Lightning energy storage device

Abstract

A lightning energy storage device 1 includes: a lightning induction part 11 for receiving a lightning strike; a waveform conversion part 12 for converting a rising waveform in accordance with the magnitude of lightning surge current induced from the lightning induction part 11; and an air compression part 14 around which a conductive wire 13 is wound and which compresses air using electromagnetic force generated when the lightning surge current flows through the conductive wire 13. The waveform conversion part 12 processes the lightning surge current by a low-pass filter 123 when the magnitude of the lightning surge current is larger than a first threshold and lengthens the rise time of the lightning surge. The waveform conversion part 12 processes the lightning surge current by a high-pass filter 124 when the magnitude of the lightning surge current is smaller than a second threshold and shortens the rise time of the lightning surge.

Description

Lightning Energy Storage Device

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

[0002] Technologies are being considered to generate compressed air by utilizing the electromagnetic field generated by a lightning surge caused by lightning striking a lightning rod, a drone, etc., and to utilize this compressed air as energy (Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] In Non-Patent Document 1, a lightning surge current is passed through a coil with an aluminum can placed inside, generating a magnetic field inside the coil. The aluminum can is crushed by the Lorentz force generated by the induced current flowing on the surface of the aluminum can and the magnetic field, generating compressed air. The compressed air is stored inside the crushed aluminum can.

[0004] Nagao and four others, "Experimental Study on Compressed Air Generation Using Lightning Strikes," 2023 Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers Society Conference, "Lightning Control and Charging Technology," Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Internet <URL: https: / / www.rd.ntt / research / SE0010.html>

[0005] The magnitude of the lightning surge current varies with each lightning strike. Therefore, when the lightning surge current is extremely large, the amount of compression is also large, and there is a risk that the aluminum can will break. On the other hand, when the lightning surge current is small, there is an issue that sufficient compression cannot be achieved.

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

[0007] A lightning energy storage device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a lightning induction unit that receives lightning strikes, a waveform conversion unit that converts the rising waveform according to the magnitude of the lightning surge current induced from the lightning induction unit, and an air compression unit that compresses air by utilizing the electromagnetic force generated when a lightning surge current flows through a conductor wound around the air, and when the magnitude of the lightning surge current is greater than a first threshold, the waveform conversion unit processes the lightning surge current with a low-pass filter and passes it through the conductor.

[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 inducing a lightning surge current to a lightning energy storage device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of inducing a lightning surge current to a lightning energy storage device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the magnitude of the lightning surge current, the rise time, and the amount of compression. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining deformation of a lightning surge waveform. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining deformation of a lightning surge waveform. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a waveform conversion unit. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a low-pass filter. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a high-pass filter. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow of a lightning energy storage device. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an air compression unit. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an air compression unit.

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

[0011] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a lightning energy storage device 1 according to this embodiment. The lightning energy storage device 1 shown in the figure includes a lightning induction unit 11, a waveform converter 12, a conductor 13, and an air compressor 14. A metal tube 141 is installed inside the air compressor 14.

[0012] The lightning guidance unit 11 receives a lightning strike and guides the lightning surge current to the waveform conversion unit 12. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the lightning surge current is guided using a lightning rod installed on a building. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 3, the lightning surge current is guided by receiving a lightning strike using a lightning-resistant drone.

[0013] The waveform converter 12 converts the rising waveform according to the magnitude of the lightning surge current. Specifically, the waveform converter 12 lengthens the rising time of the waveform of the lightning surge current when the magnitude of the lightning surge current is greater than a threshold, and shortens the rising time of the waveform of the lightning surge current when the magnitude of the lightning surge current is less than the threshold.

[0014] The conductor 13 is wound around the air compressor 14. The conductor 13 and the air compressor 14 are insulated from each other. The air compressor 14 may be a coil wound with the conductor 13. The lightning surge current flows from the waveform converter 12 through the conductor 13 wound around the air compressor 14 and is released to the earth. When the lightning surge current flows through the conductor 13, an electromagnetic force is generated.

[0015] When a lightning surge current flows through the conductor 13, a magnetic field is generated inside the air compressor 14. An induced current flows on the surface of the metal tube 141 in the opposite direction to the lightning surge current. The induced current and the magnetic field act on the metal tube 141, causing it to collapse, generating compressed air inside the metal tube 141. The metal tube 141 is, for example, a sealed aluminum can, and compressed air is stored inside the collapsed metal tube 141.

[0016] The magnitude of the induced current flowing on the surface of the metal tube 141 and the magnitude of the magnetic field change depending on the magnitude and rise time (speed of change) of the lightning surge current. In other words, the amount of compression of the metal tube 141 changes depending on the magnitude and rise time (speed of change) of the lightning surge current. The larger the magnitude of the lightning surge current, the larger the amount of compression, and the shorter the rise time of the lightning surge current, the larger the amount of compression. Figure 4 shows the relationship between the magnitude of the lightning surge current, rise time, and amount of compression. As shown in the figure, if the lightning surge current is large and the rise time is short, the amount of compression will be too large and the metal tube 141 may be damaged. If the lightning surge current is small and the rise time is long, the amount of compression will be insufficient.

[0017] 5 and 6, the waveform converter 12 processes the lightning surge current with a low-pass filter to lengthen the rise time when the lightning surge current is large, and processes the lightning surge current with a high-pass filter to shorten the rise time when the lightning surge current is small, thereby enabling the desired compression amount to be obtained in the air compressor 14.

[0018] 7 shows an example of the configuration of the waveform converter 12. The waveform converter 12 shown in the figure includes a surge level detector 121, a filter selector 122, a low-pass filter 123, and a high-pass filter .

[0019] The surge level detector 121 compares the magnitude of the lightning surge current with a threshold value to determine the magnitude of the lightning surge current.

[0020] If the magnitude of the lightning surge current is greater than a first threshold, the filter selector 122 selects the low-pass filter 123 and guides the lightning surge current to the low-pass filter 123. If the magnitude of the lightning surge current is less than a second threshold, the filter selector 122 selects the high-pass filter 124 and guides the lightning surge current to the high-pass filter 124. The first and second thresholds may be the same or different. The first threshold is preferably set to a current value equal to or less than the breakdown strength of the metal pipe 141. The second threshold is preferably set to the lowest current value at which the metal pipe 141 can be compressed. If the magnitude of the lightning surge current is within a predetermined range, the lightning surge current may be passed directly through the conductor 13 without being filtered.

[0021] The low-pass filter 123 passes the low-frequency components of the lightning surge and causes the lightning surge current to flow through the conductor 13. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, the low-pass filter 123 can be configured with a coil and a capacitor.

[0022] The high-pass filter 124 passes the high-frequency components of the lightning surge and causes the lightning surge current to flow through the conductor 13. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, the high-pass filter 124 can be configured with a coil and a capacitor.

[0023] The coils and capacitors for each filter are selected to be high-voltage components that can withstand the voltage and current of lightning. By changing the inductance and capacitance of each filter and adjusting the cutoff frequency, the rising waveform can be controlled.

[0024] Next, an example of the processing flow of the lightning energy storage device 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0025] In step S11 , when the lightning induction unit 11 receives a lightning strike, the lightning surge current is passed to the waveform conversion unit 12 .

[0026] In step S12, the surge level detector 121 determines whether the magnitude of the lightning surge current is greater than a threshold value.

[0027] If the magnitude of the lightning surge current is greater than the threshold, in step S13, the filter selection unit 122 selects the low-pass filter 123, processes the lightning surge current through the low-pass filter 123, and lengthens the rise time of the lightning surge current.

[0028] If the magnitude of the lightning surge current is smaller than the threshold, in step S14, the filter selection unit 122 selects the high-pass filter 124, processes the lightning surge current through the high-pass filter 124, and shortens the rise time of the lightning surge current.

[0029] In step S15, the lightning surge current flows through the conductor 13 wound around the air compressor 14, crushing the metal tube 141 and generating compressed air. After the compressed air is generated, the metal tube 141 storing the compressed air may be replaced with a new metal tube 141, and the compressed air may be stored in the new metal tube 141.

[0030] Thereafter, if lightning strikes, the processes of steps S11 to S15 are repeated.

[0031] When compressed air is used, for example, the compressed air stored in the metal tube 141 is used to turn a turbine and generate electricity using a generator.

[0032] It is also possible to connect a storage unit for storing compressed air to the metal tube 141, and store the compressed air generated in the metal tube 141 in the storage unit. For example, as shown in FIG. 11 , the metal tube 141 can be replaced with an expandable bellows tube 142. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12 , the metal tube 141 can be replaced with an outer compression bag 143 and an inner compression bag 144. The outer compression bag 143 is made of an expandable metal mesh material, and the inner compression bag 144 is made of vinyl and can store air. The compressed air generated in the bellows tube 142 and the inner compression bag 144 is sent to the storage unit. After generating compressed air, the bellows tube 142 and the inner compression bag 144 are returned to their original sizes, and compressed air is repeatedly generated.

[0033] As described above, the lightning energy storage device 1 of this embodiment includes the lightning guiding unit 11 that receives lightning strikes, the waveform converter 12 that converts the rising waveform depending on the magnitude of the lightning surge current induced by the lightning guiding unit 11, and the air compressor 14 that is wound around the conductor 13 and compresses air using the electromagnetic force generated when the lightning surge current flows through the conductor 13. When the magnitude of the lightning surge current is greater than a first threshold, the waveform converter 12 filters the lightning surge current with a low-pass filter 123, thereby lengthening the rising time of the lightning surge. When the magnitude of the lightning surge current is less than a second threshold, the waveform converter 12 filters the lightning surge current with a high-pass filter 124, thereby shortening the rising time of the lightning surge. This prevents damage to the air compressor 14 due to a large lightning surge current and allows compressed air to be generated even with a small lightning surge current. As a result, lightning energy can be efficiently stored.

[0034] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 lightning energy storage device 11 lightning induction unit 12 waveform conversion unit 121 surge level detection unit 122 filter selection unit 123 low-pass filter 124 high-pass filter 13 conducting wire 14 air compression unit 141 metal tube 142 bellows tube 143 outer compression bag 144 inner compression bag

Claims

1. A lightning energy storage device comprising: a lightning induction unit that receives lightning strikes; a waveform conversion unit that converts the rising waveform according to the magnitude of the lightning surge current induced from said lightning induction unit; and an air compression unit that compresses air by utilizing the electromagnetic force generated when a lightning surge current flows through said conductor wound around it, wherein if the magnitude of the lightning surge current is greater than a first threshold, said waveform conversion unit processes the lightning surge current with a low-pass filter and passes it through said conductor.

2. A lightning energy storage device according to claim 1, wherein the waveform converter processes the lightning surge current with a high-pass filter and then passes it through the conductor when the magnitude of the lightning surge current is smaller than a second threshold value.

3. A lightning energy storage device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the air compression section comprises a metal tube sealed inside a wound conductor, and when a lightning surge current flows through the conductor, an inward force is generated, causing the metal tube to contract and compress the air.

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