System and method for harvesting energy from a moving vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10063164-B2
Application number	US-201614987115-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2016
Priority date	Jan 4, 2016
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

A system and method for harvesting energy from a vehicle, e.g., an aircraft, in operation. A plurality of piezoelectric members are coupled between structural members in the vehicle. A first portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members are non-resonant piezoelectric spacers coupled between structural members subject to a constant load during operation of the vehicle. A second portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members are resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members subject to a cyclical load during operation of the vehicle. Electrical conversion circuitry is coupled to each of the plurality of piezoelectric members for converting the output of each piezoelectric member to usable electrical energy. The electrical conversion circuitry is coupled to an energy storage device for storing the usable electrical energy and/or to an interface circuit for supplying energy for use in an electrical system in the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for harvesting energy from a vehicle in operation, comprising:
a plurality of piezoelectric members coupled between structural members in the vehicle, wherein the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise at least one of non-resonant piezoelectric spacers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a constant load during operation of the vehicle and resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a cyclical load during operation of the vehicle; and
electrical conversion circuitry coupled to each of the plurality of piezoelectric members for converting the output of each piezoelectric member to usable electrical energy, the output or outputs of the electrical conversion circuitry coupled to an energy storage device for storing the usable electrical energy and/or to an interface circuit for supplying energy for use in an electrical system in the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise non-resonant piezoelectric spacers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a constant load during operation of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a cyclical load during operation of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a cyclical load at a first predetermined frequency during operation of the vehicle, each of the plurality of piezoelectric members in the first portion tuned to optimize energy harvesting at the first predetermined frequency.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein a second portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a cyclical load at a second predetermined frequency during operation of the vehicle, each of the plurality of piezoelectric members in the second portion tuned to optimize energy harvesting at the second predetermined frequency.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise non-resonant piezoelectric spacers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a constant load during operation of the vehicle and a second portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a cyclical load during operation of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein a first part of the second portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a cyclical load at a first predetermined frequency during operation of the vehicle, each of the plurality of piezoelectric members in the first portion tuned to optimize energy harvesting at the first predetermined frequency; and wherein a second part of the second portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a cyclical load at a second predetermined frequency during operation of the vehicle, each of the plurality of piezoelectric members in the second portion tuned to optimize energy harvesting at the second predetermined frequency.

8. A method for harvesting energy from a moving vehicle, comprising the steps of:
receiving an output from each of a plurality of piezoelectric members coupled between structural members in the vehicle, the plurality of piezoelectric members comprising at least one of non-resonant piezoelectric spacers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a constant load during operation of the vehicle and resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a cyclical load during operation of the vehicle;
converting the output of each piezoelectric member to usable electrical energy; and
storing at least part of the usable electrical energy in an energy storage device and/or supplying at least part of the usable electrical energy for use in an electrical system in the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a first portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise non-resonant piezoelectric spacers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a constant load during operation of the vehicle and a second portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a cyclical load during operation of the vehicle.

10. A system for harvesting energy from an aircraft in operation, comprising:
a plurality of piezoelectric members coupled between structural members in the aircraft, wherein the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise at least one of non-resonant piezoelectric spacers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a constant load during operation of the vehicle and resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the vehicle subject to a cyclical load during operation of the vehicle; and
electrical conversion circuitry coupled to each of the plurality of piezoelectric members for converting the output of each piezoelectric member to usable electrical energy, the output or outputs of the electrical conversion circuitry coupled to an energy storage device for storing the usable electrical energy and/or to an interface circuit for supplying energy for use in an electrical system in the aircraft.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise non-resonant piezoelectric spacers coupled between structural members in the aircraft subject to a constant load during operation of the aircraft.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the structural members comprise a panel stringer and a rib that together form part of a wing of the aircraft.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the aircraft subject to a cyclical load during operation of the aircraft.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the structural members comprise a spar chord and a panel that forms the outer skin of the wing.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein a first portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the aircraft subject to a cyclical load at a first predetermined frequency during operation of the aircraft, each of the plurality of piezoelectric members in the first portion tuned to optimize energy harvesting at the first predetermined frequency.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein a second portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise resonant piezoelectric fillers coupled between structural members in the aircraft subject to a cyclical load at a second predetermined frequency during operation of the aircraft, each of the plurality of piezoelectric members in the second portion tuned to optimize energy harvesting at the second predetermined frequency.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein a first portion of the plurality of piezoelectric members comprise non-resonant piezoelectric spacers coupled between structural members in the aircraft subject to a constant load during operat

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Apdalhaliem Sahrudine
• Ashmawi Waeil M

Classifications

• F16B5/02

  by means of fastening members using screw-thread ({F16B5/0004 takes precedence}; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00) · CPC title

• B64C3/185

  Spars · CPC title

• H02J7/00

  Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries · CPC title

• B60R16/03

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title

• B64C3/187

  Ribs · CPC title