# US 11,905,798 B2 · Power-generating apparatus for downhole tubulars > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,905,798 B2 - Document ID: US11905798B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/979,476 - Filed: 2019-03-11 - Published: 2021-04-01 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-09 - Applicants: Per Angman - Inventors: Per Angman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11905798B2 ## CPC - E21B 17/10: Wear protectors; Centralising devices {, e.g. stabilisers} - E21B 41/0085: {Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes} - E21B 17/1078: {Stabilisers or centralisers for casing, tubing or drill pipes (E21B17/1007 - E21B17/1064 take precedence)} - F03B 13/02: Adaptations for drilling wells - H02K 7/1807: {Rotary generators (H02K7/006 takes precedence)} - H02K 7/1823: {structurally associated with turbines or similar engines} - H02K 11/25: Devices for sensing temperature, or actuated thereby - F05B 2220/20: within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00) - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G ## Abstract A plurality of energy-generator pods, and methods of use, are provided along a rotatable tubular string extending downhole from surface into a wellbore. In embodiments, rotation of the tubular acts as a rotor of the pod and an outer component about the tubular, capable of relative rotation thereabout, forms the stator. The pod can also be equipped with bi-directional wireless electronic data communication including communication uphole to surface from sensors downhole, pod-to-pod, and down-hole communication to downhole tools. Pods can be fit to centralizers already employed for rotary tubular strings, the centralizer portion engaging the wellbore and remaining stationary relative to the rotating centralized tubular. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An energy generator apparatus for a rotatable tubular having an outer surface defining an outer diameter of the rotatable tubular and extending downhole along a wellbore comprising: a tubular sleeve mounted over the rotatable tubular, the tubular sleeve comprising a first clamshell portion and a second clamshell portion and end collars overlying and retaining opposing ends of the tubular sleeve, the tubular sleeve having an inner surface defining an inner annular groove; a first energizing portion mounted on the outer surface of the rotatable tubular and received in the inner annular groove of the tubular sleeve, the first energizing portion being drivably rotatable by rotation of the rotatable tubular; and a second energizing portion attached to the tubular sleeve within the inner annular groove of the tubular sleeve, the second energizing portion being supported concentrically about the first energizing portion and rotatable relative thereto; and wherein, when the rotatable tubular rotates the first energizing portion rotates relative to the second energizing portion, electrical current is generated from one of the first or second energizing portions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The energy generator apparatus of claim 1, wherein: one of the first or second energizing portions being a magnet for producing a magnetic field, and the other of the second and first energizing portion comprises an electrical coil, relative movement of the coil and magnetic field inducing current therein. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The energy generator apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wireless data transmitter for communication of data signals between generators. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The energy generator apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable tubular and the first energizing portion form a rotor having an axis and the tubular sleeve and the second energizing portion form a stator concentric with the rotor and rotatable about the rotor's axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The energy generator apparatus of claim 4 wherein the stator further comprises circuitry for rectification of the generated energy. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The energy generator apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rectification circuitry comprises a diode bridge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The energy generator apparatus of claim 4 wherein the stator further comprises one or more sensors, each sensor for establishing data signals related to downhole parameters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The energy generator apparatus of claim 7 wherein the one or more sensors are pressure or temperature sensors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The energy generator apparatus of claim 7 wherein the stator further comprises a wireless data transmitter for transmitting the data signals related to downhole parameters and a wireless data receiver for receiving further data signals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The energy generator apparatus of claim 9 wherein the wireless data transmitter and the wireless data receiver are configured for radio frequency wireless communications. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The energy generator apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first energizing portion comprises one or more magnets arranged about an axis of the rotatable tubular; and the second energizing portion comprises one or more coils; wherein as the rotatable tubular rotates, the one or more magnets are repeatedly driven past the one or more coils for generating an alternating current therein. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The energy generator apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular sleeve comprises a tubular centralizer for engaging the and being rotationally restrained by the wellbore. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The energy generator apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an energy storage device for storing surplus energy during generation of the current and capable of discharge when current is not being generated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A system for wireless communication along a tubular string of tubulars between surface and downhole locations comprising: a plurality of energy generator apparatuses according to claim 1 and distributed along the tubular string; and a radio frequency wireless data communication module having a transmitter and receiver, at each generator apparatus, the communication module powered by its respective generator apparatus; wherein, as the tubular string rotates, each communication module communicates with a like communication module within a wireless range. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system for wireless communication of claim 14 wherein each generator apparatus and associated communication module are incorporated in a respective tubular centralizer pod. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system for wireless communication of claim 15 wherein each centralizer pod further comprises one or more sensors for establishing data signals related to downhole parameters, the communication modules communicating the sensor data uphole to surface along the plurality of centralizer pods to surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system for wireless communication of claim 15 wherein the tubular string is a drill string having a steerable drill bit at a downhole distal end, wherein the communication modules communicate control signals downhole along the plurality of centralizer pods from surface to the steerable drill bit downhole. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein the sensors are pressure or temperature sensors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18 wherein the sensors are guidance sensors.