Energy harvesting from flow-induced vibrations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for converting kinetic energy to electrical energy comprising:
- a housing with at least two openings through which fluid is permitted to traverse;
a vibrating sleeve operatively connected on the outside of the housing;
the vibrating sleeve comprising at least two sleeve openings configured to align with the at least two openings;
the vibrating sleeve characterized by mechanical properties that permit the vibrating sleeve to oscillate, the oscillations of the vibrating sleeve simultaneously opening one of the at least two openings and closing one of the at least two openings, resulting in a nearly constant fluid flow into the housing;
a device that converts sleeve oscillations to electrical energy; and
wherein at rest about 50% of the at least two openings are blocked by the at least two sleeve openings.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Electrical energy is produced at a remote site by converting kinetic energy from fluid flow to electrical energy using a downhole harvesting apparatus. The downhole harvesting apparatus includes a vibrating sleeve member that vibrates in response to fluid flow through a tubular housing structure. The vibration of the sleeve is used to generate electrical power. The harvesting apparatus may include features to help maintain constant fluid flow in the tubular structure. The harvesting apparatus can be tuned to different vibration and flow regimes in order to enhance energy conversion efficiency.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for converting kinetic energy to electrical energy comprising:
-
a housing with at least two openings through which fluid is permitted to traverse; a vibrating sleeve operatively connected on the outside of the housing; the vibrating sleeve comprising at least two sleeve openings configured to align with the at least two openings; the vibrating sleeve characterized by mechanical properties that permit the vibrating sleeve to oscillate, the oscillations of the vibrating sleeve simultaneously opening one of the at least two openings and closing one of the at least two openings, resulting in a nearly constant fluid flow into the housing; a device that converts sleeve oscillations to electrical energy; and wherein at rest about 50% of the at least two openings are blocked by the at least two sleeve openings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for converting kinetic energy to electrical energy, the method comprising the steps of:
-
flowing fluid in a first direction through at least two openings of a housing; vibrating a sleeve operatively connected on the housing in response to the flowing fluid through at least two sleeve openings which are configured to align with the at least two openings; generating electrical energy in response to the vibrating sleeve moving in an oscillatory manner; and wherein at rest about 50% of the at least two openings are blocked by the at least two sleeve openings, the movement of the vibrating sleeve simultaneously opening one of the at least two openings and closing one of the at least two openings, resulting in a nearly constant fluid flow into the housing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification