Influence of the swing-arm length and oscillation frequency on energy harvesting performance of the oscillating hydrofoil in swing-arm mode

Journal Article

Title: Influence of the swing-arm length and oscillation frequency on energy harvesting performance of the oscillating hydrofoil in swing-arm mode

Author:

Xu, J.; Yao, Y.; Diao, W.; Zhu, X.; Zhan, Y.

Publication Date:

January 15, 2026

Journal:

Ocean Engineering

Volume:

343

Issue:

Pages:

123416

Publisher:

Elsevier

Affiliation:

Harbin Engineering University

Technology:

Current, Oscillating Hydrofoil

Collection Method:

Lab Data, Modeling

Engineering:

Hydrodynamics, Performance

Language:

English

Document Access

Website:

External Link

Citation

APA
BibTex
RIS

Xu, J.; Yao, Y.; Diao, W.; Zhu, X.; Zhan, Y. (2026). Influence of the swing-arm length and oscillation frequency on energy harvesting performance of the oscillating hydrofoil in swing-arm mode. Ocean Engineering, 343(3), 123416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.123416

@article{Xu-2026-,
author = {Xu, J and Yao, Y and Diao, W and Zhu, X and Zhan, Y},
title = {Influence of the swing-arm length and oscillation frequency on energy harvesting performance of the oscillating hydrofoil in swing-arm mode},
journal = {Ocean Engineering},
year = {2026},
month = {jan},
publisher = {Elsevier},
volume = {343},
number = {3},
pages = {123416},
doi = {10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.123416},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0029801825030999?casa_token=MLO8L1uxXr0AAAAA:7sYVReTW9Lv_NAukGSkpwF9ZgwdrAIIT6y905LUjMlugld3GsoI2a74ja5WBFntEiOklYpUQ4Q},
keywords = {Current, Oscillating Hydrofoil, Lab Data, Modeling, Hydrodynamics, Performance},
}

Export Citation to BibTex

TY - JOUR
TI - Influence of the swing-arm length and oscillation frequency on energy harvesting performance of the oscillating hydrofoil in swing-arm mode
AU - Xu, J
AU - Yao, Y
AU - Diao, W
AU - Zhu, X
AU - Zhan, Y
T2 - Ocean Engineering
AB - This research investigates the energy harvesting potential of the oscillating hydrofoil, and the device recognized for its environmentally friendly approach to tidal energy extraction. The research focuses specifically on the oscillating hydrofoil in swing-arm mode. A kinematic model and an effective angle of attack model, both incorporating the swing-arm motion, are developed and subsequently validated through numerical simulations and experimental data. Utilizing numerical simulations, the parametric analysis is conducted to examine the influence of the swing-arm length and the oscillation frequency on energy harvesting efficiency. The analysis revealed a consistent trend in energy harvesting power across varying swing-arm lengths at an optimal oscillation frequency. Decreasing the swing-arm length resulted in a gradual increase in the peak magnitudes of the lift, moment, and drag coefficients. This behavior is attributed to alterations in the x-direction velocity and the resulting vortex dynamics induced by the swing motion. Furthermore, the phenomena of dynamic stall, leading-edge vortex shedding, and subsequent reattachment are identified as significant contributors to the observed force fluctuations. These complex flow phenomena intensified with increasing the oscillation frequency. The swing-arm configuration exhibits a slight improvement in energy harvesting efficiency compared to the oscillating hydrofoil in linear motion mode at specific frequencies. When the swing-arm length equals twice the chord length and the oscillation frequency is 0.11, the energy harvesting efficiency reaches 39.54 %. This represents a 3.44 % increase over the linear motion mode's optimal energy harvesting efficiency. However, this advantage is highly sensitive to the operating frequency. Specifically, the efficiency of the swing-arm hydrofoil exhibited a rapid decline at higher frequencies. Consequently, these findings suggest that either the oscillating hydrofoil in linear motion or in swing-arm mode with a long swing-arm length represents a more practical and robust option for energy harvesting applications.
DA - 2026/01//
PY - 2026
PB - Elsevier
VL - 343
IS - 3
SP - 123416
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0029801825030999?casa_token=MLO8L1uxXr0AAAAA:7sYVReTW9Lv_NAukGSkpwF9ZgwdrAIIT6y905LUjMlugld3GsoI2a74ja5WBFntEiOklYpUQ4Q
DO - 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.123416
LA - English
KW - Current
KW - Oscillating Hydrofoil
KW - Lab Data
KW - Modeling
KW - Hydrodynamics
KW - Performance
ER -

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Abstract

This research investigates the energy harvesting potential of the oscillating hydrofoil, and the device recognized for its environmentally friendly approach to tidal energy extraction. The research focuses specifically on the oscillating hydrofoil in swing-arm mode. A kinematic model and an effective angle of attack model, both incorporating the swing-arm motion, are developed and subsequently validated through numerical simulations and experimental data. Utilizing numerical simulations, the parametric analysis is conducted to examine the influence of the swing-arm length and the oscillation frequency on energy harvesting efficiency. The analysis revealed a consistent trend in energy harvesting power across varying swing-arm lengths at an optimal oscillation frequency. Decreasing the swing-arm length resulted in a gradual increase in the peak magnitudes of the lift, moment, and drag coefficients. This behavior is attributed to alterations in the x-direction velocity and the resulting vortex dynamics induced by the swing motion. Furthermore, the phenomena of dynamic stall, leading-edge vortex shedding, and subsequent reattachment are identified as significant contributors to the observed force fluctuations. These complex flow phenomena intensified with increasing the oscillation frequency. The swing-arm configuration exhibits a slight improvement in energy harvesting efficiency compared to the oscillating hydrofoil in linear motion mode at specific frequencies. When the swing-arm length equals twice the chord length and the oscillation frequency is 0.11, the energy harvesting efficiency reaches 39.54 %. This represents a 3.44 % increase over the linear motion mode's optimal energy harvesting efficiency. However, this advantage is highly sensitive to the operating frequency. Specifically, the efficiency of the swing-arm hydrofoil exhibited a rapid decline at higher frequencies. Consequently, these findings suggest that either the oscillating hydrofoil in linear motion or in swing-arm mode with a long swing-arm length represents a more practical and robust option for energy harvesting applications.