Harvesting vibration for downhole power generation

Abstract

A system that is usable with a subterranean well includes a winding, a member and a circuit. The winding is located downhole in the well, and the member moves relative to the winding in response to vibration occurring in the well to cause a signal to be generated on the winding. The circuit is coupled to the winding to respond to the signal to provide power to operate a component located downhole in the well.

1 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising:
 a downhole component located in the subterranean well to receive power and perform a downhole function in response to the received power, and   a power generator located downhole in proximity to the downhole component to respond to vibrational energy from the downhole component to generate part of the power received by the downhole component.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole component comprises at least one of an electrical submersible pump, a rod pump, or a beam pump. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole component is located within approximately ten feet of the power generator. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the power generator is a flexible member with a natural frequency substantially matching the vibrational energy of the downhole component. 
   
   
       5 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising:
 a downhole component located in the subterranean well to receive power and perform a downhole function in response to the received power;   a power generator located downhole in proximity to the downhole component to respond to vibrational energy from the downhole component to generate part of the power received by the downhole component; and   a power storage device used to provide another part of the power received by the downhole component.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the downhole component comprises at least one of an electrical submersible pump, a rod pump, or a beam pump. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the downhole component is located within approximately ten feet of the power generator. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the power generator is a flexible member configured with a natural frequency substantially matching the vibrational energy of the downhole component. 
   
   
       9 . A method usable with a subterranean well, comprising:
 placing a downhole component at a location within the subterranean well;   providing a power generator proximate to the downhole component;   configuring the power generator to respond to vibrational energy produced by the downhole component to generate part of the power received by the downhole component;   providing a power storage device configured to provide another part of the power received by the downhole component.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the downhole component comprises at least one of an electrical submersible pump, a rod pump, or a beam pump. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the power generator is located within approximately ten feet of the downhole component.