Device and method for harvesting energy from flow-induced oscillations

• US 20110084493A1
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kaplan A. Morris
• Original Assignee: Kaplan A. Morris
• Inventors: Kaplan, A. Morris
• Granted Patent: US 8,519,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/182 with a to-and-fro movement
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/06 using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type , "run-of-river", "ultra-low head" F03B13/264 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 5/06 the wind-engaging parts swinging to-and-fro and not rotating
• 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: F05B 2210/16 Air or water being indistinctly used as working fluid, i.e. the machine can work equally with air or water without any modification
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/41 with one degree of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/70 Wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A device and method utilizing a quasi-stationary oscillating process to generate electricity by using an interaction between a turbulent flow and an elastic oscillating structure comprising a conductor in the presence of a magnetic field, followed by rectification of thus generated electromotive force, and a combination of similar independent multiple oscillating structures into a connected grid. An arbitrary number of adjustable generating cells can be connected into a single circuit, either in-series or in-parallel, to increase an overall power output. The disclosure is capable to operate under wide range of flow characteristics and can serve as a source of renewable power.

Claims

1. A device for generating electrical power from a flow, said device comprising:

at least one elastic element for placing into a flow, said elastic element having at least one end fixed to a base;

at least one conductor, wherein said at least one conductor is attached to said at least one elastic element; and

a magnetic field source configured to apply a magnetic field to said at least one conductor;

wherein said elastic element is configured to oscillate in response to said flow, causing displacements of said conductor in said magnetic field, said magnetic field inducing an electromotive force in said conductor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said conductor comprises an active portion and a passive portion, and wherein said active portion is configured for maximum electromotive force induction therein and said passive portion is configured for minimum electromotive force induction therein.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said flow is an air flow.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic element is in a quasi-stationary breezon state.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the orientation of said elastic element with respect to said flow is optimized to facilitate oscillations of said elastic element.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a flow-controlling element for adjusting the velocity of said flow and the direction of said flow in proximity of said elastic element.

7. The device of claim 1, comprising at least two of said elastic elements.

8. An electrical power generating system, said system comprising:

at least two devices for generating electrical power from a flow, said devices being electrically connected, each device comprising;

at least one vibrating assembly for placing into said flow, said vibrating assembly comprising

at least one elastic element for placing into said flow, said elastic element having at least one end fixed to a base, and

at least one conductor, wherein said conductor is attached to said elastic element; and

a magnetic field source configured to apply a magnetic field to said conductor;

wherein said vibrating assembly is configured to oscillate in response to said flow causing displacements of said conductor in said magnetic field, said magnetic field inducing an electromotive force in said conductor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said conductor comprises an active portion and a passive portion, and wherein said active portion is configured for maximum electromotive force induction therein and said passive portion is configured for minimum electromotive force induction therein.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising an electrical scheme for processing said electromotive force, said electrical scheme comprising electromotive force rectifying circuit.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said circuit provides single polarity electromotive force for aggregating electromotive forces from said at least two devices.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the configuration of said vibrating assembly is optimized for maximum conversion efficiency.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said devices are electrically connected in-series.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said devices are electrically connected in-parallel.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one component of said devices is micro-fabricated.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein said devices are combined into an array.

17. The system of claim 17, wherein said array has an arrangement substantially possessing a three-fold symmetry.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said array has an arrangement substantially possessing a two-fold symmetry.

19. A method for generating electricity, said method comprising:

placing into a flow an elastic element having a conductor attached thereto, said elastic element having at least one end fixed to a base, wherein said elastic element is oscillating in response to said flow; and

applying a magnetic field to said conductor, wherein said magnetic field induces an electromotive force in said conductor.

20. The method of claim 20, further comprising placing a source of said magnetic field in proximity to said conductor.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising inducing a quasi-stationary breezon state in said at least one elastic element.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising rectifying said electromotive force.

23. The method of claim 23, further comprising combining said electromotive force with another electromotive force, said combining step following said rectifying step.