Session: Poster Session

Paper Number: 148390

148390 - Design of a Compliant Straight-Line Generator to Harvest Energy From Transverse Galloping Induced by Low-Speed Wind 

In this paper, a 3D-printed compliant mechanism is designed and tested for energy harvesting. The design is based on a Chebyschev straight-line linkage that pushes a magnetized iron rod through a stationary coil in a linear motion. The device is driven by an incoming wind stream that flows around a bluff body, thereby inducing self-sustained transverse galloping that operates an electromagnetic device. Unlike traditional wind turbines, this device responds to low-velocity wind speeds and contains few mechanical parts, thus minimizing mechanical losses and friction. The use of 3D printing in energy harvesting enables the fabrication of deformable polymer mechanisms with specified dynamic characteristics, including stiffness and natural frequency. The design also offers advantages over conventional cantilever-type energy harvesters including its ability to produce favorable motion patterns needed for the development of low-cost electromagnetic harvesters. Two bluff body geometries, a triangular cross-section and a triangular cross-section with groove were analyzed and tested. The proposed device has a potential application in providing sustainable energy for various outdoor settings, such as wireless sensors for structural health monitoring and agriculture. Flow across the bluff body is investigated by a computational fluid dynamics model, whereas the geometry and material properties of the compliant mechanism are designed by finite element analysis. The device has been tested experimentally to determine the electrical output at different wind speeds.

Presenting Author: Youssef Abdelmoneim American University in Cairo

Presenting Author Biography: Youssef AbdelMoneim received his BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the American University in Cairo, Egypt in 2022. He is currently pursuing his MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

Authors:

Youssef Abdelmoneim American University in Cairo
Mustafa Arafa American University in Cairo