Piezoelectric Generator for Hydraulic Systems

• US 20170207731A1
• Filed: 04/03/2017
• Published: 07/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Jaffrey, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,103,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/035 specially adapted for underwater installations E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/061 Ram-type blow-out preventers, e.g. with pivoting rams
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/064 specially adapted for underwater well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/185 using fluid streams

Abstract

A piezoelectric power generator assembly includes a housing, a piezoelectric transducer located in the housing, and a piston located in the housing. The piston is movable with respect to the housing and is configured to be moved into contact with the piezoelectric transducer, and the piezoelectric transducer is configured to generate an electrical charge when contacted by the piston.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric power generator assembly comprising:

a housing;

a piezoelectric transducer located in the housing; and

a piston located in the housing, the piston movable with respect to the housing and configured to be moved into contact with the piezoelectric transducer;

wherein the piezoelectric transducer is configured to generate an electrical charge when contacted by the piston.

2. The power generator assembly of claim 1, comprising an electronics module comprising a capacitor bank.

3. The power generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the piston is configured to be moved when acted upon by a force external to the housing, the force being provided by a fluid at a pressure sufficient for moving the piston.

4. The power generator assembly of claim 3, wherein the fluid is seawater.

5. The power generator assembly of claim 1, comprising a diaphragm located in the housing and exposed to an environment external to the housing, wherein the diaphragm is configured to contact the piston when acted upon by a force external to the housing.

6. The power generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the piston comprises an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface and configured to contact the piston, and the upper surface has an area that is greater than an area of the lower surface.

7. The power generator assembly of claim 1, comprising an electrical device configured to be powered by the electrical charge.

8. The power generator assembly of claim 7, wherein the electrical device is located remotely to the housing.

9. The power generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a piezoelectric material.

10. The power generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is fluidly coupled to a fluid conduit, and the piston is driven toward and into contact with the piezoelectric transducer via a fluid pressure of a fluid within the fluid conduit and the housing.

11. The power generator assembly of claim 10, comprising a hydraulically actuatable device, wherein the fluid is a pressurized hydraulic fluid configured to operate the hydraulically actuatable device.

12. The power generator assembly of claim 11, comprising a sensor configured to monitor a characteristic of the hydraulically actuatable device, wherein the sensor is powered by the electrical charge generated by the piezoelectric transducer.

13. A piezoelectric power generator assembly comprising:

a housing;

a piston configured to move within the housing along an axis; and

a piezoelectric transducer positioned at a location along the axis between the piston and a surface of the housing;

wherein the piston is configured to be driven along the axis toward the piezoelectric material via a pressurized fluid, and the piezoelectric transducer is configured to generate an electrical charge in response to mechanical stress applied to the piezoelectric transducer by the piston.

14. The piezoelectric power generator assembly of claim 13, wherein the pressurized fluid comprises seawater that surrounds the housing when the housing is positioned at a subsea location.

15. The piezoelectric power generator assembly of claim 13, comprising an electrical device configured to be powered by the electrical charge.

16. The piezoelectric power generator assembly of claim 15, wherein the electrical device comprises a sensor configured to monitor a characteristic of a hydraulically actuatable device.

17. The piezoelectric power generator assembly of claim 16, wherein the housing is fluidly coupled to a fluid conduit configured to support a flow of the pressurized fluid, and the flow of the pressurized fluid is configured to operate the hydraulically actuatable device.

18. A method of operating a piezoelectric power generator assembly comprising:

driving, via a pressurized fluid, a piston supported by a housing into contact with a piezoelectric transducer positioned in the housing; and

generating an electrical charge with the piezoelectric transducer in response to mechanical stress applied to the piezoelectric transducer by the piston.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the pressurized fluid comprises seawater that surrounds the housing when the housing is positioned at a subsea location.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising flowing the pressurized fluid through a fluid conduit to operate a hydraulically actuatable device, and providing the electrical charge to a sensor configured to monitor a characteristic of the hydraulically actuatable device.