GENERATION OF ELECTRICAL POWER FROM FLUID FLOWS, PARTICULARLY IN OIL OR GAS WELL PIPES

摘要

A device for the generation of electrical power from a fluid flow, and more particularly for harvesting power from flows downhole in oil or gas wells, comprises a cylinder or other blunt body ( 1 ) arranged crosswise to the flow and supported on the end of a sprung cantilever arm ( 3 ) held in a fixed mount, with freedom to oscillate in response to the shedding of a Karman vortex trail v from the' body. The resultant motion of the body ( 1 ) and arm ( 3 ) is converted into electrical energy by piezoelectric material ( 5 ) which is attached to, and stressed by, flexure of the arm. Other arrangements of piezoelectric and inductive power generation from the oscillation of the device are described.