Effects of Installation Angle on Energy Harvesting Performance of Airfoil-Based Piezoelectric Energy Harvester
2025
Rongjiang Tang | Dianliang Li | Yanhong Wei | Enze Li | Zeyu You
This study introduces a novel optimization approach for airfoil-based flutter energy harvesters through installation angle adjustment, addressing a critical research gap in the field where previous studies have primarily focused on structural modifications. To investigate this unexplored avenue, we developed a flutter energy harvester with an adjustable installation angle mechanism, aiming to reduce critical flutter velocity, broaden operational bandwidth, and improve energy harvesting efficiency under low-speed airflow conditions. The performance characteristics of the harvester were comprehensively evaluated through both numerical simulations incorporating fluid–structure-electrical coupling and wind tunnel experiments conducted at four distinct installation angles (0°, 3°, 6°, and 9°). The experimental results demonstrated a significant correlation between installation angle and critical flutter velocity, showing a consistent reduction from 7.8 m/s at 0° to 7.2 m/s at 6°, and further decreasing to 6.3 m/s at 9°. Notably, optimal performance was achieved at a moderate installation angle of 3°, yielding a maximum output voltage of 12.0 V and power output of 0.58 mW, which substantially exceeded the baseline performance at 0° (10.9 V, 0.48 mW). However, further increasing the installation angle to 9° led to performance degradation, attributed to a premature aerodynamic stall, resulting in reduced output metrics of 7.9 V and 0.25 mW for voltage and power, respectively. These findings demonstrate a simple yet effective method for enhancing flutter energy harvesting performance in low-speed airflow conditions.
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