Energy harvesting in tuned liquid column dampers using Savonius type hydrokinetic turbines

In this study, a new method that combines the tuned liquid column damper (TLCD) and the Savonius type hydrokinetic turbine (STHT) is proposed to harvest energy from mechanical vibrations of structures in a green power production way. The proposed approach converts hydrokinetic energy into electrical energy during the vibration control process. Excessive shaking table tests are performed to investigate the starting performance and energy conversion efficiency. An optimized circuit configuration is revealed for power maximization. The impact of STHT on the dynamic characteristics of TLCD is elaborated. In addition, a parallel circuit that allows both charging of energy storage components and vibration control is illustrated and experimentally verified. The results demonstrate the feasibility and characteristics of the approach in energy harvesting.

Automated summary

In this study, a new method is proposed to harvest energy from mechanical vibrations of structures by combining the tuned liquid column damper (TLCD) and the Savonius type hydrokinetic turbine (STHT) in a green power production way. The hydrokinetic energy is converted into electrical energy during the vibration control process. Shaking table tests are performed to investigate the starting performance and energy conversion efficiency, and an optimized circuit configuration is revealed for power maximization. The feasibility and characteristics of the approach in energy harvesting are demonstrated.