Synergistic Flow Induced Oscillation of Multiple Cylinders in Harvesting Marine Hydrokinetic Energy

Abstract

Flow Induced Oscillations (FIO) of cylinders in tandem can be enhanced by proper spacing to increase hydrokinetic energy harnessing. In a farm of multiple cylinders in tandem, the issue of the effect of interference on harnessing efficiency arises. Over the course of three years of development in the Marine Renewable Laboratory of the University of Michigan, systematic experiments on an isolated cylinder, and two and three cylinders in tandem have revealed that synergistic FIO can actually enhance oscillations of cylinders in close proximity. Two cylinders in tandem can harness 2.5–13.5 times the hydrokinetic power of one isolated cylinder. Three cylinders in tandem can harness 3.4–26.4 times the hydrokinetic power of one isolated cylinder.