Session: 09-07-01 Tidal & Current Energy II

Submission Number: 180576

The Influence of Dynamic Parameters on the Energy Harvesting Performance of the Oscillating Hydrofoil Under Coupled Motion Model 

As a clean, low-carbon ocean renewable energy source, tidal energy has become a global research hotspot in the energy sector due to its efficient and stable development technologies. Compared with the traditional turbine, the oscillating hydrofoil tidal energy harvesting device has the characteristics of low flow velocity, low noise and environmental friendliness. This research proposes an oscillating hydrofoil tidal energy harvesting device that incorporates coupled motion characteristics and exhibits well-defined kinematic properties. For this device, the influence of dynamic parameters on the energy harvesting performance of the oscillating hydrofoil under coupled motion model is studied.

A fluid-structure interaction (FSI) oscillating hydrofoil system model under coupled motion model, accounting for the transmission structure, has been developed. This model overcomes the limitations of traditional oscillating hydrofoil tidal energy device modeling, which often neglects system coupling characteristics. The accuracy and reliability of this system model were experimentally validated through implementation in a circulating water tank at Harbin Engineering University.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was employed to numerically analyze the influence mechanisms of dynamic parameters (pitching stiffness, heave stiffness, load, and moment of inertia) on energy harvesting efficiency. Results indicate that smaller heave stiffness and pitching stiffness have little effect on energy harvesting performance, but when the stiffness is large, it will have a very adverse effect on energy harvesting performance. System load characteristics and moment of inertia are the core parameters determining energy harvesting efficiency. Load influences the synchrony between hydrofoil motion and hydrodynamic performance, while moment of inertia affects system stability. Both parameters impact hydrofoil motion, thereby altering the dynamic behavior of hydrofoil surface fluids.

Further investigation reveals that dynamic stall phenomena on the hydrofoil surface, along with the separation and reattachment of leading-edge vortices, are key drivers of hydrodynamic fluctuations. These hydrodynamic changes, in turn, influence the oscillatory motion of the hydrofoil system.

Through the fluid-structure interaction between system dynamics and the surface flow field of the hydrofoil, the device achieves a maximum energy harvesting efficiency of 38.32%. This research clarifies the energy harvesting mechanism of oscillating hydrofoil systems and highlights the advantages of the proposed device in environmental adaptability and controllability. It provides theoretical support and technical references for the engineering application of oscillating hydrofoil tidal energy technology.

Presenting Author: Yuzhi Yao Harbin Engineering University

Presenting Author Biography: Yao Yuzhi, PhD candidate at Harbin Engineering University. Advisor: Professor Xu Jianan, Dean of the College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University. Primary research areas: oscillating hydrofoil tidal energy harvesting devices, the fluid-structure interaction, vortex dynamics, mechanical design. He has published 5 SCI papers, 1 EI paper, and 3 conference papers in journals including Physics of Fluids, Applied Ocean Research, and Journal of Harbin Engineering University. He serves as a reviewer for journals such as Physics of Fluids, Ocean Engineering, Energy, and Renewable Energy.

Authors:

Yuzhi Yao Harbin Engineering University
Wenting Diao Harbin Engineering University
Chuang Xu Harbin Engineering University
Jianan Xu Harbin Engineering University