SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENERGY GENERATION IN AN OIL FIELD ENVIRONMENT

• US 20090267452A1
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: vMonitor LLC (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: vMonitor, Inc.
• Inventors: Abdallah, Raed H.
• Application Number:
  US12/108,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20090267452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/319
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01

Abstract

A system and method for power generation in an oil field environment is disclosed.

Claims

1. A power generation system, the system comprising:

an electric energy generation material in contact with an external surface of a flow pipe;

an electrical energy storage element in electrical communication with the electric energy generation material; and

an electrical device in electrical communication with the energy storage element

2. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the electric energy generation material further comprises a clamp mechanically fastened to the exterior surface of the flow pipe.

3. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the electric energy generation material further comprises a electric energy generation pendulum piece having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is mechanically attached to the external surface of the flow pipe.

4. The power generation system of claim 3, wherein the electric energy generation pendulum piece second end is attached to a mass.

5. The power generation system of claim 3, wherein the electric energy generation pendulum piece is surrounded by a housing structure.

6. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the electric energy generation material further comprises a flow meter containing the electric energy generation material.

7. The power generation system of claim 6, wherein the flow meter is substantially made out of the electric energy generation material.

8. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the electrical device further comprises a radio transmitter in wireless communication with a SCADA system.

9. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the electric energy generation further comprises a piezoelectric material that generates electrical energy from vibration energy due to flow of a fluid in the flow pipe.

10. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the electric energy generation further comprises a piezoelectric material that generates electrical energy from thermal expansion and contraction of the flow pipe.

11. A method for generating power, the method comprising:

fastening an electric energy generation material to an external surface of a flow pipe;

transferring power generated by the electric energy generation material to an electrical energy storage element in electrical communication with the electric energy generation material; and

transferring power from the electrical energy storage element to an electrical device in electrical communication with the energy storage element.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the electric energy generation material further comprises a clamp mechanically fastened to the exterior of the flow pipe.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the electric energy generation material further comprises a electric energy generation pendulum piece having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is mechanically attached to the external surface of the flow pipe.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electric energy generation pendulum piece second end is attached to a mass.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the electric energy generation pendulum piece is surrounded by a housing structure.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the electric energy generation material further comprises a flow meter containing the electric energy generation material.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the flow meter is substantially made out of the electric energy generation material.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the electrical device further comprises a radio transmitter in wireless communication with a SCADA system.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the electric energy generation further comprises a piezoelectric material, the method further comprising:

generating electrical energy in the piezoelectric material from turbulent energy from vibration due to flow of a fluid in the flow pipe.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the electric energy generation further comprises a piezoelectric material the method further comprising:

generating electrical energy in the piezoelectric material from thermal expansion and contraction of a fluid in the flow pipe.