Modular Power Generator

• US 20160195073A1
• Filed: 03/10/2016
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Lawrence Kellogg, Mingming Guo Kellogg
• Original Assignee: Joseph Lawrence Kellogg, Mingming Guo Kellogg
• Inventors: Kellogg, Joseph Lawrence, Kellogg, Mingming Guo
• Granted Patent: US 10,352,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/065 using a shape memory element
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/02 having two cylinders in V-arrangement F04B1/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/06 Control
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/06 the pumps being all of reciprocating positive-displacement type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1807 Rotary generators H02K7/006 takes precedence

Abstract

A modular power generator is provided. In some embodiments, the modular power generator can utilize or otherwise leverage one or more harvesting modules, each consisting of one or more nitinol elements, to harvest low grade thermal energy, converting it into high grade mechanical energy. The mechanical energy can be decoupled from the power generator by a mechanical energy storage mechanism, an energy transfer mechanism, and a control mechanism. Stored mechanical energy can be utilized on demand or asynchronously with respect to the generation of the mechanical energy.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first module comprising a shape memory alloy member having a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the shape memory alloy member configured to transition to a tensile state at a defined transition temperature; and

a mechanism mechanically coupled to proximal end of the shape memory alloy member, the mechanism comprising a piston configured to move in response to the shape memory alloy member transitioning to the tensile state, resulting in a first amount of pressurized fluid within the mechanism;

a valve coupled to a hydraulic cylinder containing the mechanism, the valve configured to release a portion of the first amount of pressurized fluid; and

a second module that contains a second amount of pressurized fluid, the second module configured to receive the portion of the first amount of pressurized fluid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third module comprising a second shape memory alloy member having a second proximal end and a second opposing distal end, the second shape memory alloy member configured to transition to a second tensile state at a second defined transition temperature;

and

a second mechanism mechanically coupled to the second proximal end of the second shape memory alloy member, the second mechanism configured to move a second piston in a second hydraulic cylinder in response to the second shape memory alloy member transitioning to the second tensile state, resulting in a third amount of pressurized fluid within the second hydraulic cylinder.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second valve coupled to the second module, the second valve configured to release a second portion of the second amount of pressurized fluid;

and

a power generator configured to receive the second portion of the second amount of pressurized fluid, resulting in an amount of power being produced at the power generator.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a vessel that supplies an unpressurized fluid;

and

a third valve coupled to the vessel, the third valve configured to release a third amount of the unpressurized fluid to the hydraulic cylinder.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy member comprises a rod comprising a nickel-titanium alloy, and wherein the defined transition temperature is in a range from about 5 degrees Celsius to about 30 degrees Celsius.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rod is crystalline and has a longitudinal axis oriented along a <

1,0,0>

crystalline direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rod has a diameter in the range from about 1.0 mm to about 8.0 mm, and wherein the rod has a length in the range from about 100.0 mm to about 500.0 mm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy member comprises a rod comprising a nickel-copper-titanium alloy, wherein a concentration of copper is at most about 20 at %.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a rigid support member;

a first ring terminal rigidly affixed to the proximal end of the shape memory alloy member, the first ring terminal comprising a titanium alloy; and

a second titanium ring terminal rigidly affixed to the opposing distal end of the shape memory alloy member, the second ring terminal comprising the titanium alloy.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first module has a surface coated at least in part with an absorptive material, the surface opposes a second surface of the shape memory alloy member.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first module further comprises a movable enclosure having a surface coated at least in part with an absorptive material, the movable enclosure defining an opening at an end of the movable enclosure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the movable enclosure is configured to move along a direction in which the rigid support member extends from the proximal end to the opposing distal end, movement of the movable enclosure is responsive to the transition to the tensile state.

13. A method, comprising:

causing a shape memory alloy member to transition to a tensile state, resulting in a contraction of the shape memory alloy member;

causing a linear displacement of a piston in a hydraulic cylinder, the linear displacement corresponding to the contraction;

pressurizing an amount of fluid in the hydraulic cylinder in response to the linear displacement; and

supplying the amount of pressurized fluid to a pressure storage vessel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising releasing a second amount of pressurized fluid from the pressure storage vessel.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the causing the shape memory alloy member to transition to the tensile state comprises heating the shape memory alloy to a temperature greater than a defined transition temperature.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

first modules comprising respective thermoelastic rods, each of the respective thermoelastic rods having a proximal end and an opposing distal end, and each of the respective thermoelastic rods configured to transition from a first tensile state to a second tensile state at a defined transition temperature; and

the first modules comprising respective mechanisms associated with the respective thermoelastic rods, each of the respective mechanisms mechanically coupled to a respective proximal end of a respective thermoelastic rod, and each of the respective mechanisms comprising a piston configured to move in response to the respective thermoelastic rod transitioning to the tensile state, resulting in respective first amounts of pressurized fluid within the respective mechanisms;

a valve coupled to hydraulic cylinders containing the respective mechanisms, the valve configured to release a portion of the first amount of pressurized fluid; and

a second module that contains a second amount of pressurized fluid, the second module configured to receive the portion of the first amount of pressurized fluid.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the termoelastic rods comprises at least one of a rod comprising a nickel-titanium alloy, and wherein the defined transition temperature is in a range from about −

100 degrees Celsius to about 160 degrees Celsius.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the thermoelastic rods comprises a shape memory polymer.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the rod has a diameter in the range from about 1.0 mm to about 8.0 mm, and wherein the rod has a length in the range from about 100.0 mm to about 500.0 mm.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the shape memory alloy member comprises a rod comprising a nickel-copper-titanium alloy, wherein a concentration of copper is at most about 20 at %.