Wind turbine blades comprising one or more deformable trailing edge sections having a multistable sheet comprising a plurality of bistable elements, each bistable element having two stable positions, wherein the multistable sheet is attached in a cantilever manner to a structural portion of the blade and extends in a chordwise direction, and the multistable sheet is connected to a skin of the blade such that upon changing one or more bistable elements from one stable position to the other stable position a shape of the trailing edge section changes. The application further relates to wind turbines comprising such blades and methods of controlling loads on the blades.

A modular system of generating electrical power from mechanical energy of kinetic motion originating in current, waves, and tides, where the system resembles natural habitat and illustrates options for optimizing the transmission of current through the system. One or more branches elongate members containing current generators extend up from the bottom of a body of water. The elongate members move with water, in the manner of kelp, to actuate the current generators, and thus transform mechanical energy due to forces inherent in a body of water to electrical power.

A nanofriction power generation device with spiral vibrating balls and a buoy body thereof-includes an inner spiral barrel, an outer spiral barrel sleeved outside the inner spiral barrel, hollow balls between the two spiral barrels, an electric energy storage device contained in the inner spiral barrel, and a buoy barrel for containing the outer spiral barrel. The outer wall of the inner spiral barrel and the inner wall of the outer spiral barrel are repectively provided with first spiral tracks and second spiral tracks extending from one end to the opposite other end. The inner spiral barrel is in the outer spiral barrel, and the first spiral tracks and the second spiral tracks have a one-to-one correspondence and form spiral channels. Nanofriction electric generator films are attached to an outer surface of each hollow ball and an inner wall of each spiral channel.

A piezoelectric power apparatus wherein waterproofed piezoelectric material is located within a water-filled container. Water pressure within the container is made to rapidly vary either by a cam operated piston rotated by a water turbine or a motor operated ball valve. A flowing water current is made to operate the ball valve which interrupts periodically the water flow, or the continuous water flow is made to operate the piston through the agency of a water turbine-operated cam.

Disclosed in the present invention is a dual-rotor microfluidic energy capturing and power generating device based on a piezoelectric effect. An inner ring of blades and an outer ring of blades are coaxially and movably sleeved, and rotate relatively. Sheet-like magnetic piezoelectric components and steel magnets are provided in an annular gap between the inner ring of blades and the outer ring of blades. Magnetic piezoelectric components are connected to an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring of blades, the magnetic piezoelectric components are magnetically repulsive to the steel magnets, and the outer sides of the magnetic piezoelectric components are axially arranged. The inner ring of blades and the outer ring of blades rotate relatively to drive the magnetic piezoelectric components and the steel magnets to rotate relatively, and further drive the magnetic piezoelectric components to oscillate to generate mechanical energy which is then converted into electric energy.

A generator for converting mechanical energy or hydropower or wind energy into electrical energy is disclosed. The generator includes a first member and a second member in contact with the first member to generate triboelectric charges. The second member rolls against the first member to generate a flow of electrons between two electrodes. Another embodiment of the generator includes two electrodes, and a member in contact with the two electrodes to generate triboelectric charges. The member rolls against the electrodes to generate a flow of electrons between the two electrodes.

A power generation system includes: a frame; a plurality of units supported by the frame and configured to convert fluid-induced mechanical energy to electrical energy; a member that is moveable relative to the frame; an actuator operable to move the member; and a controller communicably coupled to the actuator and configured to perform operations comprising: receiving, by the controller, flow data indicating a characteristic of fluid flow over the plurality of units; receiving, by the controller, power data indicating a parameter of electrical power output by the plurality of units; and based on the flow data and the power data, transmitting a control signal to the actuator to cause the actuator to move the member relative to the frame. A first unit of the plurality of units comprises: a first element; and a second element, wherein relative motion between the first element and the second element generates electrical energy.

Devices and methods are provided for harvesting kinetic energy. The devices can include a plurality of dielectric elastomeric membranes, a rigid connector rod, and a mountable support base. Membrane layers have a funnel-shape with a narrow opening portion and a wide perimeter portion. Membrane layers are adjacent to other membrane layers having an opposite orientation defined by the narrow opening portion and the wide perimeter portion. The narrow opening portions are coupled to a first end portion of the connector rod. The wide perimeter portions are fixed in relation to the support base. Application of linear force at a second end portion of the connector rod in a first direction causes at least a first membrane layer to stretch. Application of the force in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes at least a second membrane layer adjacent to the first membrane layer to stretch.

Systems, devices, and methods for utilizing hydrostatic and/or hydraulic pressure to generate energy are disclosed herein. A representative industrial system can comprise a storage tank containing fluid, a separator piston having a first separator compartment configured to be fluidically coupled to the storage tank and a second separator compartment, and a pressure intensifier. The pressure intensifier includes a first compartment, and a second compartment fluidically coupled to the second separator compartment. The second compartment of the pressure intensifier includes a pressure concentrator having a housing, a piston head member including arms, a plurality of cylinders each defined in part by the housing, and a drive piston head portion.

Systems, devices, and methods for utilizing hydrostatic and/or hydraulic pressure to generate energy and to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen are disclosed herein. A representative industrial system can comprise a storage tank containing fluid, a separator piston having a first separator compartment configured to be fluidically coupled to the storage tank and a second separator compartment, and a pressure intensifier. The pressure intensifier includes a first compartment, and a second compartment fluidically coupled to the second separator compartment. The second compartment of the pressure intensifier includes a pressure concentrator having a housing, a piston head member including arms, a plurality of cylinders each defined in part by the housing, and a drive piston head portion. Pressurized water may be depressurized by sending it through fine bore friction channels to produce water vapor and/or steam, which may then be injected into plasma reactors that separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. Some embodiments may involve injecting a catalyst into the plasma reactors with the water vapor and/or steam.