SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HARVESTING ENERGY

• US 20200136467A1
• Filed: 10/25/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Original Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation (State of Utah)
• Inventors: Kim, Hanseup, Rahman, Mahbubur, Hart, Jonathan Neil
• Application Number:
  US16/664,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20200136467A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0054 provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/38 with power sources
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 11/08 with only one servomotor
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1884 structurally associated with free piston engines

Abstract

An energy harvesting system including a channel, a first coil having a clockwise rotation around the channel, a second coil having a counter clockwise rotation around the channel, and magnetic train. The magnetic train is configured to move through the channel, the magnetic train including a plurality of oppositely-alternating magnets.

Claims

1. An energy harvesting system comprising:

a channel;

a first coil having a clockwise rotation around the channel;

a second coil having a counter clockwise rotation around the channel; and

a magnetic train configured to move through the channel, the magnetic train including a plurality of oppositely-alternating magnets.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of oppositely-alternating magnets include:

a first magnet having a first north polarity and a first south polarity, and

a second magnet having a second north polarity and a second south polarity, the second magnet positioned such that the second north polarity is proximate the first north polarity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of oppositely-alternating magnets include:

a first magnet having a first north polarity and a first south polarity, and

a second magnet having a second north polarity and a second south polarity, the second magnet positioned such that the second south polarity is proximate the first south polarity.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of microvalves configured to allow flow of a fluid through the channel.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the flow of fluid moves the magnetic train through the channel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first coil has a greater number of turns than the second coil.

7. The system of claim 1, the magnetic train moving through the first coil and the second coil produces energy.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the channel has a first end connected to a first chamber and a second end connected to a second chamber.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are substantially filled with a fluid.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first chamber further includes a first piston and the second chamber further includes a second piston.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting system is located within a shoe.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein energy produced by the system is used to heat an insole of the shoe.

13. A method for generating energy, the method comprising:

applying a force, via a piston, to a fluid to cause movement within a channel, the channel having a first coil having a clockwise rotation around the channel and a second coil having a counter clockwise rotation around the channel;

causing movement, via the fluid, of a magnet train situated within the channel, the magnet train including a plurality of oppositely-alternating magnets; and

generating, via the magnet train, a voltage in at least one selected from a group consisting of the first coil and the second coil.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of oppositely-alternating magnets include:

a first magnet having a first north polarity and a first south polarity, and

a second magnet having a second north polarity and a second south polarity, the second magnet positioned such that the second north polarity is proximate the first north polarity.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of oppositely-alternating magnets include:

a first magnet having a first north polarity and a first south polarity, and

a second magnet having a second north polarity and a second south polarity, the second magnet positioned such that the second south polarity is proximate the first south polarity.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the fluid substantially fills a first chamber and a second chamber.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the piston is a flexible membrane.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the force is created by movement.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising heating, via a heating device, an insole of a shoe, wherein the heating device receives the voltage.