Description

Wind energy can be harnessed for various commercial and transportation-related applications. This study assessed experimentally the potential of capturing wind energy from the passage of vehicles for electric power generation. Both wind tunnel experiments and field tests were performed. The wind tunnel experiments were performed in an open-circuit low-speed wind tunnel at a free-stream mean velocity of 23 m/s. Five PVC pipes placed adjacent to the wind-blowing domain were used to simulate the columns under a freeway overpass. A scaled Ahmad body (simplified car body model) was used as the vehicle. The spanwise distance between the Ahmad body and the tubes was 0.75 W where W is the width of the vehicle. The middle tube was used as a reference tube for circumferential and vertical pressure measurements. The streamwise locations of the vehicle were according to our previous transient numerical simulations as the vehicle approached and passed the columns at 0.1–0.5 sec. Results showed a significant potential of the transient wind generated from passing vehicles and identified optimized locations for harnessing this wind for electric power generation. Field tests were performed using a moving scaled Ahmad body. The vehicle speed was approximately 22 miles/hr (10 m/s.). Wind measurements were made up to 0.75 W adjacent to a vertical wall with static and total pressure taps. Results verified the corresponding wind tunnel results and showed a maximum transient wind of 10 m/s from the passing of the vehicle. These results were in agreement with our previous simulation results. The experiment results suggest great potential for harnessing the wind from vehicles to generate electric power, benefiting California's renewable energy goals.

Publication Date

12-2024

Publication Type

Report

Topic

Transportation Engineering, Transportation Technology, Sustainable Transportation and Land Use

Digital Object Identifier

10.31979/mti.2024.2334

MTI Project

2334

Keywords

Wind power, Sustainability, Wind energy, Transportation technology, Energy harvesting

Disciplines

Sustainability | Transportation

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