Methods, systems, and devices to optimize a fluid harvester

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11047360-B1
Application number	US-201816182488-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 6, 2018
Priority date	Nov 7, 2017
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus for energy extraction from fluid flow including an assembly including a plenum. The assembly further includes an aperture extending from an exterior surface to the plenum to allow flow therethrough. The apparatus further includes a channel including an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the plenum. The apparatus yet further includes an energy extraction device. The assembly is configured to create a pressure differential between the plenum and the inlet of the channel. The pressure differential causes fluid flow from the inlet of the channel to the plenum. The energy extraction device is configured to extract energy from the fluid flow. The apparatus additionally includes a control system configured to modify the pressure differential to control the fluid flow between the inlet of the channel and the plenum based on a characteristic of an exterior environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for energy extraction from fluid flow comprising:
an assembly comprising a plenum, wherein the assembly further comprises an aperture extending from an exterior surface of the assembly to the plenum to allow flow therethrough;
a channel comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the plenum;
an energy extraction device,
wherein the assembly is configured to create a pressure differential between the plenum and the inlet of the channel, wherein the pressure differential causes fluid flow from the inlet of the channel to the plenum, wherein the energy extraction device is configured to extract energy from the fluid flow; and
a control system configured to modify the pressure differential to control the fluid flow between the inlet of the channel and the plenum based on a characteristic of an outside environment, wherein the control system is further configured to modify an interior size of at least one of the channel or the plenum to control the fluid flow between the inlet of the channel and the plenum.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the assembly is further configured to automatically move based on a direction of exterior wind.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a motor assembly configured to move the assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control system is additionally configured to modify a size of the aperture.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes a plurality of apertures extending from the exterior surface to the plenum, wherein the plurality of the apertures comprises the aperture.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy extraction device comprises at least one of an electric generator or a hydraulic pump.

7. An apparatus for energy extraction from fluid flow comprising:
means for causing fluid flow between an inlet of a channel and a plenum fluidly connected to an outlet of the channel;
means for extracting energy from the fluid flow;
means for modifying the fluid flow based on a characteristic of an exterior environment, and
means for modifying an interior size of at least one of the channel or the plenum.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises:
an assembly body, wherein the assembly body comprises an indentation; and
an insert removably securable in the indentation, wherein the insert comprises the plenum, wherein an exterior surface of the insert comprises the exterior surface of the assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the assembly body includes a locking tab comprising an arm extending into the indentation.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the insert includes a second locking tab configured to interact with the locking tab of the assembly body to removably secure the insert in the indentation.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the assembly further comprises:
a second insert removably securable in the indentation, wherein the second insert comprises a second plenum, wherein the second insert further comprises a second aperture extending from an exterior surface of the second insert to the second plenum to allow flow therethrough, wherein the outlet of the channel is in fluid communication with the second plenum when the second insert is removably secured in the indentation.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a cross-section of the second aperture is different from a cross-section of the aperture.

13. A method of forming an apparatus for energy extraction from fluid flow, wherein the method comprises:
forming an assembly comprising a plenum and an aperture extending from an exterior surface of the assembly to the plenum to allow flow therethrough;
attaching a channel to the assembly, wherein the channel comprises an inlet and an outlet, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the plenum to form a fluid flow pathway between the inlet and the plenum;
placing an energy extraction device in the fluid flow pathway; and
attaching a control system to at least one of the assembly, the channel, or the energy extraction device, wherein the control system is configured to modify a pressure differential to control fluid flow between the inlet of the channel and the plenum based on a characteristic of an outside environment, wherein the control system is further configured to modify an interior size of at least one of the channel or the plenum to control the fluid flow.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the assembly comprises:
forming an assembly body, wherein the assembly body comprises an indentation; and
forming an insert removably securable in the indentation, wherein the insert comprises the plenum, wherein an exterior surface of the insert comprises the exterior surface of the assembly.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the assembly body comprises forming a locking tab comprising an arm extending into the indentation, wherein forming the insert comprises forming a second locking tab configured to interact with the locking tab of the assembly body to removably secure the insert in the indentation.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the assembly further comprises:
forming a second insert removably securable in the indentation, wherein the second insert comprises a second plenum, wherein the second insert further comprises a second aperture extending from an exterior surface of the second insert to the second plenum to allow flow therethrough, wherein the outlet of the channel is in fluid communication with the second plenum when the second insert is removably secured in the indentation.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a cross-section of the second aperture is different from a cross-section of the aperture.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the assembly is further configured to automatically move based on a direction of exterior wind.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the control system is additionally configured to modify a size of the aperture.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the energy extraction device comprises at least one of an electric generator or a hydraulic pump.

Assignees

• Nat Tech & Eng Solutions Sandia Llc
• Westergaard Carsten

Inventors

• Houchens Brent C
• Blaylock Myra L
• Marian David Vaughn
• Maniaci David Charles
• Westergaard Carsten

Classifications

• Y02B10/30

  Wind power · CPC title

• Y02E10/70

  Wind energy · CPC title

• Y02E10/728

  Onshore wind turbines · CPC title

• Y02E10/74

  Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction · CPC title

• Y02E10/20

  Hydro energy · CPC title