Self-sustaining Wind Energy Extraction Technique (SWEET) Using Multi-Level Control Design Methods

This international collaboration project supported by NSF-BSF grant involves ERAU Departments of Aerospace Engineering (co-PIs: Dr. Vladimir Golubev and Dr. Reda Mankbadi) and Physical Sciences (PI: Dr. William MacKunis), and Israeli Technion University (co-PI: Dr. Oksana Stalnov). The primary scientific objective of the proposed research is to investigate and experimentally validate new physics-based closed-loop active flow control methods that can be utilized to enhance the fluid kinetic energy harvesting capability of oscillating foil-based wind energy harvesting systems. Specifically, some of the challenges addressed in the conducted research stem from the conventional inability to sustain limit cycle oscillations (i.e., plunging and pitching foil displacements) and achieve continual power generation in realistic, time-varying operating conditions. The scientific objective is achieved using a ground-up multidisciplinary approach, which synergistically combines the international collaborative efforts in (1) physics-based mathematical modeling and closed-loop control design and analysis; (2) development of high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics simulations to optimize foil geometry and to test closed-loop flow control methods; and (3) experimental wind tunnel testing and validation of new closed-loop oscillating foil-based fluid kinetic energy harvesting systems under realistic conditions that foils will encounter under atmospheric boundary layer.