Electricity generating module and electricity generating method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12034384-B2
Application number	US-201917419576-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2019
Priority date	Dec 31, 2018
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

Provided is an electricity generating module. The electricity generating module comprises: a cylinder; a piston that reciprocates inside the cylinder; and a power generating fiber of which one end is fixed to the piston and the other end is fixed to the cylinder, and of which the length varies according to the reciprocating of the piston, wherein, as the length of the power generating fiber varies, a potential value of the power generating fiber varies, and electricity is generated by using the varied potential value of the power generating fiber.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electricity generating module comprising:
a cylinder;
a piston reciprocating inside the cylinder; and
a power generating fiber having one end fixed to the piston and an opposite end fixed to the cylinder, in which a length of the power generating fiber varies as the piston reciprocates,
wherein a potential value of the power generating fiber varies as the length of the power generating fiber varies, and electricity is generated by using the varied potential value of the power generating fiber,
wherein the cylinder includes a plurality of fluid inlets configured to communicate a fluid between an outside and an inside of the cylinder during a reciprocating motion of the piston, and
wherein the fluid includes seawater and the reciprocating motion of the piston is generated by the fluid and the fluid is used as an electrolyte to generate a potential value that varies based on the power generating fiber.

2. The electricity generating module of claim 1 , wherein the piston includes:
a piston head having a diameter corresponding to an inner diameter of the cylinder; and
a piston rod connected to the piston head and extending in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder,
wherein the one end of the power generating fiber is fixed to the piston head, and the opposite end of the power generating fiber is fixed to a bottom surface of the inside of the cylinder.

3. The electricity generating module of claim 2 , wherein the power generating fiber includes a plurality of power generating fibers,
one end of the ends of the plurality of power generating fibers are fixed to an edge of the piston head, and
the electricity generating module further includes an elastic structure connected to a central portion of the piston head to apply an elastic force in a direction in which the piston is inserted into the cylinder.

4. The electricity generating module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first buoyancy structure fixedly connected to the piston; and
a second buoyancy structure fixedly connected to the cylinder and having smaller buoyancy than the first buoyancy structure.

5. The electricity generating module of claim 4 , wherein the electricity generating module is provided in a fluid environment,
a difference in motion is generated between the first buoyancy structure and the second buoyancy structure by a movement of the fluid, and
the piston reciprocates in the cylinder by the difference in motion between the first buoyancy structure and the second buoyancy structure.

6. The electricity generating module of claim 4 , wherein the first buoyancy structure includes a life jacket,
the life jacket includes a signal unit including at least one of a GPS location transmitter and an LED, and
the electricity generated by the electricity generating module is supplied to the signal unit.

7. The electricity generating module of claim 1 , wherein the electricity generating module is provided in a fluid environment, and further includes a first buoyancy structure fixedly connected to the piston and floating on the fluid,
the cylinder is fixedly connected to a wearer of the first buoyancy structure, and
the piston reciprocates inside the cylinder by an external force of the wearer.

8. The electricity generating module of claim 1 , wherein a surface area of the power generating fiber varies as the length of the power generating fiber varies, and
the potential value of the power generating fiber varies as the surface area of the power generating fiber varies.

9. The electricity generating module of claim 8 , wherein the electricity generating module is provided in a fluid environment,
the power generating fiber has a twisted structure,
when the length of the power generating fiber is increased, a number of twists of the power generating fiber is decreased so that the surface area of the power generating fiber is increased and a contact area with the fluid is increased, and
when the length of the power generating fiber is reduced, a number of twists of the power generating fiber is increased so that the surface area of the power generating fiber is reduced and the contact area with the fluid is reduced.

10. The electricity generating module of claim 1 , wherein the power generating fiber includes twisted carbon nanotubes (CNTs) arranged in one direction.

11. An electricity generating method by an electricity generating module which includes a cylinder, a piston reciprocating inside the cylinder, and a power generating fiber having one end fixed to the piston and an opposite end fixed to the cylinder, the electricity generating method comprising:
allowing the piston to reciprocate in the cylinder by a fluid including seawater;
changing a length of the power generating fiber according to reciprocation of the piston, changing a surface area of the power generating fiber according to a change in the length of the power generating fiber, and changing a potential value according to a change in the surface area of the power generating fiber; and
generating power by using the changed potential value of the power generating fiber,
wherein the cylinder includes a plurality of fluid inlets configured to communicate the fluid between an outside and an inside of the cylinder while the piston reciprocates in the cylinder, and
wherein the fluid is used as an electrolyte to generate a potential value that varies based on the power generating fiber.

12. The electricity generating method of claim 11 , wherein the electricity generating module is provided in a fluid environment and the power generating fiber has a twisted structure,
wherein, in the changing of the potential value, when the length of the power generating fiber is increased, a number of twists of the power generating fiber is decreased so that the surface area of the power generating fiber is increased and a contact area with the fluid is increased, and
when the length of the power generating fiber is reduced, a number of twists of the power generating fiber is increased so that the surface area of the power generating fiber is reduced and the contact area with the fluid is reduced.

Assignees

• Iucf Hyu

Inventors

• Kim Seon Jeong
• Kim Keon Jung
• Mun Tae Jin
• Kim Sung Min

Classifications

• F03B13/20

  wherein both members {, i.e. wom and rem} are movable relative to the sea bed or shore · CPC title

• F03B13/16

  using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, {i.e. a "wom"} and another member, {i.e. a reaction member or "rem"} · CPC title

• B63C9/20 Primary

  characterised by signalling means, e.g. lights (arrangement or adaptation of signalling or lighting devices for ships or other waterborne vessels B63B45/00) · CPC title

• B63C9/13

  attachable to body member, e.g. arm, neck, head or waist {(B63C9/081 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B63B2035/4466

  for converting water energy into electric energy, e.g. from tidal flows, waves or currents · CPC title