Electro-hydrodynamic wind energy system

Abstract

A system for electro-hydrodynamically extracting energy from wind includes an upstream collector that is biased at an electric potential and induces an electric field. An injector introduces a particle into the electric field. The wind drag on the particle is at least partially opposed by a force of the electric field on the particle. A sensor monitors an ambient atmospheric condition, and a controller changes a parameter of the injector in response to a change in the atmospheric condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for energy extraction from a fluid stream comprising:
 an emitter that emits a charged particle of a first polarity into the fluid stream;   a sensor that monitors an ambient environmental condition; and   a controller that adjusts a system parameter to increase energy extraction efficiency in response to a change in the ambient environmental condition.