the thermal boundary layer and thereby enhance the convective heat transfer performance of a channel. A flexible cylinder is placed at centerline of a channel. The vortex shedding due to the presence of the cylinder generates a periodic lift force and the consequent vibration of the cylinder. The fluid-structure-interaction (FSI) due to the vibration strengthens the disruption of the thermal boundary layer by reinforcing vortex interaction with the walls, and improves the mixing process. This novel concept is demonstrated by a three-dimensional modeling study in different channels. The fluid dynamics and thermal performance are discussed in terms of the vortex dynamics, disruption of the thermal boundary layer, local and average Nusselt numbers (Nu), and pressure loss. At different conditions (Reynolds numbers, channel geometries, material properties), the channel with the VIV is seen to significantly increase the convective heat transfer coefficient. When the Reynolds number is 168, the channel with the VIV improves the average Nu by 234.8% and 51.4% in comparison with a clean channel and a channel with a stationary cylinder, respectively. The cylinder with the natural frequency close to the vortex shedding frequency is proved to have the maximum heat transfer enhancement. When the natural frequency is different from the vortex shedding frequency, the lower natural frequency shows a higher heat transfer rate and lower pressure loss than the larger one.


Author(s):  
M. H. Ansari ◽  
M. Amin Karami

A three dimensional piezoelectric vibration energy harvester is designed to generate electricity from heartbeat vibrations. The device consists of several bimorph piezoelectric beams stacked on top of each other. These horizontal bimorph beams are connected to each other by rigid vertical beams making a fan-folded geometry. One end of the design is clamped and the other end is free. One major problem in micro-scale piezoelectric energy harvesters is their high natural frequency. The same challenge is faced in development of a compact vibration energy harvester for the low frequency heartbeat vibrations. One way to decrease the natural frequency is to increase the length of the bimorph beam. This approach is not usually practical due to size limitations. By utilizing the fan-folded geometry, the natural frequency is decreased while the size constraints are observed. The required size limit of the energy harvester is 1 cm by 1 cm by 1 cm. In this paper, the natural frequencies and mode shapes of fan-folded energy harvesters are analytically derived. The electro-mechanical coupling has been included in the model for the piezoelectric beam. The design criteria for the device are discussed.


Author(s):  
Xia Li ◽  
Zhiyuan Li ◽  
Benxue Liu ◽  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Weidong Zhu

To widen the operation wind speed bandwidth of a classic vortex shedding induced vibration piezoelectric energy harvester, a piezoelectric-electromagnetic hybrid energy harvester based on vortex shedding induced vibration is designed. The hybrid vortex shedding induced vibration energy harvester (HVSIVEH) includes a vortex shedding induced vibration piezoelectric energy harvester (VSIVPEH) and an electromagnetic vibration energy harvester (EVEH). The electromechanical coupled vibration model of the hybrid structure was established. By comparing the variations of the output power as a function of the wind speed of the HVSIVEH and the classic VSIVPEH, it is found that the power response curve of the HVSIVEH has two peaks. The hybrid structure can broaden the working wind speed range. The lower the requirement on the output power level, the more obvious the effect of widening the wind speed range. By the solution and analysis of the electromechanical coupled model, better values of related parameters of the HVSIVEH are obtained. The first and second peaks of the output power of the HVSIVEH show better values of 1.9 and 2.2 mW, respectively, under these parameters.


2004 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. J. Wang ◽  
Y. Zhou

The vortex-induced structural vibration of an elastic square cylinder, on fixed supports at both ends, in a uniform cross flow was measured using fiber-optic Bragg grating sensors. The measurements are compared to those obtained for an elastic circular cylinder of the same hydraulic diameter in an effort to understand the effect of the nature (fixed or oscillating) of the flow separation point on the vortex-induced vibration. It is found that a violent vibration occurs at the third-mode resonance when the vortex-shedding frequency coincides with the third-mode natural frequency of the fluid-structure system, irrespective of the cross-sectional geometry of the cylinder. This is in distinct contrast to previous reports of flexibly supported rigid cylinders, where the first-mode vibration dominates, thus giving little information on the vibration of other modes. The resonance behavior is neither affected by the incidence angle (α) of the free stream, nor by the nature of the flow separation point. However, the vibration amplitude of the square cylinder is about twice that of the circular cylinder even though the flexural rigidity of the former is larger. This is ascribed to a difference in the nature of the flow separation point between the two types of structures. The characteristics of the effective modal damping ratios, defined as the sum of structural and fluid damping ratios, and the system natural frequencies are also investigated. The damping ratios and the system natural frequencies vary little with the reduced velocity at α=0deg, but appreciable at α⩾15deg; they further experience a sharp variation, dictated by the vortex-shedding frequency, near resonance.


2010 ◽  
Vol 44-47 ◽  
pp. 1465-1469
Author(s):  
Ai Min Hu ◽  
Ming Long

The working principle of piezoelectric vibration energy harvester is described. A piezoelectric cantilever and mass composite structure is proposed to harvest vibration energy in resonance mode, and the mass is added on the edge of the cantilever to decrease the natural frequency of the whole structure. The finite element analysis was carried out on the composite structure using the ANSYS software. The displacement results were obtained by structural analysis, and the first order natural frequency was also obtained by modal analysis. Finally, the influence rules among the structural parameters, such as length and width of the cantilever, length and thickness of the mass and width of the PZT, and the natural frequency, piezoelectric output voltage are discussed in detail. Finally, the optimal structure of the harvester is obtained.


1981 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Whitney ◽  
J. S. Chung ◽  
B. K. Yu

Lateral vibrational displacements and accelerations due to vortex shedding are analyzed for very long marine pipes with a bottom end mass for application to deep ocean-mining lift pipes. Estimates of maximum RMS values of displacement and acceleration are presented for a range of tow speeds, pipe lengths, pipe diameters and wall thicknesses, and for various values of the pipe end mass. In contrast to the case of short pipes, higher modes of pipe vibration can be excited even at low towing speeds. In addition, the critical tow speeds, at which the vortex-shedding frequency equals a pipe natural frequency, are closely spaced, and there are no speeds where the vibrations vanish.


2008 ◽  
Vol 45 (04) ◽  
pp. 221-227
Author(s):  
Raymond Fischer

This paper examines the hydroacoustic processes involved with "singing propellers" aboard marine vessels. Methods are presented to determine the potential for a resonant response of a propeller to a vortex shedding excitation—a phenomenon known as "singing." Methods are provided to determine the likely shedding frequency and structural natural frequency for propeller blades. Diagnostics procedures to determine the presence of singing are explored. Measured and theoretical differences between the blade's natural frequency response in air and in-water are explored. Treatments are identified to change the vortex shedding frequency or to de-tune the structure. Case histories are detailed showing the potential magnitude of the problem and effective solutions.


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