Regulating pressure and harvesting energy as relates to flow meters and metrology hardware
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a pipe section forming a flowpath;
a rotary mechanical device at least partially disposed in the flow path;
a generator operative to generate a first electrical signal in response to rotation of the rotary mechanical device; and
a load control device connected in parallel with the generator and with a load, the load control device operative to generate a second electrical signal that is applied to the generator to modulate operation of the generator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy harvester for use in-line with a pipe to harness potential and kinetic energy of fluids flowing therein. Structure for the energy harvester may include a shaft and a blade extending radially therefrom. The shaft can penetrate a housing that operates as a pipe section to install the device in-line with pipe. The shaft can couple with an electrical generator. A load may connect with voltage terminals on the generator so that fluid impinging on the blades will rotate the generator to power the load, effectively harvesting power from the flowing fluid. In one implementation, a load control device that couples with the generator voltage terminals controls a pressure characteristic of the fluid, such as pressure drop, by applying an electrical load on the generator and controllably impeding rotation of the shaft.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a pipe section forming a flowpath; a rotary mechanical device at least partially disposed in the flow path; a generator operative to generate a first electrical signal in response to rotation of the rotary mechanical device; and a load control device connected in parallel with the generator and with a load, the load control device operative to generate a second electrical signal that is applied to the generator to modulate operation of the generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus, comprising:
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an elongate tube having a peripheral wall forming a bore terminating at open ends with flanges; a shaft extending across the bore; blades coupled with the shaft and disposed in the bore; pressure sensors disposed on either side of the blades; and a circuit configured to connect a load in parallel with, a load control device with a microcontroller coupled with the pressure sensors; and a generator coupled with the load control device and with the shaft, wherein the microcontroller is operative to calculate pressure drop across the blades using values from the pressure sensors to cause the load control device to generate an electrical signal that is applied to the generator to impede rotation of the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising:
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using a rotary mechanical device in a pipe section to drive a generator in response to flow of natural gas through the pipe section; directing a first electrical signal from the generator to a gas meter; and generating a second electrical signal that is applied to the generator, the second electrical signal transiting a circuit that connects the generator in parallel with a load, the second signal used to modulate operation of the generator and influence rotation of the rotary mechanical device to set pressure of the flow downstream of the rotary mechanical device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification