Patent ID: 9534577
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: E21B,F03B,Y02E

Claim:
1. An electrical power generator, for use in a fluid-containing pipe, comprising: an annular power generation assembly comprising a fluid-flow-driven impeller connected to one of a magnet assembly or an electrical coil assembly, the magnet assembly and the coil assembly being arranged for magnetic coupling between them and being mounted to enable relative movement between them, such that fluid flowing past the impeller causes relative rotation between the magnet assembly and the coil assembly for the generation of electrical power; a flow controller located closer to the longitudinal axis of the pipe than the annular power generation assembly, which flow controller is detachable from the annular power generation assembly and can be removed to leave an axially-located through bore; a first fluid flow path past the impeller and a second fluid flow path through an aperture of the flow controller, wherein the flow controller includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the size of the aperture of the flow controller to control the proportion of the fluid flowing within the pipe that flows past the impeller in the first fluid flow path; and an output voltage detector that generates a signal indicative of the output voltage, and wherein the flow controller is responsive to the signal indicative of the output voltage to automatically adjust the size of the aperture of the nozzle to control the flow of fluid past the impeller, thereby to provide feedback control of the output voltage; wherein the flow controller comprises an adaptive flow control nozzle and is responsive to conditions within the fluid-containing pipe to automatically adjust the size of the aperture of the adaptive flow control nozzle.