GB2560401A

GB2560401A - Electromagnetic 'shaky board' for energy conversion

Info

Publication number: GB2560401A
Application number: GB1719490.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Greer Kieran
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-03-08
Filing date: 2017-11-23
Publication date: 2018-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-23
Also published as: GB201719490D0; GB2560401B; DK201700077U4; GB201703704D0

Abstract

A structure may be subject to flow induced vibration due the random variable movement of a fluid, including air or a liquid around and about the structure causing a vortex. Vortices cause the device to oscillate. Linear electrical induction generators are fitted to the device and the vibration of the structure causes relative movement between a coil 4 and a magnet 3. A series of generators may be arranged in arrays in stacked arrays and may rotate about a central pivot Figure 6, 14, a wind vane Figure 6, 13 may orientate the structure. As the array rotates back and forth due to a variable direction windflow the linear generator oscillates and produces electricity. The magnet may be guided by rods Figure 1, 5 or may be located in a tube 10. Spring assisted dampers 8 may be used to cushion the magnet and to deflect it back at the end of the stroke. Electrical energy may be stored in a battery Figure 1, 9. The device may be located on land or out to sea, wave power may be used to move the device. Tethers Fig 8, 21 may be provided to restrict movement of the device

Description

(56) Documents Cited:

WO 2016/055370 A2 JP 2003164136 A US 20080048455 A1

H02N 2/18 (2006.01)

JP 2006226221 A1 US 20130227940 A2 US 20060064972 A1 (71) Applicant(s):

Kieran Greer

Salisbury Court, BELFAST, Antrim, BT7 1DD, United Kingdom (58) Field of Search:

Other: WPI, EPODOC, INTERNET (72) Inventor(s):

Kieran Greer (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Kieran Greer

Salisbury Court, BELFAST, Antrim, BT7 1DD, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Electromagnetic 'shaky board¹ for energy conversion

Abstract Title: Electrical energy production using flow induced vibration harvesting (57) A structure may be subject to flow induced vibration due the random variable movement of a fluid, including air or a liquid around and about the structure causing a vortex. Vortices cause the device to oscillate. Linear electrical induction generators are fitted to the device and the vibration of the structure causes relative movement between a coil 4 and a magnet 3. A series of generators may be arranged in arrays in stacked arrays and may rotate about a central pivot Figure 6, 14, a wind vane Figure 6, 13 may orientate the structure. As the array rotates back and forth due to a variable direction windflow the linear generator oscillates and produces electricity. The magnet may be guided by rods Figure 1,5 or may be located in a tube 10. Spring assisted dampers 8 may be used to cushion the magnet and to deflect it back at the end of the stroke. Electrical energy may be stored in a battery Figure 1,9. The device may be located on land or out to sea, wave power may be used to move the device. Tethers Fig 8, 21 may be provided to restrict movement of the device

Figure 2: A second embodiment of the electromagnetic unit, without the enclosing structure.

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Figures

Figure 1: A first embodiment of the electromagnetic unit, without the enclosing structure.

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Figure 3. A first embodiment of the Shaky Board, probably for a wind application.

Figure 4. A second embodiment of the Shaky Board, probably for a water application.

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Figure 5. A Shaky Board with a wind vane and electromagnetic units both on the top and bottom sides.

Figure 6. An example of Shaky Boards stacked vertically, to make use of the same wind force.

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Figure 7. An example of using springs outside of the board, to further induce the shaky movement as the wind vane bounces off the springs.

Figure 8. An example of using elastic or ordinary rope attached to the board, to spring it back when it moves too far in one direction, to further induce the shaky movement.

Electromagnetic 'Shaky Board’ for Energy Conversion

Description

This patent relates to a new design for an energy-generating device called an electromagnetic ‘Shaky Board’. It is so called because it uses the shaking motion of the board to move permanent magnets inside of wire coils, to induce a current. This current can then be collected and stored for later energy consumption. It is the movement of the board itself that is converted into energy, which means that it does not have to align quite so carefully with the kinetic forces, but prefers to be disrupted by them. The new invention can be used in different types of environment, but would essentially be wind or water. The key point again, for a wind and possibly water application is the fact that the new design prefers turbulent or variable force directions over a steady direction. As the current turbines prefer a steady force direction, this new design could complement them and be used in environments where the current designs would not typically be used. While a traditional wind turbine generates energy from a rotating blade motion, this new design uses an oscillating sideways motion to do the same thing.

The Shaky Board is built around electromagnetic induction and a very basic implementation of it, which is the textbook version of moving a magnetic current through an electric conductor, such as a copper wire coil. The electromagnetic device therefore requires that the magnet can move freely inside of the wire coil. It must therefore be suspended at either end of the coil, by being attached to horizontal poles or bars that can themselves move freely from side to side. The poles should not be attracted to magnetism, nor should any other part of the electromagnetic unit, and the wire coil should be affected by magnetism. The poles are then fixed at either side by supporting structures that suspend the magnet inside of the coil. Small (non-magnetic) springs should also be placed where the unit supports the pole ends, so that when the pole moves in one direction, it can be sprung-back the other way, to help with further movement of the magnet and electricity induction. Another embodiment uses a tube instead of the horizontal bars.

The board could be circular in shape, but the shape would depend on the movement that is induced on it. If considering a wind environment, for example, then it can be circular and would replace a wind turbine. Each board would have a vane, similar to what a small turbine has. As the wind direction changes, the vane causes the board to rotate and this movement can be translated directly into the movement of the magnets, thereby inducing current in the electric coils. The vertical span for a single structure is probably relatively small, because there is no need for a large turbine blade span. One or more boards can therefore be vertically stacked on a vertical mast and allowed to rotate freely, horizontally around it. On the other hand, if used as a water turbine, then wave motion could cause a floating board, possibly circular or square in shape, to rock from side to side and this instead could be used to cause the magnets’ motion. If a number of boards are floated in the water and tethered to a central unit that can collect or channel the electricity, then they can move freely to produce the electricity as the water moves.

The electromagnetic unit itself would be a rectangular bar or elongate shape, and the magnet movement is in the direction of the elongate side. It can therefore be placed at an angle on the board that makes best use of the board movement. If the board is rotating, then it can be placed with the elongate side along the board perimeter, or in line with the circular motion. If the motion is sideways rocking, then it can be placed with the elongate side perpendicular to the board side, or in line with the rocking motion.

Figures

A description of the invention by way of a set of figures is as follows:

2.1 Figure 1: A first embodiment of the electromagnetic unit, without the enclosing structure

This is one description of the full electromagnetic unit 2. The magnet 3 is the only magnetically conducting component and the wire coil 4 is the only electrically conducting component. The magnet 3 is horizontally attached to sliding poles 5 that allow the magnet to move freely from side to side, inside of the coil 4. The sideways direction of movement 6 in the poles and therefore the magnet is as indicated. The poles are supported at either end by vertical structures 7 that hold the poles horizontally in place but allow them to move freely, sideways. These are non-magnetic, as are non-magnetic or conducting springs 8 at the end of each supporting structure 7, that allow the poles 5 to bounce-back when the spring is compressed. The electromagnetic structure 2 is attached directly to the Shaky Board 1. It would actually be housed in an enclosing structure (not shown) that is also watertight. Optional may be some type of energy storage device 9, such as a capacitor, to store the electric current, before being passed on for energy consumption.

2.2 Figure 2: A second embodiment of the electromagnetic unit, without the enclosing structure

This is a second embodiment of the full electromagnetic unit 2. The magnet 3 is the only magnetically conducting component and the wire coil 4 is the only electrically conducting component. This time, the magnet 3 is placed inside of a horizontal tube 10 that allows the magnet to move freely from side to side 6. The copper wire coil 4 is then wrapped around the tube 10. The tube 10 can be supported at either end by vertical structures 7 that have holes or gaps where the tube joins, to allow the magnet to move freely, horizontally inside of them as well. The tube might also be supported at the base 11, for example. The supports 7 or 11 are non-magnetic, as are non-magnetic or conducting springs 8 at the end of each supporting structure 7, that allows the magnet 3 to bounce-back when the spring is compressed. The electromagnetic structure 2 is attached directly to the Shaky Board 1. It would actually be housed in an enclosing structure (not shown) that is also watertight. Optional may be some type of energy storage device, such as a capacitor, to store the electric current, before being passed on for energy consumption.

2.3 Figure 3: A first embodiment of the Shaky Board, probably for a wind application

This is one arrangement for the Shaky Board 1. It can rotate round a supporting mast, where it would be attached to the mast through a hole 12 and would move as directed 6 by the direction of the wind. The electromagnetic units 2 are arranged to be elongate around the perimeter of the Shaky Board 1 so that when it rotates, they will have the maximum amount of horizontal momentum to move the magnets with.

2.4 Figure 4: A second embodiment of the Shaky Board, probably for a water application

This is a second arrangement for the Shaky Board 1. It might be used when the board is to be floated in water and would move as directed 6 by the wave or tide action, in all different directions. The electromagnetic units 2 are arranged to be elongate perpendicular to the perimeter of the Shaky Board 1 so that when there is a rocking motion, they will have the maximum amount of horizontal momentum to move the magnets with.

2.5 Figure 5: A Shaky Board with a wind vane and electromagnetic units both on the top and bottom sides

This arrangement for the Shaky Board 1 adds a wind vane 13 and electromagnetic units 2 on both the top and the bottom of the board. Note that the wind vane can extend from several different places. A central mast 14 can hold the Shaky Boards in place and allow them to rotate freely in the direction of motion 6. The wind vane 13 would align itself with the wind direction and therefore cause the horizontal movement in the board.

2.6 Figure 6: An example of Shaky Boards stacked vertically, to make use of the same wind force.

This arrangement for the Shaky Board 1 shows how a number of them can be stacked vertically on the same mast 14. The Shaky Boards 1 still move independently of each other and so the force requirement is only that for a single board. The vertical span 15 is only the size of the weather vane 13 plus some space. The electromagnetic units are not shown in this figure, but they would be arranged as in any of the other diagrams.

2.7 Figure 7: An example of using springs outside of the board, to further induce the shaky movement as the wind vane bounces off the springs.

This arrangement is a compact design for both increasing the amount of turbulence and making use of that to spring the board back and forth even more, so that additional kinetic energy, translated into electrical energy, is generated. Poles or obstacles 16 may be placed in front of the shaky board to meet with the wind flow 18 in some direction. Turbulence 19 is generated behind the obstacles and it would encourage the sideways movement of the shaky board when it hits against the wind vane 13. If the wind vane and board move too far in one direction, they hit against springs 17, for example, that will spring them back in the other direction 20, thus introducing even more energy into the system.

2.8 Figure 8: An example of using elastic or ordinary rope attached to the board to spring it back when it moves too far in one direction, to further induce the shaky movement.

This is another arrangement for increasing the amount of movement in the board, so that additional kinetic energy, translated into electrical energy, is generated. In this case, elastic or regular ropes 21 can be attached to the outside of the shaky board 1 and the ground, so that the board will spring back when it moves too far in one direction.

Key Components

Following are the key components and considerations for the new design.

3.1 Environment

A traditional wind turbine, for example, operates best where the wind direction is stable. It does not work well in turbulent conditions, or where the direction is constantly changing. In contrast to this, a Shaky Board would prefer the turbulence, so that the board is moved about more. It would be the movement of the board in the wind that is converted into the energy. Turbulence could even be introduced by placing thin obstacles in front of the board mast, so as to induce turbulence behind them. It is the same principle with water, where more choppy water would be preferred to a steady tide.

3.2 Electromagnetic Induction Unit

The electromagnetic inducer is the most basic of constructions, typically used to describe Faraday’s Law in the textbooks for example. Figure 1 is an example of the whole unit. It consists of a magnet held horizontally inside of a copper or conducting wire coil. The wire coil is attached to the board base and from there, to an energy storage unit that stores the current potential. The magnet is attached to horizontal bars or poles that can move sideways freely. The poles are supported at either end by structures that are attached to the board base. As the poles move, either end will move inwards or outwards of the supporting structures. This will move the magnet by the same amount. To increase the amount of movement, where the poles are held by the structures, non-magnetic springs can be added, so that when the poles move further into the structure, they compress the spring and are encouraged to move back out again. As the magnet moves through the coil, it induces AC current in the coil. The wire coil can send this current to an electricity storage unit, or pass it on somewhere else, as an electric turbine might do. The structure of figure 1 would then be encased as a single unit and held in place on the Shaky Board. The enclosing structure would also provide very important protection from the elements and so should be watertight.

Figure 2 is another embodiment of the electromagnetic unit. In this example, a tube is used instead of the supporting bars. The tube and the two side supports could even be a single unit, where the wire coil is wrapped around the tube, the springs are also part of the end supports and the magnet is placed inside the tube before the structure is closed. The magnet can again move freely from side to side and the magnet itself is bounced back and forth by the springs as it moves to either end of the supporting side structures. This embodiment would be easier to produce, but there is added friction on the magnet as it would sit inside of and rest on the whole tube body. The structure of figure 2 would then still need to be encased in another outer unit, to protect the wire coil, and held in place on the Shaky Board. The enclosing structure would again provide very important protection from the elements and so should be watertight.

3.3 Shaky Board

The Shaky Board is then the board that holds the electromagnet structures in place, provides the kinetic energy to produce their movement and links with the energy storage unit. The Shaky Board can operate in different environments and so its design and shape can be variable. If replacing a wind turbine for example, then it could be circular in shape, as in figure 3 and would rotate freely around a mast. On one side of the board there would be a wind vane, as in figure 5, to force the board to move when the wind changes direction. The wind vane can in fact extend from any number of positions, or it can be several separate wind vanes, so that it can capture the wind motion from several different directions. The electromagnetic units would then be placed on the board, in a position to make maximum use of the circular movement. They would therefore be placed elongate, around the board perimeter. They should also be evenly balanced so that the movement is not restricted or biased. The vertical span of the board is relatively small and so a number of boards could be vertically stacked, in parallel and all make use of the same wind force, as in figure 6. They would operate separately from each other and so it is only the weight of a single board that needs to be accommodated by the wind force, or kinetic energy.

In another embodiment of the Shaky Board, it could be floated on water, where the wave motion would be converted into the magnet motion. In that case, the electromagnets could be placed with the elongate side perpendicular to the board perimeter, as in figure 4, so that the sideways wave motion again causes the maximum magnet movement, as opposed to a circular motion. The electromagnet units could even be placed both on the top and the bottom sides of the board, as in figure 5, to make maximum use of the available space, or for balance, although the total weight is then a consideration.

3.4 Electromagnetic Unit Enclosing Structure

The electromagnetic unit should be completely enclosed in a watertight structure so that it is not corroded by the elements. In figure 1, this enclosing structure is missing and would simply cover all of the components that are shown. In figure 2, the horizontal tube and the two side supports could be a single unit with the magnet held inside, but the wire coil still needs to be protected by another enclosing structure, as for figure 1.

3.5 Turbulence Inducer and External Springs

The essence of this design is an irregular movement, not the steady 360 circular movement of traditional wind turbines. It is therefore desirable that if the turbine were to move too regularly, it could be stopped and even bounced back, to generate the desired irregular movement. It is suggested that poles or obstacles can be placed in front of the turbine, in line with some wind direction, to add more turbulence to the wind flow. This turbulence would likely cause the wind vane to move sideways, where short back and forth movements are preferred. Therefore, one possible arrangement would be a compact design, for both increasing the amount of turbulence and making use of that to spring the board back and forth, as described in section 2.7. A second arrangement that could use elastic or even regular rope, is described in section 2.8. The rope can be attached to the board and the ground and might even be useful for stability. If the board moves in one direction, the rope stretches and springs the board back in the other direction, thus inducing further movement. It probably does not have to move very far before springing back and so the rope could be almost tight and so possibly used to stabilise as well. The added weight of the rope and connecting structure would be a concern however.

3.6 Energy Storage Device

This unit would be a similar unit to what a traditional turbine uses. It may store the electricity locally or it may simply pass the electricity to a more remote location. The Shaky Board can house an energy storage unit, or that may be housed by the central mast or tethering unit. So, the general architecture is the same as for a wind turbine, with the central mast also housing some components, but the wind turbine blades and motor are replaced by the Shaky Boards in the design. If floating the boards on water, then they need to be tethered to a central unit that can again collect the electricity from them.

Electromagnetic 'Shaky Board’ for Energy Conversion

Claims

1 Claims

1. A Shaky Board comprising a solid base on which electromagnetic induction units are attached, so as to produce movement in the magnets of the electromagnetic units, to produce the electrical induction in the unit wire coils when the board is moved; where the electromagnetic units are best placed to benefit from the type of board movement that is caused; where more variable or turbulent kinetic forces on the board are preferred; where the electromagnetic unit uses an oscillating sideways motion to generate electricity; where external poles or obstacles can cause further irregular movement; where the novelty is the use of oscillating inducers and the placement of the electromagnetic units on the board to produce the stated motion.

2. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 1 that can be circular in shape with a central hole that attaches it to a wind mast and one or more weather vanes to direct the board movement, to align it with the wind direction; where the board can rotate freely round the central mast and the main kinetic force is the wind force.

3. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 2 where the electromagnetic units are attached to be elongate around the perimeter of the board, so that the circular movement of the board will cause the magnets inside the units to move sideways, each one encased inside an electric wire coil.

4. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 3 where the current produced by the oscillating magnet movement is collected and passed to an electrical storage device, to be used as an energy source.

5. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 4 where several boards can be stacked vertically on the same mast, where each board can move freely of the other boards and can produce its own electricity.

6. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 5 where narrow structures can be placed in-front of the main mast, in-line with wind directions to actually induce more turbulent wind flow around the main wind mast.

7. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 1 that is made of some plastic material that floats, to be floated in water that moves due to wave or current action.

8. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 7 where the electromagnetic units are attached to be elongate perpendicular to the perimeter of the board, so that the sideways rocking movement of the water, inducing the same movement on the board, will cause the magnets inside the units to move by the maximum amount.

9. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 8 where a number of boards can be floated and tethered to a central unit that can hold them in place as the water moves and also provides a place for other components to be stored, such as the energy storage unit.

10. A Shaky Board as claimed in any claim, where the electromagnetic units can be placed both on the top and the bottom of the board surface, where they still move as a unit when the board is moved.

11. An electromagnetic unit as claimed in any claim, where there is a permanent magnet that can move freely inside of a conducting electric wire coil that induces a current in the coil when it moves;

where the unit is fully housed in a sealed container so that it is protected from the elements; where the sealed container is then attached to the Shaky Board.

12. An electromagnetic unit as claimed in claim 11 where the magnet is held in place by non-magnetic horizontal poles or bars, that are suspended at either side by two structures that allow the bars to move freely, horizontally, at a specific and fixed height.

13. An electromagnetic unit as claimed in claim 12 where the supporting bars are held in place by structures at either end that are fixed to the Shaky Board base and each structure may have a spring at each outer end, to induce a backwards motion when the bar moves into it.

14. An electromagnetic unit as claimed in claim 11 where the supporting bars are replaced by a tube, inside of which the magnet can move freely from side to side, around which the wire coil is wrapped; where it can be attached to the supporting structures at either side and even be built as a single encasing unit, with springs at either end, as in claim 13 that rebound the magnet itself when it reaches either end of the structure.

15. External poles or obstacles as claimed in claim 1 that are positioned to meet with some wind direction and cause turbulence from it, so that the turbulence meets with the wind vanes and shakes them further.

16. An external spring-back mechanism that is springs attached to the external poles or obstacles of claim 15, that rebound the wind vane backwards when it hits against them.

17. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 1, with an external spring-back mechanism that is elastic or regular ropes that are attached to the shaky board and the ground, that force the board to rebound backwards when it moves too far in one direction and can be accompanied by a pivot at the mast base to allow further sideways motions.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1719490.3 Examiner: Gareth Jones

17. An external spring-back mechanism that is elastic or regular ropes that are attached to the shaky board of claim 1 and the ground, that force the board to rebound backwards when it moves too far in one direction.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:

1207 18

1. An electromagnetic ‘Shaky Board’ for energy conversion, comprising a solid base on which electromagnetic induction units are attached, so as to produce movement in the magnets of the electromagnetic units, to produce the electrical induction in the unit wire coils when the board is moved; where the electromagnetic units are best placed to benefit from the type of board movement that is caused; where more variable or turbulent kinetic forces on the board are preferred; where the electromagnetic unit uses an oscillating sideways motion to generate electricity; where external narrow structures or obstacles can induce turbulence to cause further irregular movement; where the design novelty is the use of oscillating inducers and the placement of the electromagnetic units on the board to produce the stated motion; where the movement novelty is that it occurs while aligning with an energy flow and not after aligning with it.

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11. A Shaky Board as claimed in any claim, where the electromagnetic unit comprises a permanent magnet that can move freely inside of a conducting electric wire coil that induces a current in the coil when it moves; where the unit is fully housed in a sealed container so that it is protected from the elements; where the sealed container is then attached to the Shaky Board.

12. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 11 comprising one or more electromagnetic units, where the unit’s magnet is held in place by non-magnetic horizontal poles or bars, that are suspended at either side by two structures that allow the bars to move freely, horizontally, at a specific and fixed height.

13. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 12 comprising one or more electromagnetic units, where the unit’s supporting bars are held in place by structures at either end that are fixed to the Shaky Board base and each structure may have a spring at each outer end, to induce a backwards motion when the bar moves into it.

14. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 11 comprising one or more electromagnetic units, where the unit’s supporting bars are replaced by a tube, inside of which the magnet can move freely from side to side, around which the wire coil is wrapped; where it can be attached to the supporting structures at either side and even be built as a single encasing unit, with springs at either end, as in claim 13 that rebound the magnet itself when it reaches either end of the structure.

15. A Shaky Board as claimed in claim 1, where external narrow structures or obstacles are positioned to meet with some wind direction and cause turbulence from it, so that the turbulence can meet with the wind vane and shake it further.

16. An external spring-back mechanism that is springs attached to the external poles or obstacles of claim 1, that rebound the wind vane backwards when it hits against them.