Magnetic fluid power generator device and method for generating power

• US 6,982,501 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Materials Modification Inc.
• Original Assignee: Materials Modification Inc.
• Inventors: Radhakrishnan, Ramachandran, Kotha, Sanjay, Sudarshan, Tirumalai S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLINS, BURTON S
• Application Number:
  US10/440,112
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 310/10, 310/11, 310/152, 290/1.R, 290/54, 204/155, 137/13, 335/51, 322/2.R
• US Class Current: 310/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0097 Micromachined devices; Microelectromechanical systems [MEMS]; Devices obtained by lithographic treatment of silicon; Devices comprising chips intradermal microneedle arrays A61K9/0021; MEMS in general B81B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 25/00 Nanomagnetism, e.g. magnetoimpedance, anisotropic magnetoresistance, giant magnetoresistance or tunneling magnetoresistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/0054 Coated nanoparticles, e.g. nanoparticles coated with organic surfactant
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/0063 in a non-magnetic matrix, e.g. granular solids granular films H01F10/007
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/44 of magnetic liquids, e.g. ferrofluids particles in a bonding agent H01F1/28, H01F1/36, H01F1/37
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 44/00 Machines in which the dynamo-electric interaction between a plasma or flow of conductive liquid or of fluid-borne conductive or magnetic particles and a coil system or magnetic field converts energy of mass flow into electrical energy or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 44/08 Magnetohydrodynamic [MHD] generators

Abstract

A device for generating power includes a fluid including magnetic particles. A source magnetizes the fluid thereby inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux. The rotations of the magnetic particles induce an electromagnetic force in a coil associated with the fluid.

Claims

1. A device for generating power, comprising:

a) a fluid comprising magnetic particles;

b) a source for magnetizing said fluid thereby inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux;

c) a coil associated with said fluid;

d) said magnetizing source comprising an alternating and traveling magnetic field;

e) said magnetic fluid flowing through a generally non-magnetic, non-conducting line;

f) means for aligning magnetic dipoles of the particles in a generally common direction;

g) a reservoir for comprising said fluid; and

h) a pump for pumping said fluid from said reservoir into said line.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said fluid comprises core particles of a magnetic material.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise coated particles.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 1 nm to 1000 nm.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 10 nm to 500 nm.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 10 nm to 100 nm.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein:

a) said magnetic material is selected from the group consisting of iron, iron oxide, cobalt, cobalt oxide, nickel, nickel oxide, an alloy, and a combination thereof.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise a coating of a surfactant.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein:

a) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, Surfynol®

, and a combination thereof.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise a coating selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein:

a) the coating is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, polyethylene glycol, polystyrene, dextran, and a combination thereof.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise first and second successive coatings.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein:

a) said first coating comprises a coating of a surfactant; and

b) said second coating comprises a coating of a material selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof.

14. The device claim 13, wherein:

a) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, Surfynol®

, and a combination thereof.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein:

a) said second coating is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, polyethylene glycol, polystyrene, dextran, and a combination thereof.

16. The device of claim 4, wherein:

a) said core particles are coated with a surfactant and dispersed in a carrier fluid.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein:

a) said carrier fluid comprises a water-based or an oil-based carrier fluid.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein:

a) said carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, hydraulic oil, mineral oil, silicone oil, biodegradable oil, and a combination thereof.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein:

a) the fraction of said core particles is about 1–

95%.

20. The device of claim 4, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise a general shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, needle-like, cubic, irregular, cylindrical, diamond, oval, and a combination thereof.

21. The device of claim 2, further comprising:

a) core particles of a non-magnetic material.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein:

a) said core particles of a non-magnetic material comprise particles of a thermally conducting material, electrically conducting material, a non-conducting material, or a combination thereof.

23. A device for generating power, comprising:

a) a fluid for flowing through a generally non-magnetic, non-conducting line;

b) said fluid comprising magnetic particles;

c) an alternating and traveling magnetic field for inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux;

d) a coil associated with said line;

e) means for aligning magnetic dipoles of the magnetic particles in a generally common direction;

f) a reservoir associated with said line for comprising said fluid; and

g) a pump for pumping said fluid from said reservoir into said line.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein:

a) said fluid comprises core particles of a magnetic material.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise coated particles.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 1 nm to 1000 nm.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 10 nm to 500 nm.

28. The device of claim 24, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 10 nm to 100 nm.

29. The device of claim 24, wherein:

a) said magnetic material is selected from the group consisting of iron, iron oxide, cobalt, cobalt oxide, nickel, nickel oxide, an alloy, and a combination thereof.

30. The device of claim 24, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise a coating of a surfactant.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein:

a) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, Surfynol®

, and a combination thereof.

32. The device of claim 24, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise a coating selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein:

a) the coating is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, polyethylene glycol, polystyrene, dextran, and a combination thereof.

34. The device of claim 24, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise first and second successive coatings.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein:

a) said first coating comprises a coating of a surfactant; and

b) said second coating comprises a coating of a material selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein:

a) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, Surfynol®

, and a combination thereof.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein:

a) said second coating is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, polyethylene glycol, polystyrene, dextran, and a combination thereof.

38. The device of claim 26, wherein:

a) said core particles are coated with a surfactant and dispersed in a carrier fluid.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein:

a) said carrier fluid comprises a water-based or an oil-based carrier fluid.

40. The device of claim 38, wherein:

a) said carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, hydraulic oil, mineral oil, silicone oil, biodegradable oil, and a combination thereof.

41. The device of claim 38, wherein:

a) the fraction of said core particles is about 1–

95% by weight of said carrier fluid.

42. The device of claim 26, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise a general shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, needle-like, cubic, irregular, cylindrical, diamond, oval, and a combination thereof.

43. The device of claim 24, further comprising:

a) core particles of a non-magnetic material.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein:

a) said core particles of a non-magnetic material comprise particles of a thermally conducting material, electrically conducting material, a non-conducting material, or a combination thereof.

45. A method of generating power, comprising the steps of:

a) flowing a fluid comprising magnetic particles in a generally non-magnetic, non-conducing line;

b) magnetizing the fluid by an alternating and traveling magnetic field thereby inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux;

c) aligning magnetic dipoles of the rotating magnetic particles in a generally common direction; and

d) inducing an electromagnetic force in a coil associated with the line.

46. A device for generating power, comprising:

a) a fluid comprising magnetic particles;

b) a source for magnetizing said fluid thereby inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux;

c) a coil associated with said fluid;

d) said fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material; and

e) said core particles comprising a coating of a surfactant.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein:

a) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, Surfynol®

, and a combination thereof.

48. The device of claim 46, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise a coating selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein:

a) the coating is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, polyethylene glycol, polystyrene, dextran, and a combination thereof.

50. The device of claim 46, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise first and second successive coatings.

51. The device of claim 50, wherein:

a) said first coating comprises a coating of a surfactant; and

b) said second coating comprises a coating of a material selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof.

52. A device for generating power, comprising:

a) a fluid for flowing through a generally non-magnetic, non-conducting line;

b) said fluid comprising magnetic particles;

c) an alternating and traveling magnetic field for inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux;

d) a coil associated with said line;

e) means for aligning magnetic dipoles of the magnetic particles in a generally common direction;

f) said fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material; and

g) said core particles comprising a coating of a surfactant.