Energy harvesting by means of thermo-mechanical device utilizing bistable ferromagnets
First Claim
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1. An energy harvesting device, comprising:
- a ferromagnetic component suitable to be arranged between a heat source and a heat sink;
a mechanical assembly structured to support said ferromagnetic component in a first configuration such that said ferromagnetic component is in thermal contact with said heat source and in a second configuration such that said ferromagnetic component is in thermal contact with said heat sink, said mechanical assembly structured to have a transient state of motion due to said ferromagnetic component satisfying first and second conditions, namely a first condition when a temperature of a ferromagnetic material of said ferromagnetic component T is less than Tc, and a second condition when the temperature of the ferromagnetic material of said ferromagnetic component T is more than Tc,wherein said mechanical assembly comprises an electromechanical transducer constructed and arranged to produce electrical power while said mechanical assembly is in said transient state of motion between said first and second configurations, andwherein said mechanical assembly comprises a shape-memory component.
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Abstract
An inventive energy harvesting apparatus may include a ferromagnetic material and/or a shape memory alloys to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy to electrical energy. The apparatus is subjected to a thermal gradient to cause beams to bend thus creating stress/strain in a piezoelectric material, or creating magnetic flux in a magnetic path. The charges created in this process can be transferred to electrical batteries.
43 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An energy harvesting device, comprising:
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a ferromagnetic component suitable to be arranged between a heat source and a heat sink; a mechanical assembly structured to support said ferromagnetic component in a first configuration such that said ferromagnetic component is in thermal contact with said heat source and in a second configuration such that said ferromagnetic component is in thermal contact with said heat sink, said mechanical assembly structured to have a transient state of motion due to said ferromagnetic component satisfying first and second conditions, namely a first condition when a temperature of a ferromagnetic material of said ferromagnetic component T is less than Tc, and a second condition when the temperature of the ferromagnetic material of said ferromagnetic component T is more than Tc, wherein said mechanical assembly comprises an electromechanical transducer constructed and arranged to produce electrical power while said mechanical assembly is in said transient state of motion between said first and second configurations, and wherein said mechanical assembly comprises a shape-memory component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An electrical device, comprising:
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an energy harvester; and an electrically operable system electrically connected to said energy harvester to receive electrical energy from said energy harvester, wherein said energy harvester comprises; a ferromagnetic component suitable to be arranged between a heat source and a heat sink; a mechanical assembly structured to support said ferromagnetic component in a first configuration such that said ferromagnetic component is in thermal contact with said heat source and structured to support said ferromagnetic component in a second configuration such that said ferromagnetic component is in thermal contact with said heat sink, said mechanical assembly structured to have a transient state of motion between said first and second configurations, wherein said mechanical assembly comprises an electromechanical transducer constructed and arranged to produce electrical power while said mechanical assembly is in said transient state of motion between said first and second configurations, and wherein said mechanical assembly comprises a shape-memory component. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of harvesting energy, comprising:
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arranging an energy harvester having a ferromagnetic component between a heat source and a heat sink; and receiving electrical energy output from said energy harvester, wherein said ferromagnetic component is connected to a mechanical assembly having a first configuration such that said ferromagnetic component is in thermal contact with said heat source, a second configuration such that said ferromagnetic component is in thermal contact with said heat sink, and a transient state of motion between said first and second configurations, wherein said mechanical assembly comprises an electromechanical transducer constructed and arranged to produce electrical power while said mechanical assembly is in said transient state of motion between said first and second configurations, and wherein said mechanical assembly comprises a shape-memory component.
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Specification