Non-rotating wind energy generator

Abstract

In an embodiment of the invention, a non-rotating wind energy generator uses the fluid flow principles of vortex shedding and transverse galloping to generate oscillatory motion of a beam, and alternators, optionally located near both ends of the beam, generate electrical power when the beam is in motion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus, comprising:
 at least one beam operable to initiate and sustain non-rotational oscillatory motion in response to wind energy;   at least one electromagnetic coil located at a first end of the beam; and   at least a first and a second magnet, wherein the first and second magnets are located at the first end of the beam and the first and second magnets comprise a pair of parallel magnets,   wherein oscillatory motion of the beam causes the at least one electromagnetic coil to pass between the first and second magnets located at the first end of the beam so as to generate electrical energy via motion of the beam.   
     
     
         2 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a frame movably supporting the at least one beam;   one or more first springs;   one or more second springs;   wherein the one or more first springs attach a first portion of the frame to a first portion of the beam and the one or more second springs attach a second portion of the frame to a second portion of the beam such that the beam is suspended between the first and second portions of the frame; and   wherein the at least one electromagnetic coil attached to one of the beam or a third portion of the frame;   wherein the first and second magnets are attached to one of the third portion of the frame or the beam.   
     
     
         3 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the beam has a D-shape. 
     
     
         4 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the beam is hollow. 
     
     
         5 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more motion guides. 
     
     
         6 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 one or more additional beams;   one or more additional upper springs;   one or more additional lower springs;   wherein the one or more additional upper springs attach a first portion of the additional beam to a third portion of the beam and the one or more additional lower springs attach a second portion of the additional beam to a fourth portion of the beam such that the one or more additional beams are suspended between the first and second portions of the frame.   
     
     
         7 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the frame is an upper portion, the first portion of the beam is an upper portion, the second portion of the frame is a lower portion, and the second portion of the beam is a lower portion. 
     
     
         8 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the third portion of the frame is a side portion. 
     
     
         9 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the beam is suspended substantially horizontally. 
     
     
         10 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the motion of the beam is substantially vertical. 
     
     
         11 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a surface of the beam is uniformly smooth. 
     
     
         12 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a surface of the beam is partially smooth. 
     
     
         13 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a surface of the beam is uniformly rough. 
     
     
         14 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a surface of the beam is partially rough. 
     
     
         15 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one electromagnetic coil is attached to the frame at the first end of the beam and the first and second magnets are attached to the first end of the beam. 
     
     
         16 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second magnets are attached to the frame at the first end of the beam and the at least one electromagnetic coil is attached to the first end of the beam. 
     
     
         17 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the spring mass is selected to promote self-oscillatory motion. 
     
     
         18 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the beam has a cross-sectional geometry selected from the group consisting of a square, a cylinder, a reversed D-Beam (where the wind is primarily incident on the round portion of the beam rather than the flat portion), and an equilateral wedge in either a “greater than” or “less than” orientation relative to the incident wind. 
     
     
         19 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the springs are stretched in a resting state. 
     
     
         20 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the beam mass is selected to promote self-oscillatory motion. 
     
     
         21 . A method of generating electrical energy from wind energy comprising:
 exposing the non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 1  to wind to generate oscillatory motion in response to wind energy; and   generating electrical energy via motion of the non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus using electromagnetic induction.   
     
     
         22 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnets are stationary and the at least one electromagnetic coil is moveable. 
     
     
         23 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnets are moveable and the at least one electromagnetic coil is stationary. 
     
     
         24 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one beam is configured to oscillate based on at least one of vortex shedding and transverse galloping. 
     
     
         25 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one stop configured to limit a range of motion of the at least one beam. 
     
     
         26 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a frame movably supporting the at least one beam;   one or more springs;   wherein the one or more springs attach a portion of the frame to a portion of the beam; and   wherein the one or more springs are configured to transmit energy.   
     
     
         27 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising at least one electromagnetic coil attached to the beam or the frame; and
 wherein the at least one electromagnetic coil attaches to the one or more springs at a first end of the one or more springs and the one or more springs attach to the other of the frame or the beam at a second end of the one or more springs such that the one or more springs transmit energy between the beam and the frame.   
     
     
         28 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 1 , where the first and the second magnet generate a magnetic field substantially localized at the first end of the beam between the first and the second magnet.