GB2530517A

GB2530517A - Energy Harvesting System

Info

Publication number: GB2530517A
Application number: GB1416848.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Simmill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-09-24
Filing date: 2014-09-24
Publication date: 2016-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2034-09-24
Also published as: GB201416848D0; GB2530517B

Abstract

Energy harvesting apparatus 1 comprising a panel, a mechanism for mounting the panel for reciprocal movement about an axis of rotation and a mechanism for converting kinetic energy of the reciprocal movement into output energy. Preferably multiple energy harvesting apparatuses are arranged in an array along at least one side of a road 21 such that pressure waves caused by passing vehicles generate the reciprocal movement of the panel of each energy harvesting apparatus. Alternatively, an energy harvesting apparatus could be positioned within a fuel tank to harvest energy from the fuel as it moves forwards and backwards as a vehicle is driven. The panel may be plastic, curved and be of a cellular construction. The mounting mechanism may comprise two cylindrical spindles aligned to define the axis of rotation, which may be to the side of the panel. The panel may also be biased towards a home orientation and may be arranged vertically on either a vertical or horizontal surface.

Description

ENERQY J-IAKVESEflNG SYSTEM This.invendorl.roial:es to apparatus and methods for harvesting energy. flie ftwentjon has partcuiar, bar nor eieluc1ve romance to harvesting eneiy % n I' tad movement associakd with movetxient ofa vehicle, The concept of narvestmg energy has attra ted iii ich dttentiOIt in rutnt years am1 nnny schem:es have bden proposed. Fot dxample: * US 8,427 0&U dHeussc using urd tutbines to harve\t energy generated b) lruIielai ind associated u ith movement of a chicle ID Ph 10201107554 discusses usingtiow4hrough turbines in a fuel, tank to harvest energy from the movement of fuel wI in the fuel tank.

Ilbe piesent invention provdcs new mraIaus ann meuwda foi ha'-vostirg cnelg\ from 4lwd movenint.

A& coming to...tn aoce of the mvcmtu,n thu e \ 1 uct zy ban esing appssatus tr 1 5 which.:a.panel is. mounted.thr reciprocal movement about an. axi of rotation. and means are pro ided tot coflvertlng at frast scan olthe.kinetie tergt of-said reciprocal movement. into output energy. .s wul become apparent nereatter, w sonic upplcations. hancstrng enorgy from the reciprocal møvenl4.nt of.p.anel has cdvantahca.

In a preferred:embodimeiih the energ hatvesting.apparatuses are arranged in an array 20. along at least:one:side of a road such. that pressure waves.causedby passing vehidies generate the tee p;ocM mm ement of the panel cf each energy hanest ng apparants in tins scenario, the passing car naturs ly generates push and pall forces Accordingy tile CflCi) harvesting apparatus of the invehti.on iswll s-aiLed to this embodiment because the energyharvestin appariiti.is converts a.. reciprocal movement into output energy.

In another preferred embodiment, an energy harveshpg apparams is positioned within a fuel tan. in thii c.criario as a vehicle is driven.huil moves tbrward.s and backwards and from side to side Agam, the energy hart estmg apparatus of the present unei'tov s oil saited to UiC emb.od,i:nient.beed;usC the ehetgy har.vestthg:.apparatu doñvëtts reciroai movemeixt into output energy.

B at of example, va.nous embodiments of the tin ention wil! nave be desenhed viitn reibretice to the attached Piutes, in which; I igure I sche natical y shov a an energy han eating apar4ta in accoid..nec with the present in*ntion :2 Figures.2A and 2.B respectively show sise and ftc vies ofone of the eneiig harvesUn, apparaas diusrated in Fujiiie I Figure 3 screpiataall chov,s a section through the enegy banesttng apparatu illusti ated n Figu:e I rLveaImg wcans for coxnwrtin.g kinetic energy of ecqrot al IrA)' ement jute output energy; Figure. 4 schematically shows *a linear array of the energy harvesting apparatuses diusirated in Figure arnngcd Ic.. a toadside aphcation.

F gnu. 5 is a plsn Vlt\ A fix anangernent of cue gy haivcstin apparatuses illustrated in Figur 4, Md schematically shows.txes4te. wa/es genetated by a pasing t'ehicia Fgure 6 schemcuc1l' sho's a hncar array of lie cnug huyestmg apnratuscs i1n..str..tca n figire I arrangd xioLg the inside of 4 tunnel, Figures. 7A and. 7 respectively iTho'w schanat.ie perspective and side of an afternative energy harvesting apparatus in:accordance with the present thvenion Figures 8.A and RB nspective. show schcrnatc front.and ide views: o.t anothat atternade IS energy harvesting appara.tuc ii accordance w th the present.invention; Figure 9 shows a. linear array of the. energy harvesting apparatuses iliutrated in Figures 8A and SB; figure WA scivinatn.ally show' a section through ic encig bars esting apparatus actord ng to the present us;nt..on reveahng aitenutn ci iears for cons ertmg kinetic energ of a recip.rocal..movcment into output energy; Figure lOB schernaticailyshows in section a.sidevicw oldie energy harvesting apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 OA; Fgurc I schernaticad> shows a fuel tank meorporating a ulurrlttv of energy han esneg apparatbses according to: the present invention; 2.5 Figures 12A. and i2B tespectively show front and side: views of an energy harvesting apparates iilpstrated ia.Figure 11; Figure 13 shows a stkn throngh the energy harvesting.pparatus illustrated in Figures 12k and.1.28 teeahng ccixipouents ft ônverting k:.iitie.etietgy of a r.eirQcai P1øvetheitt into an output; and 30. Figw 14 shows an energy harvesting system incorporating the energy harvesting apparatuses iLListiated in I iguie I A ane 12113 At showr in Figures 1 2k arC 2R an energy harvesting apparatus I aceor hug to a F rs emhounnent the p esent invention gencaHy in the font of s panel 3 notall neunted on end supports 5a,5b. at either end of.one edge of thepaini 3. In the embodiment illustrated i. Figure I, the paid. i ir a suht.ani.a1:hi verPea.:i. cQnfigw-ation p a *hqrne nnefl.ta:ho iiar.d the end ctlpport$ 5ajI arc iraged udie s de othe Dottom tdge ofthe o4rd As shewn rn "A. he end capwrts Sa Sb ewi he arrared for mounting 11e pand lo a gererafly honzorta] surface or to a grrcrafly vertica1 s irface (see the end support Sa reresentd cv cashed tines) In this ernhodrnc it, the p?1te1 3 has a plastic easur g eiulosrng nrnrx nc.nts for converting recuptocal mat eme.nt of the panel about an axis of iotation between the two end supports Aa Sb into elecmul energy for outpct, The plastu casing has a cellala.i o' strLctlon for sucngth and rigdi'y s'uth paitNlv cutou portions 7a-'f ks best,een in Figuie 2A, in his enibodunent the panel.3hits a. cUrved profile.

The. components fec converting: xeciproca.t movement of the panel about the axis. of roatian for this cnbodnmct arc schematucal'y shown m Figure 1 iio eylnditca1 spmoles Qa9 resptcseh i tnjJe from end supporis Sa,Sh and hac angn&d cyhrdrit& axes 10 detine th axis of rotation Acranic peat 11. s. mechanically coupled to one cyi.indrcal spindle 9a to.

convert the reciprocal mOvement of the Ilaluel into rotary movement of a. shaft the two sen:ses..of the icciprocal. movement corresponding to rotation of the shaft in opposing directions. The shafi is coupled to. a high ratio gearing 13 that increases the rate of roiary ihe high ratio geating 13. includes a ratchet s that only rotary in ement in o.n direction. is touplcd to a flywheel 15 The fi wheci 15 stoes input energy aid cutputs it in a nore icgu'ar inarner.

rotation. of a drive shaft fbr a geiierathr 17. Electrical energy generatUd by the generOtcr 1 it response to the rotation of the driveshaft is output. via.fiexibie wires I 9a,1 91b..

As shown in Fgurc 4, a hncar array of the energy han esting apparatuses I iran be arrangoc along the suce ot a road 21, optionally separated by a barnei 23, wit!' the surfaces of the panels gcnera1ly ahgt1ed One oi more of thu energy harvesnng apparatuce I can bc coated on one ot both sides with solar ia eTc 25 to m'prot e energy hamcsting As shown in Figure 5, as a vehicle 31 moves past the array if energy)ngvçstj.ng apparatuses I at 5O60 miles per herr (mph), a how wave 31. is formed in front of the vehicle which disperses to torn a wclce that engages the eneigy han estrng appantuses I the resultant preure waves cad roeh.. Sd of atocnd. 34 metres. per sedOnd away front the side of the vehicle 31, and leave a highly turbulent region.35 behind the vehicle 31.. These pressure waves eam,c a iocking not ement of the nanels 3 which £5 C 3m erted into electucal enet g by the energy harv esaing apparatuses 1.

It s ill he appi ccatec triaL in aciclitic n to ene"gy harvesting, arranging the ecergy hanesting apparatscs 1 along the side of a maci has 4nci1 ars advantages Fm exampie, the energyharôsting apparatusS hieid both the appearance and the noige due road, which is pattieuIaI.y beneficial is there are neafhyhouses or workplaces. lii an embodiment, the.casihg of the,anc 3 s 11 ed iti nniseedunrg tnatetta to shc1d iiber I e nose of ht road Fot example, th. casing ef the panel in iy hr fla.d with i.oror s ab',cdber such a a rubhe foam and glass fihre.maieriais..

A:.linear array of energy harvesting apparatuses may he provided inside a tunnel. ft. such an arrangement,; as shown in Figure 6,. the. panel. may be contoured to take. account of the geomctiy of ti-c tannel As cais ptss, dir wake fioin the bow waves genuatad ny the cai s causes rwproccl mm cment of the panels thereby geneianrg eic(Jncit 1-1gw Cs 7A and B chow an altenat'\ e panel consructior i winch the aneI n raoe from voo<ddn lOt 41 ari-anged betivdn woOden end posts 43.43b that are, fixed:jfl a mend base uembei 45 hat forms the ca-un for the means for corn ertrig khietle enugv nto ou put ci ergy Such an anangcmen.t I-as the appcruwce of a tracnt1( n& wnode; fence pa.ael, which allows the uergy h.arvastng <ip;awse o hr. svsrpathcuca].ly r actal'cx m niban etcas, for

example.

F'guru 8A aid SB \iow cl energy 1-a--ot nq apparati s i uit'i a single mount ug 53 As shown. in Figure 9 these energy harvesting apparat-use can be monnted in a linear array along a niounnrg mem"ei 5 One or noth -idcc of each ci esg has vesting appaiatuc 51 may he coated with -solar c1k Typca ly, his desigu will be used with smeller panels As dosc4hd above, a gár.aetabh can bd to c,nvert, ±eeiprocal;rnovethent <if a patiel into a ±oLmy mo\eanent tha.t.is input to an eketrical generator, .A1tdrnativeJy theenerator :coOld be replaced by a hydraulic pump4 in which ease the output of the energy harvesting apoautu i tormed by fiexib e outlet pipes Figures WA and jOB show an alternative gear assembly that dan be ued in conjwi:ction 2.5 with a. hydraulic pump. In particular, the tyliddriiai spindle 9a9i at eacb etsd cf the panel 3 15 mechanically coupled tea crark gear Vla,71b, wi.idh is in turn mechanically coupled to a respective worm spindle 73a,.73b for a worm gear lSa.>7$b. By having different handedness for the to worm spirefes 3a,73 a worn-geai druen hydraulic puttp 77 can be ised to pLmp fluid out of fixible cutlet pps 79:,79b M shown ib Figwt] GB the oylindrieal spiOdles are offset from th centre cf gravity of the panel. to throw the weigit of the panel forward. l-lowever, the fixed crank gear 71. includes stops to Irnzt inc range of mo ement of +e pane! Jr this way the panel can he nos ed in ane dnechon by s pressure wave and then returi to a home oncntation under grit', ties thy thibiting reciptocai movenleirt. 5.

figue' ib ahti showvs in seetion the ecuuiar ciintriietitin. 81 of thd panel fdt added rigidity.

Energy harvesting apparatus in which rccjprocal movement of.a panel is converted: into useM energy can be used iii ether appiicatjons., Fjgii 1 1 4i.oc a fuej ink.1,01 fbi a. vehicle in which erergy ham esung alwaratuses 10$ a-I 0e have been 1neo1vor a d As fire] move' In the thel tank.101 dne to nmvdmept of th of litre e.urgy harvesting apparatuses 103 exhibit tec.iprocal moVCthenL from which energy in1harvted.

As howii "in, Figures 12A and 1213, each energy harvesting apparatus 103 includes a plane]. .105, which in this context could. be referred to as a baffle, which is..mopntcd m.a sii die 10.7 t one. conier tha't'aiiowl.fo,ivot'h1 mo em ent.oiThe panel 105 over a restricted range boor an axis of iotauon correspo di g to the longinidma( axi of he pneI 05 A' shown in Figue 13., the ei1d of the spodIe 107 distal, from the pind 105. is inech.ahicaliy cdupied to.a crank gear 109, which, is in turn me'c'hanicà'lFq coupied to' a high ratio gearing Iii. The output of the high iaho gui-mg 111 forms the dru e shaft for a rcs crsc flow rotary pump 113 thai ha s fluid ifircugh Po' pipes 11 5,Il ib hi th enbod'jient die gcaxs 09J1 I and the hdjaulje pump are..mouuted within the mcmldihg ot<the ftieuiank I I$:I.

A shcns'n in F ig-e A, die flow pipes I ISa I 15b arc connected to hydiauhc geieitor 117 outside olithe fuel tank 10.1. Theh.ydraulic generator 117 co.nverts'm'ovement ot'thaid within the flow pipes into electrical enelgy, which is stored £n a battery 119 By iusng a revee flow rotary pump. 113, energy cart be harvested frcan both dfrcetitns of reci'precai movement of the p2lclS 105 it will be apoecratcd, that conveiting fluid mci enient into electrical eaci gy outside of the fuel' tatik has significant safet athantageis.

it. will be appreciated that a fuel, tank in an electric or hybrid. car could advantageously include ererg harvcstmg apparatuccc in order to c <tenu range under electrical po er 2.5' Modifications and fnrther embodiments In the above-described embodimenta, kinetic energy associated with reciprocal.

]n,temein of a panel has been. converted into a useful form, using an electrical generator or a hydraulic pump i'm some form'. of gear assembly1 The use of a. gear assenablly iS trot essetilial.

For example, suitably posiLored pczodcctnc elenlonts could be Lessed by the secip.oca1 nio'Cn3en t' 0.1 the'paneTh, and the.tcs'iiitahtl eiedtde& energy hn óste& The m'ateriàl.a used to manufacture the panels could advantageously b.c manufactured from recycled plastic to reduce impact to the environment. Alternatively, natural' materials such a wood. could he' used.

fl r d pat!S wilt bniqsb efFecike &ç 4, td sith a. hynffl Aw Ps*44::h.p* mS:$ *fl:1ls lSQ e*ppc 1á:4h: fliS4 paSs t1:. *Sfr 4us: wM e ist41saStødi4:ca..: fdtw*' *rthi11*kb wM4: Stne it will i,t::Ss that the e1 th; * Wa óf:the StS ooij&d nbo be ananged alongside one or bet stiles of a railway line, For example, die energy harvesting W4,, a1w*ytcufl4 M 4S: :d Sc t e:gy i*SS,g nsusc.: :tSJ bci*d; n, 4. Ss ft j vebt M SIas ta, fl:viesS4 to t*it d&$* The ç,,gy nçin pprgsc acepr4ing to tk mye*itwa cq!44 bet, i $s :w.*aS*aflk 4t aUquM eti, tSthej. F&ecn$eAbets* ceukthe awa* tnkK:: n:. :: :øi: a;Ska*,, is A4 tile ic' bawestin: irt aft eteet A: nfleo5ts4ftiit, The e bco*actionMth t::energflandtg:dsices.