Effect of geometric configuration on the performance of a bladeless wind turbine: A numerical and experimental study

Research on bladeless wind turbines (BWTs) based on vortex-induced vibration has increased due to the need for sustainable energy and the limitations of conventional wind turbines. BWTs eliminate complex rotating components such as blades and gearboxes, offering a simpler and potentially more reliable design. This study presents a cost-effective numerical and experimental investigation of BWT performance using conic and double frustum masts mounted on a flexible beam. The MATLAB Simulink was used to anlayze the vibration dynamics of the BWT mast, while experimental tests were conducted in a subsonic wind tunnel to analyze the single and double frustum mast. The mast vibrations were recorded using a 60 fps camera, and tip displacement was obtained through an open-source video-based analysis method. The study evaluates vibration frequency, amplitude, and displacement to improve energy harvesting efficiency. Results indicate that the double frustum mast achieves a maximum tip displacement of 0.021 m and exhibits more stable oscillations than the conic mast at a lock-in velocity of 1.7 m/s.