Enhancing the effectiveness of energy harvesting from flowing fluid

• US 8,421,251 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Pabon, Jahir A., Bettin, Giorgia
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US12/732,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20110233936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R
• US Class Current: 290/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/02 the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level F04B47/12 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method to enhance the efficiency of an energy harvesting device is disclosed. A modulator module creates fluctuations in the flow at a predetermined frequency or group of frequencies and these fluctuations increase mechanical vibrations which are then harvested by an energy harvesting module.

Claims

1. A method to enhance of enhancing the efficiency of an energy harvesting device comprising the steps of:

generating fluid fluctuations in a fluid flow with a modulator module configured to modulate fluid flow;

with a housing defining an inner volume though which the fluid flow is permitted to traverse from a first opening to a second opening, generating vibrations in the housing from the generated fluid fluctuations; and

harvesting energy from the generated vibrations;

wherein the modulator module modulates a power signal to an artificial lift device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a frequency of the fluctuations is determined based on a natural frequency of vibrations of the housing.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a modulation frequency of a modulation signal generated by the modulation module is selected to be substantially equal to an energy harvesting devices resonance frequency.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a modulation frequency of a modulation signal generated by the modulation module is selected to be substantially equal to the resonance frequency of the vibrations generated by the housing.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the artificial lift device is an electric submersible pump attached to the housing.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy harvesting device provides power to a flow monitoring module.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy harvesting device provides power to a flow control module.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the modulated fluid flow is at a predetermined frequency or group of frequencies.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined frequency or group of frequencies increases an amplitude of the fluid fluctuations.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the increase in amplitude of the fluid fluctuations is small enough to minimally affect fluid flow.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the housing is a production tubing.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the energy is harvested with one or a plurality of energy harvesting modules disposed on the production tubing.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the modulator module modulates fluid flow at a predetermined frequency or group of frequencies to match the frequency of one or a plurality of energy harvesting modules.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the generated vibrations are from structural vibrations of the production tubing.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the generated vibrations are from vibrating a power generating assembly on the housing in response to the fluid flow through the housing.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the power generating assembly is a vibrating sleeve.

17. An apparatus for enhancing the efficiency of an energy harvesting device comprising:

a modulator module for generating fluid fluctuations in a fluid flow;

a housing defining an inner volume though which the fluid is permitted to traverse from a first opening to a second opening;

generating vibrations in the housing from the generated fluid fluctuations; and

harvesting energy from the generated vibrations;

wherein the modulator module modulates a power signal to an artificial lift device.

18. An apparatus for enhancing the efficiency of an energy harvesting device comprising:

a housing having at least one wall defining an inner volume though which fluid is permitted to traverse from a first opening to a second opening;

means for increasing the instability of said fluid;

wherein the housing vibrates from the increased fluid instability; and

harvesting energy from the generated vibrations;

wherein the means for increasing the instability of said fluid modulates a power signal to an artificial lift device.