Fluid power generation system having a generator with an electrical-charge-producing material
First Claim
1. A fluid power generation system, comprising:
- a generator comprising an electrical-charge-producing material;
a pair of end boundary constraints; and
a side boundary constraint physically coupled to each of opposing sides of the generator;
wherein one of the end boundary constraints of the pair of end boundary constraints is physically coupled to the electrical-charge-producing material adjacent to an end of the electrical-charge-producing material and the other one of the pair of end boundary constraints is physically coupled to the electrical charge-producing material adjacent to an opposite end of the electrical-charge-producing material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An embodiment of a fluid power generation system has a generator comprising an electrical-charge-producing material and a pair of end boundary constraints. One of the end boundary constraints of the pair of end boundary constraints is physically coupled to the electrical-charge-producing material adjacent to an end of the electrical-charge-producing material and the other one of the pair of end boundary constraints is physically coupled to the electrical charge-producing material adjacent to an opposite end of the electrical-charge-producing material. For some embodiments, the end boundary constraints may be active or passive. For other embodiments, at least one of the end boundary constraints may be electrically coupled to a controller for adjusting vibration characteristics of the generator.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A fluid power generation system, comprising:
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a generator comprising an electrical-charge-producing material; a pair of end boundary constraints; and a side boundary constraint physically coupled to each of opposing sides of the generator; wherein one of the end boundary constraints of the pair of end boundary constraints is physically coupled to the electrical-charge-producing material adjacent to an end of the electrical-charge-producing material and the other one of the pair of end boundary constraints is physically coupled to the electrical charge-producing material adjacent to an opposite end of the electrical-charge-producing material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 31)
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25. A fluid power generation system, comprising:
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a generator comprising an electrical-charge-producing material that can produce an electrical charge when the generator vibrates in response to a fluid flowing over the generator; at least one of a boundary constraint physically coupled to the generator, a mass located on the generator, and a tension adjuster physically coupled to an end of the generator; and a controller electrically coupled to the generator and to at least one of the at least one of the boundary constraint physically coupled to the generator, the mass located on the generator, and the tension adjuster physically coupled to the end of the generator. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method of operating a fluid power generation system, comprising:
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vibrating a generator of the fluid power generation system in response to a fluid flowing over the generator so that a charge-producing material of the generator, vibrating with the generator, produces a power output, wherein a boundary constraint is physically coupled to the generator, a mass is located on the generator, and/or a tension adjuster is physically coupled to the generator; receiving an electrical signal at a controller of the fluid power generation system; and adjusting the power output generated by the charge-producing material in response to the electrical signal having a particular value by sending electrical signals from the controller to respective ones of the boundary constraint, mass, and/or tension adjuster for adjusting a stiffness of the boundary constraint, a distribution of the mass, and/or tension exerted by the tension adjuster on the generator. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification