Lightning energy storage device

Abstract

A lightning energy storage device 1 is provided with: a lightning guide part 12 which receives a lightning strike; a stator coil 13 through which lightning surge current guided from the lightning guide part 12 flows; an armature coil 14 in which a magnetic field and a current in a direction opposite to that through the stator coil 13 are generated when the lightning surge current flows through the stator coil 13; a weight 15 which is wound with the armature coil 14 and is launched together with the armature coil 14 when the lightning surge current flows through the stator coil 13; a wire 19 which is connected to the weight 15; and a lock-type pulley 17 which fastens the wire 19 and prevents the weight 15 from falling when the weight 15 is launched. The lightning energy storage device 1 stores lightning energy as position energy of the weight 15 when the weight 15 is launched.

Description

Lightning Energy Storage Device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lightning energy storage device.

[0002] Technologies have been devised to fly drones under thunderclouds to capture lightning strikes and guide them to the ground. Non-Patent Document 1 proposes a technology to induce lightning by dropping a metal wire from the air. Non-Patent Document 2 considers a technology to connect a drone to a charging device with a conductor and charge it with lightning energy.

[0003] Furthermore, Non-Patent Document 3 discloses an induction coilgun technology as a technology related to the present disclosure.

[0004] D. Wang, F. Wang, W. Lu, Y. Zhang, Q. Meng, and G. Zhang, "Triggering Lightning Discharges at Various Controllable Altitudes and Their Potential Applications," International Conference on Atmospheric Electricity, August 8-12, 2011, Brazil. "Lightning Control and Charging Technology," [online], December 3, 2021, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Internet <URL: https: / / www.rd.ntt / research / SE0010.html>. Akira Yamori, "Progress in the Development of Electromagnetic Projectile Acceleration Devices - (I)," Institute of Space and Astronautical Science Report, No. 117, pp. 1-36.

[0005] To charge a lightning strike, it is necessary to charge a capacitor or battery when struck by lightning. However, since the duration of a lightning surge current is extremely short, at just a few microseconds, it is difficult to charge a battery. Furthermore, when charging a capacitor, it is necessary to select a capacitor with high voltage resistance and large capacitance. Capacitors with high voltage resistance and large capacitance are expensive and require large-scale equipment.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and aims to efficiently store lightning energy.

[0007] The lightning induction device comprises a lightning induction unit that receives lightning strikes, a stator coil through which a lightning surge current induced from the lightning induction unit flows, an armature coil in which, when a lightning surge current flows through the stator coil, a current and magnetic field are generated in the opposite direction to that of the stator coil, a weight around which the armature coil is wound and which is launched up together with the armature coil when a lightning surge current flows through the stator coil, a wire connected to the weight, and a fixing mechanism that fixes the wire when the weight is launched up to prevent the weight from falling, and stores lightning energy as potential energy of the weight when it is launched up.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, lightning energy can be efficiently stored.

[0009] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a lightning energy storage device. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of guiding a lightning surge current to a lightning energy storage device. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of guiding a lightning surge current to a lightning energy storage device. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the process flow for storing lightning energy. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing what happens when lightning strikes. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing what happens when power is generated.

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of a lightning energy storage device 1 of this embodiment. The lightning energy storage device 1 shown in the figure includes a cylindrical stator coil 13 fixed to an insulating support base 11, and a weight 15 wound with an armature coil 14. The weight 15 is donut-shaped and passes through the support base 11, allowing the armature coil 14 and weight 15 to move together along the support base 11. The lightning energy storage device 1 of this embodiment utilizes the principle of an induction coil gun. When a lightning surge current is passed through the stator coil 13, the Lorentz force generated in the stator coil 13 and armature coil 14, and the repulsive force caused by the opposing magnetic flux, launch the weight 15 to a high position, thereby storing lightning energy as potential energy.

[0012] A lightning induction unit 12 is connected to the stator coil 13. When struck by lightning, the lightning induction unit 12 induces a lightning surge current to the stator coil 13. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the lightning surge current is induced to the stator coil 13 by using a lightning rod installed on a building. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the lightning surge current is induced to the stator coil 13 by receiving a lightning strike using a lightning-resistant drone.

[0013] Before a lightning strike, the armature coil 14 is installed directly above the stator coil 13 with a spacer 16 in between. When a lightning strike occurs, a lightning surge current flows through the stator coil 13. This causes the Lorentz force generated in the stator coil 13 and the armature coil 14, and the repulsive force of the magnetic flux in the opposite direction, causing the armature coil 14 and the weight 15 to be launched up along the support base 11. A greater electromagnetic force can be obtained by making the weight 15 a magnetic material. A wire 19 is attached to the weight 15. The wire 19 is held by a locking pulley 17, and an auxiliary weight 20 is attached to the other end. The wire 19 is kept extended by the auxiliary weight 20. The auxiliary weight 20 need only be lighter than the weight 15 and heavy enough to keep the wire 19 extended.

[0014] The sensor 18 detects when the weight 15 has been launched up near the top. When the weight 15 has been launched up, the wire 19 is locked to hold the weight 15 at a high position. The sensor 18 may be, for example, a distance sensor that detects the position and height of the weight 15, or an acceleration sensor that detects the movement of the weight 15. The position of the weight 15 may be estimated from the amount of rotation of the locking pulley 17 or the amount of movement of the wire 19. The wire 19 may be locked by any mechanism that can prevent the weight 15 from falling. A mechanism that grips and fixes the wire 19 or the auxiliary weight 20 may be provided, or a pulley that rotates in only one direction may be used.

[0015] When generating electricity, the wire 19 is attached to the turbine of the generator, and the weight 15 is allowed to fall freely. As the weight 15 falls, the wire 19 is pulled, causing the turbine to rotate and generate electricity.

[0016] Next, an example of the flow of a process for storing lightning energy as potential energy will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 4. It is assumed that the wire 19 is unlocked.

[0017] When the lightning induction unit 12 is struck by lightning, a lightning surge current flows to the earth via the stator coil 13 (step S11).

[0018] When a lightning surge current flows, an electromagnetic force is generated, generating a magnetic field in the stator coil 13 and the armature coil 14 (step S12). When a time-varying lightning surge current flows through the stator coil 13, a current and a magnetic field are generated in the armature coil 14, which is located closest to the stator coil 13, due to mutual induction.

[0019] The armature coil 14 and weight 15 are launched upward by the Lorentz force and repulsive force (step S13). The magnetic field generated when a lightning surge current flows through the stator coil 13 contains a lateral component at the point where it reaches the armature coil 14. The rotation of the magnetic field and the current flowing through the coil generates Lorentz forces in opposite directions in both coils. The Lorentz force lifts the armature coil 14 and weight 15 upward. Figure 5 shows the state of the weight 15 being launched upward after a lightning strike.

[0020] With the weight 15 launched, the wire 19 is fixed (step S14). When the weight 15 is launched, the auxiliary weight 20 falls, and the wire 19 remains extended. When the sensor 18 detects that the weight 15 has been launched, the locking pulley 17 is locked to hold the weight 15 at a high position. The dropped auxiliary weight 20 may be gripped to prevent the weight 15 from falling.

[0021] Next, an example of power generation will be described with reference to FIG.

[0022] When generating electricity, the wire 19 connected to the weight 15 is connected to the turbine 31. By unlocking the wire 19, the weight 15 falls, the wire 19 is pulled, the turbine 31 rotates, and electricity is generated by the generator 32. The turbine 31 may also be connected to a pulley to generate electricity.

[0023] As described above, the lightning energy storage device 1 includes the lightning induction unit 12 that receives lightning strikes, the stator coil 13 through which the lightning surge current induced by the lightning induction unit 12 flows, the armature coil 14 that generates a current and magnetic field in the opposite direction to those in the stator coil 13 when a lightning surge current flows through the stator coil 13, the weight 15 around which the armature coil 14 is wound and that is blown up together with the armature coil 14 when a lightning surge current flows through the stator coil 13, the wire 19 connected to the weight 15, and the locking pulley 17 that secures the wire 19 when the weight 15 is blown up to prevent it from falling, and stores lightning energy as potential energy of the weight 15 when it is blown up. This allows lightning energy to be converted into potential energy of the weight and stored efficiently.

[0024] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 lightning energy storage device 11 support base 12 lightning induction unit 13 stator coil 14 armature coil 15 weight 16 spacer 17 locking pulley 18 sensor 19 wire 31 turbine 32 generator

Claims

1. A lightning energy storage device comprising: a lightning induction section that receives lightning strikes; a stator coil through which a lightning surge current induced from the lightning induction section flows; an armature coil in which a current and magnetic field in the opposite direction to that of the stator coil is generated when a lightning surge current flows through the stator coil; a weight around which the armature coil is wound and which is launched up together with the armature coil when a lightning surge current flows through the stator coil; a wire connected to the weight; and a fixing mechanism for fixing the wire when the weight is launched up to prevent the weight from falling, and which stores lightning energy as potential energy of the weight when it is launched up.

2. A lightning energy storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting the position of the weight, and wherein the wire is fixed when the sensor detects that the weight has been launched.

3. A lightning energy storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wire is connected to a turbine, and the weight is dropped to rotate the turbine and generate electricity.