Fluid-induced energy converter with curved parts
AssigneeHumdinger Wind Energy, LLC
InventorShawn Michael Frayne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy converter for inducing membrane vibrations of a membrane when subject to a fluid flow, and converting the vibrations into another form of energy, such as electricity. The energy converter includes at least one flexible membrane, at least one electrical conductor and at least one magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field to the at least one electrical conductor. One of the electrical conductor and the magnetic field generator is attached to the membrane and configured to move with the membrane. The other one of the electrical conductor and the magnetic field generator has a curved surface bending towards the membrane. When subject to a fluid flow, the membrane vibrates and creates a relative movement between the conductor and the magnetic field, which induces a current.
Claims23
An electrical generator comprising:
- a flexible membrane having at least two fixed ends, wherein the membrane vibrates when subject to a fluid flow;
- at least one electrical conductor and at least one magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field to the at least one electrical conductor, wherein one of the at least one electrical conductor and the at least one magnetic field generator is attached to the membrane and configured to move with the membrane, and the other one of the at least one electrical conductor and the at least one magnetic field generator has a surface bending toward the membrane;
- wherein the vibration of the membrane caused by the fluid flow creates a relative movement between the at least one conductor and the magnetic field generated by the at least one magnetic field generator;
- and
- whereby the relative movement creates a change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the at least one electrical conductor;
- and
- the change in the strength of the magnetic field induces a current.
An electrical generator comprising:
- flexible vibrating means for vibrating when subject to a fluid flow, wherein the vibrating means has at least two fixed ends;
- electrical conducting means for conducting electricity;
- means for generating a magnetic field applied to the electrical conducting means;
- wherein:
- one of the electrical conducting means and the magnetic field generating means is attached to the vibrating means and configured to move with the vibrating means, the other one of electrical conducting means and the magnetic field generating means has a surface bending toward the membrane;
- and
- the other one of the electrical conducting means and the magnetic field generating means has a surface bending toward the membrane;
- and
- the vibration of the vibrating means caused by the fluid flow creates a relative movement between the electrical conducting means and the magnetic field;
- and
- whereby the relative movement creates a change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the electrical conducting means;
- and
- the change in the strength of the magnetic field induces a current.
An electrical generator comprising:
- a flexible membrane having at least two fixed ends, wherein the membrane vibrates when subject to a fluid flow;
- at least one electrical conductor and at least one magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field to the at least one electrical conductor;
- wherein:
- one of the at least one electrical conductor and the at least one magnetic field generator is disposed on a surface plane of the membrane and configured to move with the membrane, and the other one of the at least one electrical conductor and the at least one magnetic field generator has a first surface facing the surface plane of the membrane and a second surface an edge of the membrane;
- and
- the vibration of the membrane caused by the fluid flow creates a relative movement between the at least one conductor and the magnetic field generated by the at least one magnetic field generator;
- whereby the relative movement creates a change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the at least one electrical conductor;
- and
- the change in the strength of the magnetic field induces a current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.