Energy generation device for a pigging tool in a pipeline

A method comprising:

• deploying, into a pipeline, a pigging tool comprising:
• a housing positionable in the pipeline and defining a bypass channel that extends along an axis that is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• an energy generation device positionable in the bypass channel of the housing such that fluid is receivable by the energy generation device to generate energy for the pigging tool;
• an energy storage device for storing energy generated from the energy generation device and for providing the pigging tool with energy to perform one or more operations in the pipeline;
• generating energy with the energy generation device by directing a fluid to the energy generation device using at least one pair of cups or baffles positioned on an external surface of the pigging tool, wherein the at least one pair of cups or baffles comprises a second bypass channel that extends through at least one cup or baffle of the at least one pair of cups or baffles;
• and
• performing a pipeline operation with the pigging tool.

A system comprising:

• a pigging tool comprising:
• a housing positionable in a pipeline and defining a bypass channel that extends along an axis that is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• an energy generation device positionable in the bypass channel of the housing such that fluid is receivable by the energy generation device to generate energy for the pigging tool;
• an energy storage device for storing energy generated from the energy generation device and for providing the pigging tool with energy to perform one or more operations in the pipeline;
• and
• at least one pair of cups or baffles positionable on an external surface of the pigging tool to control fluid flow to the energy generation device to generate energy, wherein the at least one pair of cups or baffles comprises a second bypass channel that extends through at least one cup or baffle of the at least one pair of cups or baffles;
• and
• a receiving module positioned external to the pipeline, the receiving module usable for providing operating instructions to the pigging tool and receiving pipeline health information from the pigging tool.