Title :
Hydrokinetic oscillators for ocean energy sources
Author :
Hall, Edward C. ; Liu, Wayne P.
Author_Institution :
Code 564 Autonomous Syst. Div., Space & Naval Warfare Syst. Center Pacific, San Diego, CA, USA
Abstract :
The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) is currently researching the use of hydrokinetic oscillators to generate power for remote ocean systems. These cylinder oscillators would harness the same Flow Induced Vibration (FIV) mechanisms that often lead to annoying perturbations, flow noise and sometimes structural failures in offshore structures, cables, and heat exchanger tubes. A Yr 1 hydrokinetic oscillator was developed to demonstrate undersea energy harvesting in 1 m/s flows with flow induced vibrations (FIV) imparted on a cantilevered cylinder (200 mm × 12.7 mm dia). The program goal is to combine a compact cylinder oscillator with an SSC Pacific Kinetic Energy Harvester (KEH) that operates at 10 - 15 Hz and which could output 200 to 700 mW power if exposed to 1 - 2 g-rms vibrations. Midterm Yr 1 tests were conducted on a 12.7 mm diameter cylinder and KEH mockup in 0.6 m/s flow and resulted in 8 Hz oscillation frequencies with 1 - 2 g accelerations. Further testing with other cylinder configurations and flow speeds will be conducted in Fall 2011 at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography Stratified Flow Channel in La Jolla, CA.
Keywords :
energy harvesting; flow; heat exchangers; oscillators; renewable energy sources; vibrations; FIV; KEH; SSC pacific kinetic energy harvester; Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific; cables; cantilevered cylinder; flow induced vibrations; frequency 10 Hz to 15 Hz; frequency 8 Hz; heat exchanger tubes; hydrokinetic oscillators; ocean energy sources; offshore structures; power 200 mW to 700 mW; size 12.7 mm; structural failures; Acceleration; Damping; Energy harvesting; Kinetic energy; Oscillators; Testing; Vibrations;
Conference_Titel :
OCEANS 2011
Conference_Location :
Waikoloa, HI
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4577-1427-6