Adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system

Abstract

An adaptive system for harvesting hydrokinetic energy from flowing fluid uses a hydrofoil-type vane in a flow-way and an electrical power generator to convert torque generated by the oscillating vane to electrical current. The generator may be electromagnetic or piezoelectric. The system includes a control module that measures the oscillation of the vane, the generated torque, or the characteristics of the generated current, and modifies the resistance of the vane or the conversion of the electrical current in response to changes therein. Some systems include a frame that can be anchored in a body of water. Some systems are portable and provide illumination. Some systems are adapted for use as hiking or camping gear and may be inserted into stream beds or used as walking sticks. Some systems are in-line devices. Some systems are adapted as fishing lures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system, comprising:
 a supporting structure defining a flow-way therethrough;   at least one vane having a hydrofoil cross-section with a leading edge for facing into a direction of flow of a flowing fluid and a trailing edge opposite said leading edge, first and second contoured surfaces opposite each other and extending from said leading edge to said trailing edge, said first and second contoured surfaces being substantially parallel to a rotational axis within said at least one vane and defining a camber line between said first and second contoured surfaces that intersects said rotational axis, said at least one vane being positioned within said flow-way and movably mounted to said supporting structure such that said at least one vane oscillates about said rotational axis when turbulent fluid flow is directed along said first and second contoured surfaces across said rotational axis, thereby generating torque; and   at least one energy conversion module for generating an electrical current, said at least one energy conversion module including at least one electrical power generating means interconnected with said at least one vane for converting the generated torque to electromagnetic force and braking means for varying the resistance of said vane against oscillation; and   at least one control module unit for measuring one or more of a rate of oscillation of said at least one vane, the generated torque, and an electrical current generated by said energy conversion module, and for causing said braking means to vary the resistance of said vane against oscillation in response to one or more of the rate of oscillation of said at least one vane, the generated torque, and a characteristic of an electrical current generated by said energy conversion module.   
     
     
         2 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one energy conversion module includes electrical conversion means for converting the generated electrical power to a useful electrical current having characteristics compatible with an electrically-powered device and means for supplying said useful electrical current to said electrically-powered device. 
     
     
         3 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 2 , further including a rechargeable means for storing and releasing electrical potential energy, wherein said electrical conversion means supplies direct current to said rechargeable means. 
     
     
         4 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one control module measures at least one characteristic of the useful electrical current and operates on said electrical conversion means in response to the at least one characteristic of the useful electrical current to regulate the at least one characteristic of the useful electrical current. 
     
     
         5 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one control module measures at least one characteristic of the useful electrical current and operates on said braking means to vary the resistance of said vane against oscillation in response to the at least one characteristic of the useful electrical current to regulate the torque generated by oscillation of said vane. 
     
     
         6 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one vane includes first and second pivot pins extending from opposite ends of said at least one vane such that said first and second pivot pins rotate when said at least one vane oscillates whereby said first and second pivot pins define the rotational axis of said at least one vane, said pivot pin cooperating with said at least one electrical power generating means so as to transfer torque from said at least one vane to said at least one electrical power generation means. 
     
     
         7 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one vane includes a slide mount fixedly fastened thereto and a collar slidably mounted to said slide mount so as to slide along the camber line of said at least one vane, said pivot pin being fixedly fastened to said upper collar, and a positioning means for adjustably moving said collar such that it slides along the camber line within said slide mount, thereby moving said pin. 
     
     
         8 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 3 , wherein said system includes an electrically-powered illumination device arranged to be powered by said rechargeable means. 
     
     
         9 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 8 , wherein said supporting structure has first and second end portions opposite each other, said first end portion being arranged to anchor said system by being inserted into a substrate and said second end having said electrically-powered illumination device attached thereto, said supporting structure being arranged to be conveniently carried by hand and used as a walking stick. 
     
     
         10 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 1 , wherein said supporting structure is one of a tube, a conduit and a pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 10 , wherein said supporting structure is adapted for use as an inline coupling device. 
     
     
         12 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one vane is a plurality of vanes arranged to be substantially parallel to each other, and said at least one energy conversion module is a plurality of energy conversion modules, each of said plurality of energy conversion modules being interconnected with one of said plurality of vanes. 
     
     
         13 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 12 , further including guide panels between adjacent ones of said plurality of vanes. 
     
     
         14 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 1 , wherein said electrical power generating means includes a piezoelectric element and a means for mechanically inducing an electrical potential across said piezoelectric element in response to the generated torque. 
     
     
         15 . The adaptive hydrokinetic energy harvesting system of  claim 1 , wherein said electrical power generating means includes an electromagnetic device having a stator and a rotor.