A novel modeling of energy extraction from nonlinear vortex-induced vibrations

In this study, energy harvesting from two-dimensional vortex-induced vibrations of a circular cylinder is investigated. To do so, the vibratory behavior of the flexibly mounted circular cylinders is described using the nonlinear wake-oscillator model. Then, the effect of changing the flow velocity on the dynamic behavior of the cylinder is numerically obtained and validated by experimental results.  The effect of changing the main parameters of the system on its electrical and vibratory behavior is investigated by employing the nonlinear electromechanical equations of motion. Unlike most previous studies that only tend to maximize the harvested energy, structural failure due to large deformation is considered in this study. For this reason, the so-called Perfection Rate (PR) parameter is introduced. By using this parameter, the application of the energy harvester is characterized, in which the energy harvesting system works efficiently, regarding its vibration amplitude, which should be small enough. Furthermore, the proper load resistance range for the VIV-based energy harvesting system in the post-synchronization regime is obtained and it is demonstrated that the energy harvesting system with a small electromechanical coupling coefficient can effectively work in this regime

Keywords:

Vortex-Induced Vibrations , Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting , Wake-Oscillator Model , fluid-structure interaction