Fluid turbine systems for harnessing light radiant energy, thermal energy and kinetic energy in vehicles and methods of operating thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10017053-B2
Application number	US-201514871528-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

A fluid turbine system is provided for harnessing light radiant energy, thermal energy and/or kinetic energy of a vehicle. At least one fluid tube is coupled with a body portion of the vehicle. At least a portion of the at least one fluid tube is positioned proximal to the vehicle's roof, the trunk and/or hood. The at least one fluid tube contains a fluid configured to expand in response to receiving light radiant energy or thermal energy. At least one fluid turbine is coupled with the at least one fluid tube and has blades configured to be rotated by the fluid. A generator converts kinetic energy from the rotation of the blades of the at least one fluid turbine to electrical energy stored in the battery. Valves and/or pumps may control the fluid flow for enhancing generation of electrical energy using light radiant energy, thermal energy and/or kinetic energy.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle having a battery for storing electrical energy, the vehicle comprising:
a body portion having a roof, a trunk with a top surface, a hood and an underbody panel;
at least one upper fluid tube containing a fluid configured to expand in response to receiving thermal energy or solar radiant energy, at least a portion of the at least one upper fluid tube positioned proximal to at least one of the roof, the top surface of the trunk, or the hood;
at least one lower fluid tube containing the fluid, coupled with the body portion of the vehicle, and fluidly coupled with the at least one upper fluid tube, at least a portion of the at least one lower fluid tube positioned proximal to the underbody panel;
at least one lower valve or pump for controlling a flow of the fluid in the at least one lower fluid tube;
at least one upper-lower valve or pump for controlling a flow of the fluid between the at least one upper fluid tube and the at least one lower fluid tube;
at least one fluid turbine coupled with the at least one upper fluid tube or the at least one lower fluid tube, and having blades configured to be rotated by the fluid;
a generator coupled with the at least one fluid turbine for converting kinetic energy from the rotation of the blades of the at least one fluid turbine to electrical energy stored in the battery; and
an electronic control unit configured to control, using the at least one lower fluid valve or pump and the at least one upper-lower valve or pump, the flow of the fluid in the at least one lower fluid tube and the flow of the fluid from the at least one upper fluid tube to the at least one lower fluid tube and from the at least one lower fluid tube to the at least one upper fluid tube to enhance generation of electrical energy stored in the battery.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one upper valve or pump for controlling a flow of the fluid in the at least one upper fluid tube,
wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to control, using the at least one upper valve or pump, the flow of the fluid in the at least one upper fluid tube.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising:
one or more sensors for detecting a value indicative of an amount of kinetic energy available for conversion to electrical energy,
wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:
control, using the at least one lower valve or pump, the flow of the fluid within the at least one lower fluid tube based on the value indicative of the amount of kinetic energy available for conversion to electrical energy, and
control, using the at least one upper valve or pump, the flow of the fluid within the at least one upper fluid tube based on the value indicative of the amount of kinetic energy available for conversion to electrical energy.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one of an acceleration pedal configured to detect an acceleration pedal position, an inertial measurement unit configured to detect positioning, velocity, or acceleration of the vehicle, or a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a speed of the vehicle, and
wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control a flow of the fluid in the at least one upper fluid tube, in the at least one lower fluid tube, or between the at least one upper fluid tube and the at least one lower fluid tube based on at least one of the acceleration pedal position, the positioning, velocity, or acceleration of the vehicle, or the speed of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more sensors configured to detect a value corresponding to an amount of available thermal energy or solar radiant energy on at least one of the roof, the top surface of the trunk, or the hood,
wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to control, using the at least one upper-lower valve or pump, the flow of the fluid between the at least one upper fluid tube and the at least one lower fluid tube based on the detected value corresponding to the amount of available thermal energy or solar radiant energy.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more sensors configured to detect a value corresponding to an amount of available thermal energy or solar radiant energy on at least one of the roof, the top surface of the trunk, or the hood,
wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:
determine a first energy generation potential value corresponding to an estimated amount of electrical energy that can be generated using thermal energy or solar radiant energy based on the detected value,
determine a second energy generation potential value corresponding to an estimated amount of electrical energy that can be generated using kinetic energy of the vehicle based on at least one of a speed of the vehicle, a frequency of acceleration of the vehicle, or a fluid pressure of the at least one upper fluid tube or of the at least one lower fluid tube, and
activate, using the at least one upper-lower valve or pump, the flow of the fluid from the at least one upper fluid tube to the at least one lower fluid tube when or after the first energy generation potential value is greater than the second energy generation potential value.

7. A system for storing electrical energy in a battery of a vehicle, the system comprising:
at least one upper fluid tube containing a fluid configured to expand in response to receiving thermal energy or solar radiant energy, at least a portion of the at least one upper fluid tube positioned proximal to at least one of a roof, a top surface of a trunk, or a hood of the vehicle;
at least one lower fluid tube containing the fluid and fluidly coupled with the at least one upper fluid tube, at least a portion of the at least one lower fluid tube positioned proximal to an underbody panel of the vehicle;
at least one lower valve or pump for controlling a flow of the fluid in the at least one lower fluid tube;
at least one upper-lower valve or pump for controlling a flow of the fluid between the at least one upper fluid tube and the at least one lower fluid tube;
at least one fluid turbine coupled with the at least one upper fluid tube or the at least one lower fluid tube, and having blades configured to be rotated by the fluid;
a generator coupled with the at least one fluid turbine for converting kinetic energy from the rotation of the blades of the at least one fluid turbine to electrical energy stored in the battery; and
an electronic control unit configured to control, using the at least one lower fluid valve or pump and the at least one upper-lower valve or pump, the flow of the fluid in the at least one lower fluid tube and the flow of the fluid from the at least one upper fluid tube to the at least one lower fluid tube and from the at least one lower fluid tube to the at least one upper fluid tube to enhance generation of electrical energy stored in the battery.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
at least one upper valve or pump for controlling a flow of the fluid in the at least one upper fluid tube,
wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to control, using the at least one upper valve or pump, the flow of the fluid in the at least one upper fluid tube.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
one or more sensors for detecting a value indicative of an amount of kinetic energy available for conversion to electrical energy,
wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:
control, using the at least one lower valve or pump, the flow of the fluid within the at least one lower fluid tube based on the value indicative of the amount of kinetic ener

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Gaither Geoffrey

Classifications

• F03G6/004

  of the Organic Rankine Cycle [ORC] type or the Kalina Cycle type · CPC title

• F03G6/074

  of the non-thermal type, e.g. springs or batteries · CPC title

• F03G6/003

  having a Rankine cycle (F03G6/065 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y02E10/46

  Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines · CPC title

• B60K16/00 Primary

  Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind (electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind, B60L8/00; wind motors specially adapted for installation on vehicles F03D9/32) · CPC title