Oscillating Vane Energy Harvester With Steerable Anti-Stall Fin
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for harvesting energy from fluid flow, such as wind and water, face challenges in efficiently operating in harsh environments and adapting to various types of fluid flow, particularly in ensuring continuous rotation and energy transfer.
Innovation Solution
A fluid flow energy harvester comprising a crankshaft with pivoted vanes and fins, where the fin arrangement is steerable to counteract stalling during oscillation, ensuring continuous rotation by adjusting its orientation relative to the fluid flow, and optionally including a flywheel for energy storage and a yaw system for automatic orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vane oscillates in fluid flow to generate rotational force, then energy is harvested from the fluid flow, but the vane experiences stalling that interrupts continuous rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The fin is made steerable and dynamically adjustable during the vane's oscillation cycle. The fin actuator changes the fin's orientation relative to the vane based on the oscillation phase, allowing the system to adapt to varying flow conditions and prevent stalling while maximizing energy harvest at different positions in the oscillation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation parameter of the fin is changed during operation. By adjusting the fin's angle of attack and orientation relative to the fluid flow as the vane oscillates, the system optimizes lift and drag forces at different positions, preventing flow separation and stalling that would otherwise interrupt continuous rotation.
2Reliability
If the fin orientation is adjusted to counteract stalling, then continuous rotation is facilitated, but device complexity increases due to fin actuator requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The fin actuator operates in a periodic manner synchronized with the vane's oscillation cycle. The fin orientation is adjusted at specific phases of the oscillation rather than continuously, reducing actuator complexity while maintaining the ability to prevent stalling and ensure continuous rotation throughout the cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the oscillation motion itself to drive or inform the fin actuation. The periodic movement of the vane creates natural flow patterns that can be harnessed to automatically adjust the fin orientation, reducing the need for complex external control systems and making the device more self-regulating.
3Productivity
If the sail portion surface area is increased to maximize energy transfer, then energy harvesting efficiency improves, but resistance to fluid flow increases causing stalling
Solution Approach 1:
The fin's orientation is dynamically adjusted based on the sail portion's position in the oscillation cycle. When the sail portion presents maximum surface area to the flow for energy transfer, the fin is oriented to optimize flow attachment and reduce drag. This dynamic coordination allows large surface areas to be used without proportionally increasing resistive losses.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the fin have different orientations and functions. The fin is divided into sections or has variable geometry that allows different local areas to optimize for different flow conditions, enabling the system to handle high surface area sail portions without uniform increase in resistance across the entire structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient and continuous energy harvesting from fluid flow in harsh environments by minimizing resistance and maximizing energy transfer, allowing the device to operate reliably across different fluid flow types.
Implementation Method 1
either a surface of the sail portion or of the fin impedes the fluid flow when a surface of the other is substantially parallel to such fluid flow
Implementation Method 2
operative oscillation of the vane imparts rotational force to the crankshaft
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a fluid flow energy harvester (10) comprising a crankshaft (12) and at least one vane (14) pivoted into a sail portion (18) and a crank portion (20) on respective sides of the pivot (16). Both portions (18) and (20) are operatively oscillatable about the pivot (16) when the crank portion (20) is operatively arranged facing into a fluid flow (22). The crank portion (20) is linked to the crankshaft (12) via a crank (24) so that operative oscillation of the vane (14) imparts rotational force to said crankshaft (12). The harvester (10) also includes a fin arrangement (26) which comprises a fin (28) arranged on, and configured to guide, the sail portion (18) of the vane (14) facing towards or in a direction of the fluid flow (22). The harvester (10) also includes a fin actuator (30) configured to control an orientation of the fin (28) relative to the sail portion (18), so that during oscillation of the sail portion (18), either a surface (32) of the sail portion or a surface of the fin (34) impedes the fluid flow (22) when a surface of the other is parallel to such fluid flow. In this manner, stalling of the vane oscillation is counteracted thereby facilitating continuous rotation of the crankshaft (12) during fluid flow (22).