Published: 07 October 2016

Investigations of rotating blade for energy extraction from fluid flow

Janis Viba1
Vitaly Beresnevich2
Stanislavs Noskovs3
Martins Irbe4
1, 2, 3, 4Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia
Corresponding Author:
Janis Viba
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Abstract

Device for energy extraction from fluid (air or water) is investigated. The device consists of a one central rotor with energy generator and several plane blades. All blades are connected to the central rotor with gear system which allows automatically change the orientation of their working surfaces to the direction of the incoming fluid flow. It is considered task that axis of the rotor and blades are perpendicular to fluid flow. System has one degree of freedom as rotation angle of central rotor. Theoretical analysis of the one blade interaction with the fluid flow is given. Calculation of system with one blade is done with MathCAD.

1. Introduction

In this work the authors continue studies initiated in previous works on energy extraction from fluid (water or air) [1, 2]. The motion of one-degree freedom system in which the central rotor is kinematic connected with several blades is analyzed (Fig. 2). The blades interact with fluid flow, automatically taking a certain orientation. According to previous studies blades angles φ and rotor turning angle αi is related to the following Eq. (1) [2]:

1
αi=α0i+0,25π+0,5φ,

where α0i – initial phase of each blade.

Fig. 1Model of a device investigated before [1, 2]

Model of a device investigated before [1, 2]

Fig. 2A schematic diagram of a device. 1 – rotor; 2 – blades; φ – angle of rotor positions; α – angle of blade positions; O1 – rotor axis; O2– blade rotation axis; F – fluid interaction forces [1]

A schematic diagram of a device. 1 – rotor;  2 – blades; φ – angle of rotor positions; α – angle of blade positions; O1 – rotor axis; O2– blade rotation axis; F – fluid interaction forces [1]

This research analyzes the system interaction with the fluid, without taking into account the central rotor interaction, which partially is described as double pendulum in the works [3, 4].

Before the exploration of the all rotation system dynamics it is need to find one blade and fluid interaction forces. At first it is to find out reduction forces to blade rotation axis O2. In this report is studied the case when the initial phase is zero, α00=0, or (Fig. 2):

2
α=0,25π+0,5φ.

1.1. Simplification of fluid flow interaction forces with one blade

For interaction forces simplification the one small ribbon of blade with length dξ is observed (Fig. 3). Then normal component of interaction force Rn at the distance ξ from center O2 depends of normal velocity component in square Eq. (3) [4]:

3
Rn=DnVcosπ4-φ2-ξω2-rωcosπ4-φ22dξ,

where: Dn – constant including density of fluid, width of plate, drag coefficient in normal direction; ω – angular velocity of central rotor; R – radius of center O2; V – flow velocity.

Similarly, the tangential component Rt will be Eq. (4):

4
Rt=-DtVsinπ4-φ2-rωsinπ4-φ22dξ,

where: Dt – constant including density of fluid, width of plate, drag coefficient along plate.

Fig. 3A schematic diagram of interaction force calculation. V – flow velocity; ω – angular velocity of rotor; φ – angle of rotor positions; α=(π/4+0,5⋅φ) – angle of blade position; Rn – fluid interaction normal force; Rt – fluid interactions tangential force

A schematic diagram of interaction force calculation. V – flow velocity; ω – angular velocity  of rotor; φ – angle of rotor positions; α=(π/4+0,5⋅φ) – angle of blade position;  Rn – fluid interaction normal force; Rt – fluid interactions tangential force

Accordingly, to classical mechanics there can be found out reduction forces and moment of forces in the center O2 in the following Eqs. (5-7) [5, 6]:

5
RN=Dn-LLsign1Vcosπ4-φ2-ξω2-rωcosπ4-φ22dξ,
6
RT=--LLsign2DtVsinπ4-φ2-rωsinπ4-φ22dξ,
7
MO2=Dn-LLsign1Vcosπ4-φ2-ξω2-rωsinπ4-φ22ξdξ
-Δ2Dt-LLsign2Vsinπ4-φ2-rωcosπ4-φ22ξdξ,

where RN, RT, MO2 – components of forces vector and forces moment in point O2; 2L – length of blade; sign1, sign2 – +1 or –1, that depends of local interactions directions (see Fig. 3); – width of blade.

Here problem exists to find integrals Eq. (5-7) because sign1 and sign2 switch functions depend of systems parameters L,,R,V and motion parameters (ω, φ).

In this report the simple case is observed when width of plate is small ( 0) and sign1 = +1.

Then from Eq. (5), (7) can be find out:

8
RN=Dn2LVcosπ4-φ2-rωcosπ4-φ22+L3ω26, RT0,
9
MO2 23DnL3ωsinπ4+φ2(V-Rω).

Formulas Eq. (8), (9) can be used for rotor rotation motion investigations.

1.2. Differential equation of rotor motion with one blade

For system with one degree of freedom (angle φ) by using kinetics energy exchange theorem can be find out differential equation of motion [5, 6]:

10
φ¨=1JO1RNrcosπ4-φ2+MO2-Mφ,φ˙-Cgrcosφ,

where: JO1 – constant including system mass, moments of inertia rotor and blade; M(φ,φ˙)) – moment of generator and of resistant forces; Cg – constant of gravitation interaction which takes into account rotation axis orientation and location of center mass.

Eq. (10) may be investigated by computer, checking parameters sign1 = +1. If Cg is large, system does not rotate but starts to move in pendulum vibration regime.

1.3. One blade systems modelling with Math CAD

Some diagrams of modelling with explanations are shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5.

Fig. 4Results of modelling with MathCAD with sign1 = +1 (from rest position till angle φ=3π/2)

Results of modelling with MathCAD with sign1 = +1 (from rest position till angle φ=3π/2)

a) Angular velocity ωn in time tn domain

Results of modelling with MathCAD with sign1 = +1 (from rest position till angle φ=3π/2)

b) Turn angle φn in time domain

Fig. 5Results of modelling in stationary rotation with sign1 = +1 by angle φ= 0 till 3π/2

Results of modelling in stationary rotation with sign1 = +1 by angle φ= 0 till 3π/2

a) Angular velocity ωn in time tn domain

Results of modelling in stationary rotation with sign1 = +1 by angle φ= 0 till 3π/2

b) Fluid interaction moment Mn

2. Conclusions

The possibility to use double pendulum system with additional constraint for energy extraction from fluid is established. The analytical formulas for fluid interaction with rotating blade are given. In future it allows investigated more complicated system with different number of blades and different positioning angles. Results of this report can be used for systems parameters optimization.

References

  • Viba J., Noskovs S., Beresnevich V. Method for Control of Operation Condition of Wind Turbine and Device for Its Realization. Patent LV 15038, Republic of Latvia, Int.Cl. F03D7/06, Izgudrojumi, Precu Zimes un Dizainparaugi, No. 12, 2015, p. 1756
  • Viba J., Noskovs S., Beresnevich V., Dobelis J. New devices for energy extraction from air flow. Proceedings of the Engineering for Rural Development, Jelgava, 2016.
  • Viba J., Vitols D., Tsyfansky S., Beresnevich V., Noskovs S., Jakushevich V. A vibrating object interaction with fluids. Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University, Transport and Engineering, Mechanics, Riga Technical University Press, 2015, p. 7-11, (in Latvian).
  • Ozolins O., Cipruss V., Viba J., Jakovlevs O. Double pendulum motion analysis in variable fluid flow. Proceedings of the Engineering for Rural Development, Jelgava, 2016.
  • Arnold V. I. Problem in Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics. 2nd Ed., Springer-Verlag, New York, 1989, p. 109.
  • Goldstein H., Poole C., Safko J. Classical Mechanics. Third Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2002, p. 647.

About this article

Received
31 August 2016
Accepted
03 September 2016
Published
07 October 2016
SUBJECTS
Flow induced structural vibrations
Keywords
fluid flow
rotor
blade
double pendulum
energy extraction