Prediction of energy harvesting efficiency through a wake–foil interaction model for oscillating foil arrays

Abstract

This research investigates the wake–foil interactions between two oscillating foils in a tandem configuration undergoing energy harvesting kinematics. Oscillating foils have been shown to extract hydrokinetic energy from free-stream flows through a combination of periodic heave and pitch motions, at relatively higher amplitudes and lower reduced frequency than thrust generating foils. When placed in tandem, the wake–foil interactions can govern the energy harvesting efficiency of the system due to a reduced relative flow velocity in combination with a structured and coherent wake of vortices shed from the high amplitude flapping of upstream foils. This work utilizes simulations of two tandem foils to parameterize and model the energy harvesting performance as a function of array configuration and foil kinematics. Once the wake of the leading foil has been fully parameterized, the placement, phase angle and kinematic stroke of the second foil is utilized to estimate the time-dependent power curve. The algorithm predicts the power of the second foil through the mean and unsteady wake characteristics, including the direct impingement of a vortex with the trailing foil.