Energy harvesting by bio-inspired inverted C-cylinders in stagger arrangements

Abstract

To use the well-adapted models and structures of living organisms for solving engineering problems is known as biomimetics. As the piezoelectric eel is placed in the wake of a bluff body, the strain is developed in the eel and the electrical voltage is generated which is sufficient to provide the power to sensors in the ocean. The bio-inspired fins like dorsal, pectoral and pelvic affixed on the 120°, 150°, and 180° cut angle inverted C-cylinders are used as a bluff body, and the investigation in terms of electrical voltage, flapping frequency, and peak-to-peak oscillating amplitude is done. These parameters are examined by varying Gx (ratio of horizontal distance between the center of the cylinder and the leading edge of eel by the diameter of a cylinder) from 1 to 2.5 and Gy from 0.5 to 1.5. Maximum energy is harvested when a flag is near the point of high amplitude and frequency causing more deformation and strain rate. The maximum power of 84.88 μW is noticed when the dorsal fin affixed on 180° cut angle cylinder is used as a bluff body. The trailing edge of the eel covers the maximum amplitude of 14.818 mm, 5.45 cycles per second for the case of Gx=2 and Gy=0.5. The percentage increment of 39.68 is noticed by using Dorsal 180° rather than pectoral 180° cut angle cylinder.