Abstract:
This invention provides a device and a method for recovering and harvesting wind and fluid energy. The basic building block of the invention is the energy recovery module which are cascaded and used in either an open or closed mode. The method and device are used to recover wind energy from roadway and train traffic air movement. Also, the method and device are used to recover fluid energy from fluid flow movement. A key advantage is the modular, scalable design, which extends the number of useful embodiments.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a device and a method for recovering and harvesting wind and fluid energy. More particularly, this invention relates to a device and a method for recovering and harvesting wind energy from roadway and train traffic air movement. Also, more particularly, this invention relates to a device and a method for recovering and harvesting energy from water-flow movement. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Current practice in the field of energy harvesting utilizes large windmill-type energy recovery devices which are placed over a roadway. Other prior art are listed below.
       U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,078—Dynamic Power Source (Bass) describes a cylinder which is arranged to pump hydraulic fluid into a pressure accumulator. The stored hydraulic fluid operates a hydraulic motor to drive an alternator to generate electric power.   U.S. Pat. No. 7,332,078—Apparatus for recovering energy from turbulence created within an aerobic biological reactor (Murphy) describes a method and apparatus that takes advantage of both the aeration dynamics provided along with the free resulting hydro energy created by the flotation dynamics of the air bubbles and most importantly recover more energy than is required to operate the aeration basin as a result of the bonus hydro energy realized.   U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,688—Energy recovery apparatus and method of operating energy recovering apparatus (Satou et al.) describes a system to recover unutilized energy as electric power in hydraulic turbine power generation. A hydraulic turbine driven generator is provided on a lower portion of the second water feed pipe at such a position as to recover the potential energy of the water discharged from the air conditioning loads.   Web Links:   1) “Hot-air powered railway to harvest energy from cars”
           http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/02/architects like infrastructure shocker/   
           2) “Proposals would turn highways into wind farms”
           http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/30/proposals-would-turn-highways-into-wind-farms/   
           3) “Pico Hydro Power”—Wikipedia
           http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pico hydro   
           4) “Micro Hydro Power”—Wikipedia
           http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro hydro   
               
 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    It is the objective of this invention to provide a device and a method for recovering and harvesting wind and fluid energy. The invention also provides a device and a method for recovering and harvesting wind energy from roadway and train traffic air movement. The invention also provides for the recovery and harvesting of energy from water flow movement. 
         [0018]    The objects of this invention are achieved by a modular section with one or more movable propellers mounted inside of the modular section. The modular section also contains one or more microgenerators attached to the movable propellers. Wind or fluid which enters the modular section will move the movable propellers. This propeller movement will cause the attached microgenerators to produce electricity. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1   a  shows the main building block of the invention which is the energy recovery module. It is shown in its open mode. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1   b  shows the microgenerator mounted inside of the pipe section. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1   c  shows the main building block of the invention which is the energy recovery module. It is shown in its closed mode. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a roadside embodiment the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a waterway, closed pipe embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a vehicle embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1   a  shows the two halves of the main embodiment device of the invention. The two halves of the device are connected with a hinged which allows the two halves to close forming a pipe section.  FIG. 1   a  shows the open mode of the device. The top half of the device pipe  12  is shown. In addition, the bottom pipe  11  is shown. The bottom pipe  11  contains three movable, spinable propeller blades  13 . The propeller blade subassembly  13  consists of a cylindrical dowel with 3 or more propeller blades protruding from the dowel or axis  18 . The blades are custom-cut to fit inside the device pipe diameter. The axes, blades, and pipe are made of highly durable polymer, fiberglass, metal, or wheat-grass. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1   a  shows three propeller blade sub assemblies. However, the device subassembly  12  plus  11  can contain 1,2,3 or more propeller blade sub assemblies  13 . Each of these propeller blade subassemblies such as  13  are able to freely spin as they are supported by the u-shaped grooves  14 , 15  located in the bottom pipe  11 . The blade and axes can interface with the pipe via a ball-bearing wheel assembly. As wind or fluid  16  enters the pipe sub section  11 , the propeller blade subassemblies will spin. Each of these propeller subassemblies is attached to microgenerators  17  which will generate electricity when the propeller subassemblies spin. The microgenerators are attached to the blade axes via a quick-connect mechanism. The maximum speed that the blades should spin would be dictated by spin burn-out tolerance of the microgenerators. The electricity generated by these microgenerators is summed and collected for transmission, storage and usage. A new microgenerator developed at Georgia Tech could be used for the invention. The microgenerator is about 10 millimeters wide, or about the size of a dime. The microgenerator produces useful amounts of electricity by spinning a small magnet above a mesh of coils fabricated on a chip. The device&#39;s magnet spins at 100,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), much faster than the 3,000 rpm of an average car engine. The microgenerator is capable of producing 1.1 watts of power, which is typically enough to operate a cell phone. (http://www.gatech.edu/newsroom/release.html?id=490). Similar microgenerators by other manufacturers could be used, as long as they are small in size and produce similar power output. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1   b  illustrates the microgenerator  17  mounted inside the pipe  11 . The microgenerator is attached to the blade axis  18  via a quick-connect mechanism  22 . The axis  18  is connected to the pipe via a ball-bearing wheel assembly  23 . The microgenerator  17  contains a mesh of coils  21  fabricated on a chip  24 . The clockwise motion of the axis caused by the air or fluid motion  16  caused the magnet  20  to spin above the mesh of coils  21  to generate electricity. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1   c  shows the bottom  11  and top  12  halves of the pipe device in a closed mode. These pipe sections are cylindrical, rectangular or square tubular sections. In addition,  FIG. 1   c  shows compressed air being funneled or forced into the holes  18  going into the pipe device. This optional embodiment of the invention allows externally generated compressed air or fluid to supplement the ambient wind or fluid movement  16  that is being captured or harvested by the pipe modular device  11 ,  12 . The supplemental compressed air or fluid  13  may be needed when ambient wind or fluid flow  16  are minimal or when an extra peak level of electrical generation is required from the pipe subassemblies. 
         [0029]    The pipe subassemblies in  FIG. 1   a ,  1   b , or  1   c  are designed to be cascaded in serial strings of pipe subassemblies. If any one or more pipe assemblies become damaged, defective or unusable for a period of time, the cascaded series of pipe subassemblies will continue to operate and to sum their electricity which is generated. A damaged energy recovery module section will automatically switch into bypass mode if the module detects that there is a fault inside the module. Alternatively, the damaged module are manually switched into bypass mode if necessary. The microgenerators are protected from wind or water if they were located inside the pipe in the closed-pipe mode. In the open-pipe mode, the microgenerators and blades are protected via a weatherized polycoat material. 
         [0030]    The pipe subassemblies of  FIG. 1   a ,  1   b , or  1   c  are used to capture wind energy from passing cars on roadsides or from trains and subways for example. Similarly, the pipe subassemblies are used to capture fluid flow by being located in water aqueducts. These are just a few of many applications of this invention. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective drawing of a 4-lane divided highway. A cascade of modules  21  is shown. Seven modules cascaded are shown on the upper side of the roadway. A cascade of seven energy recovery modules  23  is shown in the dividing median of the roadway. 
         [0032]    The energy recover modules  23  placed in the median divider are dual-sided or two energy recovery modules placed back-to-back, so as to be able to harvest the wind energy from the traffic in both opposing lanes. A cascade of seven energy modules  24  is shown adjacent to a traffic lane with a moving truck  22 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows five sections or energy recovery modules  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  and  35  placed between two end sections  36 ,  39  of a water or fluid pipe  30 . The water flows into the pipe at  39 . It should be noted that this water pipe embodiment of the energy recovery module uses the basic module in a closed configuration. This is as opposed to the open configuration of the basic energy recovery module which is used in the roadway and train way embodiments. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows another airflow embodiment of the invention related to moving vehicles  40 . Vehicle airflow pipes  44 ,  45  are designed and built into the vehicle&#39;s hood and roof as shown in  FIG. 4 . These vehicle airflow pipes have wind inputs  42 ,  43  and wind outlets  46 ,  47 . Each vehicle airflow pipe contains several sections of energy recovery modules. This airflow embodiment uses closed energy recovery modules. As the vehicle  40  moves 1 in the direction shown, ambient air is forced into the pipe intake openings  42 ,  43 . This air or wind which is recovered travels through the pipes and energy recovery sections, spinning the propellers inside each of the energy recovery modules. The spinning of these propellers moves the input of the microgenerators shown in  FIG. 1   a . The electricity from each microgenerator is summed. This aggregate electricity is either stored in batteries or some other medium, transmitted to a regional electricity grid for distribution or used immediately by the vehicle. 
         [0035]    The key advantages of this device and method are as follows. The basic energy recovery module section or a serial cascade of the modules are adaptable to many applications and uses. The cascaded sections are built into cars, trains, or any moving objects. The cascaded section are stationary, allowing wind or fluid flow to pass through them. In addition, cascaded sections of two or more of the basic energy recovery modules continue to operate if one or more modules are damaged. The invention also provides a means for external forced wind or fluid to enter the energy recovery module to spin the propellers during lulls in ambient wind and fluid flow. 
         [0036]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with Reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those Skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without Departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.