Resonating blade for electric power generation
First Claim
1. A process for producing electric power from a fluid flow comprising the steps of:
- designing a blade with a certain natural frequency such that the blade will resonate at a specific fluid flow across the blade, the blade having an airfoil cross sectional shape with a leading edge and a trailing edge, the blade having a pressure side wall and a suction side wall extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge;
securing one of a magnet or a coil to the blade;
securing the blade to a support such that the blade can vibrate as the fluid flows across the blade;
positioning the blade with the leading edge being an upstream end in the fluid flow;
securing the other of the magnet or the coil to a support near where the one of the magnet or the coil such that an electric current is produced in the coil as the magnet moves near the coil; and
,passing the fluid across the blade at a speed such that the blade vibrates at a natural frequency to produce electric current in the coil.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process and an apparatus for generating electric current from a vibrating blade exposed to a fluid flow, in one embodiment, a plurality of blades are secured within a tail cone of a steam turbine and each blade includes a magnet and a coil associated with the magnet to produce electric current in the coil when the magnet moves across the coil. Each blade is designed to have a natural frequency so that the blade will resonate under the influence of the exhaust flow from the turbine in the tail cone. Abutment members are mounted on the blade or the fixed support to limit the range of motion of the vibrating blade so that it does not exceed the fatigue limit. The blades are made from a low damping material such as titanium so that a low frequency is produced.
47 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A process for producing electric power from a fluid flow comprising the steps of:
-
designing a blade with a certain natural frequency such that the blade will resonate at a specific fluid flow across the blade, the blade having an airfoil cross sectional shape with a leading edge and a trailing edge, the blade having a pressure side wall and a suction side wall extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; securing one of a magnet or a coil to the blade; securing the blade to a support such that the blade can vibrate as the fluid flows across the blade; positioning the blade with the leading edge being an upstream end in the fluid flow; securing the other of the magnet or the coil to a support near where the one of the magnet or the coil such that an electric current is produced in the coil as the magnet moves near the coil; and
,passing the fluid across the blade at a speed such that the blade vibrates at a natural frequency to produce electric current in the coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An electric power producing apparatus comprising:
-
a blade having a natural frequency designed for a specific fluid flow speed; the blade having an airfoil cross sectional shape with a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a pressure side wall and a suction side wall extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; the blade being secured to a support with the leading edge in an upstream end in the fluid flow so that the blade can vibrate in a fluid flow across the blade; one of a magnet and a coil secured to the blade tip; the other of the magnet and the coil secured to a fixed support near the magnet such that movement of the magnet will produce an electric current within the coil; and
,fluid flow supply means to pass a fluid across the blade at around a predetermined speed to cause the blade to resonate at the natural frequency and produce electric current in the coil. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification