Apparatus for creating electricity from pressure fluctuations in pipes

摘要

Flexible pipe liner harvests energy from pressure fluctuations of a fluid in a pipe and converts it to electricity to power local sensors or other equipment. Pipe may be a pipeline for carrying water, sewage, or oil; or may be an open-ended segment suspended in a body of water. Pipe liner also serves to reinforce or repair a pipeline and is constructed of conventional materials.

主权项

1. In combination:
a rigid pipe for conducting pressurized liquid subject to turbulence or pressure fluctuation; the pipe defining a hollow inner volume for passage of the liquid; and a pipe liner attached to the inner surface of said pipe, for converting kinetic energy to electrical energy; said liner including: a first liquid-contacting layer of metallized plastic film disposed adjacent to said inner volume and a second layer of metallized plastic film disposed in contact with said rigid pipe; at least one pair of piezoelectric graphite fiber sheets; and an insulator layer between each said pair of piezoelectric sheets; said layers and sheets connected together with suitable adhesive; and collection means for collecting electrical energy created by said pipe liner; said collection means including:
a collection portion attached to said pipe liner;an output portion connected to a suitable device for using, storing, or modifying the created electrical energy.