Solid-state energy harvester

An apparatus comprising:

• a cylindrical body defining a fluid path and configured to be installed inline in a fluid-carrying pipe system;
• a flexible sleeve disposed inside the cylindrical body and encompassing the fluid path, the cylindrical body further defining a cylindrical cavity between a portion of the flexible sleeve and an inside wall of the cylindrical body, the cylindrical cavity configured to promote a pressure differential between an inner surface of the flexible sleeve adjacent to the fluid path and an outer surface of the flexible sleeve adjacent to the cylindrical cavity;
• and
• one or more electrically-interconnected energy generation components integrated into the flexible sleeve;
• wherein the cylindrical body, the flexible sleeve, and the one or more energy generation components are configured such that transient pressures in a fluid flowing through the fluid path cause the flexible sleeve to expand into and contract out of the cylindrical cavity imparting mechanical stresses in the one or more energy generation components causing the one or more energy generation components to produce an electric current.

A method for utilizing a solid-state energy harvester to provide an electric current to an external electrical device, the method comprising:

• installing the solid-state energy harvester inline with a fluid-carrying pipe system, the solid-state energy harvester comprising:
• a cylindrical body defining a fluid path for conducting the fluid through the cylindrical body, each end of the cylindrical body configured to be connected to pipes of the fluid-carrying pipe system,
• a flexible sleeve disposed inside the cylindrical body and encompassing the fluid path, the cylindrical body further defining a cylindrical cavity between a portion of the flexible sleeve and an inside wall of the cylindrical body, the cylindrical cavity configured to promote a pressure differential between an inner surface of the flexible sleeve adjacent to the fluid path and an outer surface of the flexible sleeve adjacent to the cylindrical cavity,
• one or more electrically-interconnected energy generation components integrated into the flexible sleeve, and
• an electrical conductor connected to the one or more energy generation components and passing through the cylindrical body;
• connecting the electrical conductor to the external electrical device to conduct the electric current from the one or more energy generation components to the external electrical device;
• and
• causing pressurized fluid to flow through the fluid-carrying pipe system, wherein transient pressures in the fluid flowing through the fluid path cause the flexible sleeve to expand into and contract out of the cylindrical cavity imparting mechanical stresses in the one or more energy generation components causing the energy generation components to produce the electric current.