EP-4735758-A1 - ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

Abstract

An energy harvesting device is disclosed. The energy harvesting device comprises one or more foils and a pressurised energy conversion system. The pressurised energy conversion system comprises a working fluid, one or more fluid displacement devices configured to be driven by movement of the one or more foils and one or more generators configured to be driven by the working fluid. Advantageous, the energy harvesting device can efficiently harvest energy from a turbulent fluid flow.

Inventors

• VELAYUTHAM, KARTHIKEYAN

Assignees

• Katrick Technologies Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240701

Claims (1)

1. 1 Claims 2 3 1 . An energy harvesting device comprising: 4 one or more foils; and 5 a pressurised energy conversion system, the pressurised energy conversion 6 system comprising: 7 a working fluid; 8 one or more fluid displacement devices configured to be driven by movement 9 of the one or more foils; and 0 one or more generators configured to be driven by the working fluid, 1 wherein the pressurised energy conversion system is configured to dynamically2 vary a resistive force of the pressurised energy conversion system responsive to3 variation in a fluid flow incident upon the one or more foils. 4 5 2. The energy harvesting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the dynamic variation in6 the resistive force is to optimise the energy captured by the energy harvesting device. 7 8 3. The energy harvesting device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the dynamic9 variation in the resistive force is dependent on a variation in lift generated by the one or0 more foils. 1 2 4. The energy harvesting device as claimed in claims any of the preceding claims,3 wherein the dynamic variation in the resistive force is dependent on a variation in4 energy of a fluid flow incident upon the one or more foils. 5 6 5. The energy harvesting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the7 dynamic variation of the resistive force comprises varying a flow rate of the working8 fluid displaced by the one or more fluid displacement devices. 9 0 6. The energy harvesting devices as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the1 dynamic variation of the resistive force comprises the pressurised energy conversion2 system further comprising two or more reservoirs configured to operate at two or more3 different pressures. 4 5 7. The energy harvesting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the6 one or more foils are configured to have a low inertia. 2 8. The energy harvesting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the 3 movement of two or more foils is independent. 4 5 9. The energy harvesting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the 6 energy harvesting device further comprises one or more ducts, wherein the one or 7 more foils are located within the one or more ducts. 8 9 10. The energy harvesting device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the variation in the fluid0 flow is measured at a mid-section of the one or more ducts. 1 2 11 . The energy harvesting device as claimed in claims 9 or 10, wherein each of the one or3 more ducts comprises two or more foils. 4 5 12. The energy harvesting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the6 energy harvesting device further comprises one or more vibrational members, the one7 or more vibrational members connect the one or more foils to the pressurised energy8 conversion system. 9 0 13. The energy harvesting device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the one or more1 vibrational members are configured to pivot about a pivot axis located between a first2 end and a second end of the one or more vibrational members; or 3 the one or more vibrational members are configured to pivot about a pivot axis located4 at the second end of the one or more vibrational members. 5 6 14. The energy harvesting device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the one or more foils are7 configured to exhibit a pivoting motion about the pivot axis and a rotation motion about8 a rotation axis extending along the span direction of the one or more foils, the rotation9 axis being perpendicular to the pivot axis. 0 1 15. The energy harvesting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the2 one or more fluid displacement devices comprises a pump, and or a positive 3 displacement pump, and or a rotary-positive displacement pump, and or a 4 reciprocating-type positive displacement pump and or a piston and or a semi-rotary5 actuator and or a swash plate piston arrangement. 6 1 16. The energy harvesting device as claimed in claims 12 to 15, wherein the one or more 2 fluid displacement devices are connected to one or more vibrational members. 3 4 17. The energy harvesting device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the energy harvesting 5 device further comprises one or more mechanical connections connecting the one or 6 more fluid displacement devices to the one or more vibrational members. 7 8 18. The energy harvesting device as claims in claims 13 to 17, wherein the one or more 9 fluid displacement devices are connected to the vibrational member: 0 at the pivot point; and or 1 between the pivot point and the first end of the vibrational member; and or 2 between the pivot point and the second end of the vibrational member. 3 4 19. The energy harvesting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein there5 are two or more fluid displacement devices, fluidly connected in series or in parallel;6 and or the two or more fluid displacement devices are of different types and or size.7 8 20. The energy harvesting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the9 pressurised energy conversion system further comprises one or more pressure0 intensifiers. 1 2 21 . The energy harvesting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the3 pressurised energy conversion system comprises one or more control valves and or4 one or more non-return valves and or one or more proportional flow valves and or one5 or more pressure dependent non-return valves. 6 7 22. The energy harvesting device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the8 pressurised energy conversion system comprises an expansion chamber. 9 0 23. The energy harvesting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more foils are1 configured as one or more turbines, wherein the one or more turbines are mechanically2 connected to one or more radial arms, the radial arms connected to a central spindle. 3 4 24. The energy harvesting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the working fluid may be5 a gas or liquid. 1 2 25. An energy harvesting system comprising two or more energy harvesting devices as 3 claimed in claims 1 to 24. 4 5 26. The energy harvesting system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the energy harvesting 6 system comprises a centralised reservoir and or a centralised generator. 7 8 27. A method of a method of manufacturing an energy harvesting device comprising: 9 providing one or more foils; 0 providing a working fluid of a pressurised energy conversion system; 1 providing one or more fluid displacement devices of the pressurised energy 2 conversion system, the one or more fluid displacement devices configured to be3 driven by movement of the one or more foils; 4 providing a generator configured to be driven by the working fluid; and 5 configuring the pressurised energy conversion system to dynamically vary a resistive6 force of the pressurised energy conversion system responsive to variation in a fluid7 flow incident upon the one or more foils. 8 9 28. Use of an energy harvesting apparatus as claimed in claims 1 to 24 or an energy0 harvesting system as claimed in claims 25 and 26 for generating electrical energy. 1 2

Description

1 Energy Harvesting Device, System and Method of Manufacture 2 3 The present invention relates to an energy harvesting device, system and method of 4 manufacture. The energy harvesting device is particularly suitable for capturing energy 5 from a turbulent fluid flow, such as ground level wind. 6 7 Background to the Invention 8 9 A conventional horizontal-axis wind turbine known in the art typically comprises three0 blades. The wind turbine converts the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical motion1 according to the principle of aerodynamic lift. In operation, the blades rotate and drive a2 generator located within a nacelle at the top of a tower of the wind turbine. The generator3 converts the mechanical motion into electricity. 4 5 Whilst conventional horizontal-axis wind turbines are widely used in the energy industry to6 offer a source of renewable energy, there are numerous disadvantages. Horizontal-axis7 wind turbines can only operate within a narrow wind speed window. For example, if the8 wind speed is too high there is a risk of damaging the wind turbines. Conversely if the9 wind speed is too low, then there may not be enough aerodynamic lift to rotate the blades. 2 The size of horizontal-axis wind turbines has increased over time to take advantage of 3 more laminar air flows found at higher altitude. A laminar air flow results in increased 4 efficiency of a horizontal-axis wind turbine relative to a more turbulent air flow. As such, 5 commercial wind farms typically comprise large wind turbines which can presently be over 6 100 m tall. Whilst large wind turbines have a greater power output than smaller scale 7 micro wind turbines, the large wind turbines typically dominate the surrounding landscape 8 and have a negative aesthetic impact on the environment. There are further negative 9 environmental consequences as wind turbines can detrimentally affect the surrounding0 wildlife. For example, the blades of the wind turbines can kill birds. 1 2 A disadvantage of large horizontal-axis wind turbines is that they are not suitable to be3 located in urban landscapes, by motorways and especially not near airports as they tend4 to produce a significant turbulent flow in the wake of the blades. As a result, as well as5 remote land locations, wind farms comprising large wind turbines are typically located6 offshore. Yet this poses a further challenge, namely, the added complexity of transporting7 and installing such large devices in remote locations. 8 9 Another disadvantage of a conventional horizontal-axis wind turbine is that the generator is0 located within the nacelle at the top of the tower. This location makes maintenance1 challenging, particularly, for large offshore wind turbines over 100 m tall as engineers must2 climb the tower and transport any replacement parts as required. 3 4 A large offshore conventional horizontal-axis wind turbine 1 know in the art is depicted in5 Figure 1 . The wind turbine 1 comprises a tower 2, a nacelle 3 located at the top of the6 tower 2, a hub 4 about which is positioned three blades 5, and a hydraulic pump 6 located7 within the nacelle 3. In use, the hydraulic pump 6 pumps sea water 7 to a generator 88 located on a separate platform 9. Instead of being located at the top of the tower 3, the9 generator 8 is located on the platform 9, a more accessible location for maintenance.0 1 of the Invention 2 3 It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide an energy harvesting device4 that obviates or at least mitigates one or more of the aforesaid disadvantages of the5 energy harvesting devices known in the art. 1 2 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an energy harvesting 3 device comprising: 4 one or more foils configured to respond to changes in a fluid flow with a response time 5 of less than 60 seconds; and 6 a pressurised energy conversion system, the pressurised energy conversion system 7 comprising: 8 a working fluid; 9 one or more fluid displacement devices configured to be driven by movement of the0 one or more foils; and 1 one or more generators configured to be driven by the working fluid. 2 3 Preferably, the response time may be less than 30 seconds. Preferably, the response4 time may be less than 10 seconds. Preferably, the response time may be less than 55 seconds. Most preferably, the response time may be of the order of a second. 6 7 Preferably, one or more foils may be configured to have a low inertia. 8 9 Preferably, the energy harvesting device may comprise two or more foils. 0 1 Preferably, the movement of the two or more foils may be independent. Advantageously,2 the independent motion of the two or more foils facilitates coupling energy from multiple3 locations within a turbulent flow. 4 5 Optionally, the movement of the two or more foils may be dependent. Advantageously,6 the dependent motion of two or more foils facilitates offsetting the phase of the two or7 more foils. 8 9 Preferably, the en