Magnus force fluid flow energy harvester

An energy harvesting system for use in an effluent system, said energy harvesting system comprising:

• a source of fluid;
• an outflow line extending from said source of fluid;
• a fluid flow path in said outflow line and defined by an inflow fluid channel, an outflow fluid channel, and an energy harvester chamber disposed between said inflow fluid channel and said outflow fluid channel, the outflow fluid channel being connected to one or more of a sewer, a water treatment facility, a water drain, a holding pond, and a holding tank;
• a Magnus rotor transversely mounted in said energy harvester chamber and movable between a first position and a second position;
• at least one counter balancing system cooperatively associated with said Magnus rotor;
• means for producing an electrical current from a movement of said Magnus rotor in said fluid flow path;
• a battery operably connected to said means for producing said electrical current, said battery being for charging by the electrical current;
• and
• means for connecting said battery to an electrical power grid.

A energy harvester for harnessing wave action in a body of liquid, comprising:

• a fluid flow path defined by an inflow fluid channel, an outflow fluid channel, and an energy harvester chamber disposed between said inflow fluid channel and said outflow fluid channel;
• a Magnus rotor transversely mounted in said energy harvester chamber so that said Magnus rotor floats on a surface of a fluid level said body of liquid and is movable with changes in said fluid level from a first position to a second position;
• at least one counter balancing system capable of returning said Magnus rotor from said second position to said first position;
• means for generating an electrical current based on movement of said Magnus rotor between said first position and said second position;
• a battery for charging by the electrical current from said means for generating said electrical current;
• and
• means for discharging said battery to an electrical grid.

A floating energy harvester assembly, comprising:

• a catamaran for floating on a surface of a flowing liquid;
• and
• an energy harvester attached to said catamaran, said energy harvester being oriented perpendicularly to a current of said flowing liquid and located below a surface of said flowing liquid, said energy harvester comprising,
• a Magnus rotor transversely mounted and movable in said current of said flowing liquid between a first position and a second position,
• at least one counter balancing system cooperatively associated with said Magnus rotor,
• means for producing an electrical current from a movement of said Magnus rotor in said flowing liquid, said means for producing an electrical current comprising,
• a rack movable in response to movement of said Magnus rotor, and
• at least one pinion gear drivable by a movement of said rack, said pinion gear being operably connected to an electrical generator,
• wherein driving of said pinion gear operably connected to said electrical generator produces said electrical current;
• a battery for charging by said electrical current produced from said means for producing said electrical current;
• and
• means for connecting said battery to an electrical grid;
• wherein said energy harvester generates power from said current of said flowing liquid.

A system for harnessing the energy of a reversible current flow of a water body, said system comprising:

• an energy harvester disposed at a surface of the water body, said energy harvester being capable of rotation under reversible fluid flow and comprising,
• a rotatable shaft extending below said surface of the water body and perpendicularly to a direction of current flow,
• a plurality of support members fixedly mounted to said rotatable shaft and extending substantially perpendicular to said rotatable shaft for rotation therewith in a plane perpendicular to said rotatable shaft, and
• a plurality of cylindrically-shaped Magnus rotors, each being operably mounted to a corresponding support member so as to be parallel to and radially spaced from said rotatable shaft, each Magnus rotor having a drive mechanism associated therewith for rotation in a plane parallel to said direction of current flow, and
• a generator operably connected to said rotatable shaft of said energy harvester;
• wherein said flow of said water body past said rotatable shaft of said energy harvester delimits an upstream portion of flow and a downstream portion of flow;
• and
• wherein upon rotation of said Magnus rotors through said upstream portion of flow said Magnus rotors rotate in a first direction;
• wherein upon rotation of said Magnus rotors through said downstream portion of flow said Magnus rotors are stopped.

A system for harnessing energy of current flow and wave action of a water body, said system comprising:

• a support located at a surface of said water body;
• an energy harvester capable of operation under reversible fluid flow and wave motion, said energy harvester being variably positionable relative to a said surface of said water body, said energy harvester comprising;
• a Magnus rotor and reciprocating mechanism mounted so as to extend perpendicularly to a direction of said current flow, said Magnus rotor being movable by at least one of said reversible fluid flow and said wave action between a first position and a second position, said Magnus rotor being rotationally driven by a motor;
• and
• at least one counter balancing system cooperatively associated with said Magnus rotor;
• a generator in communication with said energy harvester;
• a rack movable in response to movement of said Magnus rotor;
• and
• at least one pinion gear drivable by a movement of said rack, said pinion gear being operably connected to said generator;
• wherein driving of said pinion gear operably connected to said generator produces an electrical current.

A floating energy harvester assembly, comprising:

• a catamaran for floating on a surface of a flowing liquid;
• and
• an energy harvester attached to said catamaran, said energy harvester being oriented perpendicularly to a current of said flowing liquid and located below a surface of said flowing liquid;
• wherein said energy harvester generates power from said current of said flowing liquid, said energy harvester comprising,
• a Magnus rotor transversely mounted and movable in said current of said flowing liquid between a first position and a second position;
• at least one counter balancing system cooperatively associated with said Magnus rotor;
• means for producing an electrical current from a movement of said Magnus rotor in said flowing liquid, said means for producing an electrical current comprising,
• a magnet, and
• a coil in operable communication with said magnet, wherein a movement of said magnet relative to said coil produces said electrical current;
• a battery for charging by said electrical current produced from said means for producing said electrical current;
• and
• means for connecting said battery to an electrical grid.