Method and device for energy generation

A method for converting energy, the method comprising:

• producing an orbital movement of a bearing from a directional flow of fluid;
• generating physical strain on a plurality of strain structures in response to the orbital movement of the bearing, wherein each strain structure comprises a magnetostrictive material oriented in a substantially radial arrangement relative to an orbital path of the bearing, and at least a portion of each strain structure is located within the orbital path of the bearing;
• and
• generating a changing magnetic field in response to a change in the physical strain on the strain structure.

A device for energy conversion, the device comprising:

• a rotating component that rotates around an axis;
• at least one loading component that revolves around the axis synchronously with the rotating component;
• and
• at least one strain structure that experiences a change in physical strain in response to periodic contact motion of the at least one loading component during revolution around the axis with the rotating component, wherein the at least one strain structure is arranged in a substantially stationary location so that there is relative motion of the at least one loading component to pass by the substantially stationary location of the at least one strain structure;
• wherein the strain structure comprises at least one component that contains a magnetostrictive material which also experiences a change in strain and a corresponding change in magnetic field to induce electrical current and/or voltage in an electrical conductor that is in a vicinity of the magnetostrictive material.