ENERGY HARVESTING FROM FLOW-INDUCED VIBRATIONS

• US 20100308599A1
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Bettin, Giorgia, Pabon, Jahir A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,604,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1A
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy

Abstract

Electrical energy is produced at a remote site by converting kinetic energy from fluid flow to electrical energy using a downhole harvesting apparatus. The downhole harvesting apparatus includes a vibrating sleeve member that vibrates in response to fluid flow through a tubular housing structure. The vibration of the sleeve is used to generate electrical power. The harvesting apparatus may include features to help maintain constant fluid flow in the tubular structure. The harvesting apparatus can be tuned to different vibration and flow regimes in order to enhance energy conversion efficiency.

Claims

1. Apparatus for converting kinetic energy to electrical energy comprising:

a housing with at least two openings through which fluid is permitted to traverse;

a vibrating sleeve operatively connected on the outside of the housing;

the vibrating sleeve containing at least two sleeve openings;

the vibrating sleeve characterized by mechanical properties that permit the vibrating sleeve to oscillate; and

a device that converts sleeve oscillation to electrical energy.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein sleeve oscillations are generated in response to fluid flow in the environment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein sleeve oscillations are generated in response to vortex shedding in the environment.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein sleeve oscillations are axial oscillations.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein sleeve oscillations are lateral oscillations.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two openings are aligned with the at least two sleeve openings.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two openings are circular.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two sleeve openings are circular.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two sleeve openings are offset on opposite sides of the vibrating sleeve.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two sleeve openings are aligned on the same side of the vibrating sleeve.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at rest the at least two sleeve openings are partially shielded.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at rest 50% of each of the sleeve openings is shielded.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein movement simultaneously opens one of the at least two sleeve openings and closes one of the at least two sleeve openings.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an anchor that fixes the vibrating sleeve in place when deployed.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 further including at least one spring member that controls the range of relative motion and defines a resonant frequency of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the spring member includes a flexure.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vibrating sleeve moves in response to natural flow fluctuations.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein fluid flow into the housing is nearly constant.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is a segment of production tubing.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vibrating sleeve further comprises:

at least one coil;

a plurality of stacked annular magnets arranged with respect to the at least one coil such that magnetic flux from the magnets induces an electric current through the coil in response to relative motion between the magnets and at least one coil.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further including at least one magnetically permeable plate.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the at least one coil are placed around the vibrating sleeve.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least one coil are attached to at least one magnetically permeable plate.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the at least one magnetically permeable plate is attached to an anchoring ring.

25. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the vibrating sleeve moves relative to the at least one coil which is stationary.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vibrating sleeve weight corresponds to a predetermined natural frequency.

27. A method for converting kinetic energy to electrical energy, the method comprising the steps of:

flowing fluid in a first direction through the at least two openings of a housing;

vibrating a sleeve operatively connected on the housing in response to the flowing fluid through the at least two sleeve openings; and

generating electrical energy in response to the vibrating sleeve moving in an oscillatory manner.

28. The method of claim 27 further including the step of generating oscillatory movement of the vibrating sleeve in response to fluid flow in the environment.

29. The method of claim 27 further including the step of generating oscillatory movement of the vibrating sleeve in response to vortex shedding in the environment.

30. The method of claim 27, further including the step of controlling the range of relative motion with a spring and defining a resonant frequency with the spring.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising moving the vibrating sleeve in response to natural flow fluctuations.

32. Apparatus for converting kinetic energy to electrical energy comprising:

a housing having a first axial flow passage formed therethrough;

a vortex shedding device located on the end of the housing;

the vortex shedding device characterized by mechanical properties that permit the vortex shedding device to oscillate; and

a device that converts vortex shedding device oscillations to electrical energy.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the housing is production tubing.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein oscillations of the vortex shedding sleeve are generated in response to fluid flow in the environment.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein oscillations of the vortex shedding sleeve are generated in response to vortex shedding in the environment.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 further including at least one spring member that controls the range of relative motion and defines a resonant frequency of the apparatus.