ELECTROHYDRODYNAMIC SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION

摘要

An electrohydrodynamic system configured to harvest electrical energy from a wind stream flowing along a wind vector, including: a charged droplet generator configured to generate a first electric field, the charged droplet generator including: a manifold, a plurality of channels extending through the manifold thickness along a downstream face of the manifold, and a field shaper configured to generate a substantially uniform charging field proximal the plurality of channels that charges the droplets to a single polarity, wherein the first electric field opposes charged droplet movement along the wind vector.

主权项

1. An electrohydrodynamic system configured to harvest electrical energy from a fluid stream flowing along a fluid vector, comprising:
a charged droplet generator configured to generate a first electric field, the charged droplet generator comprising:
a manifold defining: a manifold thickness, a downstream face, and a manifold lumen extending along a manifold longitudinal axis;a plurality of channels defined through the manifold thickness along the downstream face, each channel of the plurality fluidly connecting the manifold lumen to an ambient environment external the manifold and configured to emit a droplet into the fluid stream, each channel of the plurality defining a channel length coextensive with the manifold thickness, the plurality of channels arranged in a row substantially parallel the manifold longitudinal axis; anda field shaper configured to generate a substantially uniform charging field proximal the channels that charges the droplets to a single polarity, wherein an first electric force generated by the first electric field opposes charged droplet movement along the fluid vector;a sensor configured to record a measurement of an ambient environment parameter; anda controller electrically connected to the sensor and configured to adjust electrohydrodynamic system operation based on the measurement; a load electrically connected to the charged droplet generator; and a reservoir fluidly connected to the manifold lumen.