An energy harvesting system can be used to exploit freely available flow energy with a piezoelectric device(s). The system may include a piezoelectric device and a flow disruptor, such as a blunt body that creates flow turbulence and flow characteristic randomization that can increase movement response from the piezoelectric device and enhance electrical power generation. Multiple piezoelectric devices may be linked to each other to enhance movement of a less-influenced piezoelectric device from translated movement of a more-influenced piezoelectric device and create more electrical power than a single piezoelectric device subjected to the same flowing fluid.

An irrigation system includes a first valve fluidly-coupled between an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, and a second valve fluidly-coupled between the inlet pipe and a power harvester. The power harvester generates electrical power at a power output in response to fluid flowing therethrough. An energy storage unit is coupled to the power output to store generated voltage. Comparison circuitry compares the generated voltage to a threshold. Control circuitry causes the second valve to permit fluid to flow therethrough when the generated voltage is less than the threshold, causing generation of the electrical power by the power harvester when the generated voltage is less than the threshold. The comparison circuitry causes the second valve to prevent fluid flow when the generated voltage is at least equal to threshold, ceasing generation of the electrical power by the power harvester when the generated voltage is at least equal to the threshold.

The subject of the invention is an energy generating apparatus for utilizing the energy of a flow medium having a support structure (13), at least one waving element (1), at least two fastening elements (4), a drive and control unit (5), and an energy recovery and transfer unit (10), wherein the waving element (1) is connected to the fastening elements (4), the drive and control unit (5) is connected to the fastening elements (4). It is characterized in that it comprises at least one turbulizer element (2), the waving element (1) between two fastening elements (4) is described as a regular waveform, determined by a function, and comprises at most one full wave period. The subject of the invention also includes the method for application of the apparatus.

An electric power generator for a projectile moving through the air is based on vibrational, rather than rotational motion. The electric power generator uses an air stream through, which the projectile is traveling typically 100-250 m/s for mortars to up to 1,500 m/s for sabot or even higher electrically fired rounds. A typical 223 rifle round after being fired has energy of over 1700 J, which is equivalent to 1700 W seconds. If a Nano computer was able to extract energy of for example 50 nanowatts during bullet flight which rarely exceeds two seconds the power needed during the flight would be only a few parts per billion of the bullets energy. Even allowing for very inefficient extraction of power, the necessary power to operate on onboard electronic devices such as computers and sensors can be extracted from the airstream through which the projectile travels.

A bladeless wind turbine may include a flexible support rod mounted on a support surface, an elongated rigid mast mounted on the flexible support rod, and a natural tuning mechanism coaxially mounted around a first portion of the flexible support rod. A natural tuning mechanism may include a housing coaxially attached to the flexible support rod, at least one extendable tube slidably housed within the housing and coaxially mounted and fitted around the flexible support rod. At least one extendable tube may be slidably moveable along the main axis of the flexible support rod and may be extendable beyond the top end of the housing by a predetermined height. A bladeless wind turbine may further include a control unit that may be coupled to the natural tuning mechanism and may be configured to urge the at least one extendable tube to extend beyond the top end of the housing by a predetermined height, where the predetermined height may be calculated by the control unit based on the wind and the elongated rigid mast.

An energy harvesting system includes a plurality of energy converters connected to multiple ambient energy sources, respectively, receiving energy from the multiple ambient energy sources, and converting the received energy into electrical energy. The system also includes an electrical energy buffer receiving and collecting electrical energy from the energy converters, and combining the collected electrical energy to have a predetermined power level and a constant voltage converter receiving the combined electrical energy from the electrical energy buffer, and converting the received electrical energy into driving power of a power level usable by a load. The system further includes an electrical energy storage receiving the driving power from the constant voltage converter, storing the received driving power, and providing the stored driving power to the load. When internal power is generated in a specific energy converter, the generated internal power is selectively used as external power for another energy converter.

A downhole power generation device and a separate-zone waterflooding device, which relate to the field of oil and gas development technologies. The downhole power generation device comprises a housing extended axially and a rotating wheel, a striking mechanism and a piezoelectric bimorph provided in the housing. The piezoelectric bimorph is axially extended and circumferentially distributed around an axis of the housing, with one end of the piezoelectric bimorph being fixed. The rotating wheel is in transmission connection with the striking mechanism and can be rotated by fluid to drive the striking mechanism to rotate. The striking mechanism can touch the other end of the piezoelectric bimorph during rotation so that the piezoelectric bimorph vibrates back and forth.

A device, system and method for harvesting electrical power from hydraulic fluid of a hydraulic system determines at least one of hydraulic fluid flow or hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic system. Based on rules and the determined at least one of the hydraulic fluid flow or hydraulic fluid pressure, an expected conversion efficiency of the power conversion device and an expected rectified power to be generated from the received input power by the power conversion device are determined. From the expected rectified power a potential conversion efficiency of the power conversion device is determined, and the power conversion device is commanded to produce the expected rectified power when the potential conversion efficiency is greater than or equal to the expected conversion efficiency. When the potential conversion efficiency is less than the expected conversion efficiency, the rules are updated.

The multi-piston bladeless wind turbine creates electrical energy using hydraulically connected pistons. The system may include a disk, a small piston in fluid communication with a large piston, and a crankshaft attached to the large piston. The disk transfers forces from the wind to the small piston. Hydraulic fluid then transfers the forces to the larger piston. When the disk and associated small piston have been forced to the end of their stroke by the wind, a gate in the disk is opened to reduce wind force on the disk by allowing air to travel through the disk. Subsequently, the disk and associated small piston are pushed back to the beginning of the stroke by the pressure created by the large piston's weight. This process is repeated by closing the gate in the disk. A crankshaft powering an electric generator is turned by the movement of the large piston.

A funnel-shaped underwater energy harvesting equipment includes a piezoelectric element configured to be installed at a seabed and to be moved by a fluid in order to convert vibration energy into electricity. The funnel-shaped underwater energy harvesting equipment further includes a fluid collector coupled to the piezoelectric element and configured to increase velocity of the fluid flowing toward the piezoelectric element. The harvesting equipment exhibits improved energy conversion efficiency, while simplifying the shape of the harvesting equipment.