Self-powered smart blade: helicopter blade energy harvesting

Matthew Bryant; Austin Fang; Ephrahim Garcia

doi:10.1117/12.847310

9 April 2010 Self-powered smart blade: helicopter blade energy harvesting

Matthew Bryant, Austin Fang, Ephrahim Garcia

Proceedings Volume 7643, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2010; 764317 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.847310
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A novel energy harvesting device powered by aeroelastic flutter vibrations is proposed to generate power for embedded wireless sensors on a helicopter rotor blade. Such wireless sensing and on-board power generation system would eliminate the need for maintenance intensive slip ring systems that are required for hardwired sensors. A model of the system has been developed to predict the response and output of the device as a function of the incident wind speed. A system of coupled equations that describe the structural, aerodynamic, and electromechanical aspects of the system are presented. The model uses semi-empirical, unsteady, nonlinear aerodynamics modeling to predict the aerodynamic forces and moments acting on the structure and to account for the effects of vortex shedding and dynamic stall. These nonlinear effects are included to predict the limit cycle behavior of the system over a range of wind speeds. The model results are compared to preliminary wind tunnel tests of a low speed aeroelastic energy harvesting experiment.

Citation Download Citation

Matthew Bryant, Austin Fang, and Ephrahim Garcia "Self-powered smart blade: helicopter blade energy harvesting", Proc. SPIE 7643, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2010, 764317 (9 April 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.847310

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available