Patent Grant
7948215
1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to methods and apparatuses for power generation, and, in particular, to methods and apparatuses utilizing a power generation device configured to operate in the environmental conditions of an enclosure.
2. Related Art
Sanitation and waste water systems are becoming increasingly expensive to operate and face daunting environmental, community and regulatory pressures. Agencies and organizations that manage sanitation systems face complex and costly problems. Three of the main problems facing sanitation system operators are sewage spills, treatment failure, and illegal dumping. The first two of these problems often result in uncontrolled spills of septic materials into the environment, causing environmental damage, health risks, and high cleanup and mitigation costs, while the third problem respectively generates a potential danger to treatment systems, the environment and uncontrolled liability for the sanitation operators.
Some methods have been proposed for monitoring of environmental parameters in manholes, to provide an early warning system to avoid many of the problems and costs that sanitation system operators face. Three such systems are disclosed in a prior patent and two prior patent applications filed by the applicants, including U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/641,110, filed Dec. 19, 2006 and presently pending; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/134,691, filed May 20, 2005 and presently pending; and, U.S. Pat. No. 7,292,143, issued Nov. 6, 2007. The contents of these patent applications and this patent are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. These systems can include a platform for a variety of sensors, for a variety of applications, including intrusion alarms, closed space monitoring for example for gases, water quality monitoring, traffic monitoring, and environmental or pollution monitoring, and by virtue of distribution in a wide coverage urban area, such a system can have multiple uses in addition to manhole monitoring, and can monitor many other enclosures.
Nearly all of the sensors, controllers, and communication devices of such systems require power for operation. Many power systems have been proposed for powering such equipment, but each such power system has its disadvantages. The use of standard 120V or 240V power requires trenching around and into a manhole, and poses a risk of electrocution. Alternatively, primary non-rechargeable batteries, or even rechargeable batteries unless recharged by some mechanism at or in the enclosure, have the unfortunate characteristic that they require periodic servicing for replacement/recharging. In many applications, such as environmental monitoring at a manhole, periodic servicing may be difficult, time consuming, or expensive.
What is desired is a power generation apparatus configured to operate in the environmental conditions of an enclosure such as a manhole, and to utilize these conditions in the generation of power for environmental monitoring devices.
The present subject matter addresses the above concerns by teaching the following methods and apparatuses.
The present disclosure includes an apparatus for generating power in an enclosure. The apparatus includes a power generation device configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure, and a first power storage device connected to the power generation device and configured to store power generated by the power generation device. This first power storage device may be a capacitor, or may be a rechargeable battery, or may be any other kind of power storage device. The apparatus also includes a power converter connected to the power storage device and configured to output power at a voltage different than that output by the power storage device; and a second power storage device connected directly or indirectly to the power converter and configured to store power output by the power converter. The second power storage device may then provide power for at least one component of an environmental monitoring system. The apparatus may optionally include a controller connected to the power converter and to the second power storage device, which controls the transfer of power from the power converter to the second power storage.
Many different power generation devices can be used in accordance with the present disclosure, each configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure. As non-limiting examples:
The present disclosure also includes a method of generating power in an enclosure. The method includes the steps of deriving an electrical current from at least one environmental aspect of the enclosure; storing an electrical charge generated by the electrical current; converting the stored charge to a charge of a different voltage; storing the different voltage charge; and transferring the stored different voltage charge to at least one component of an environmental monitoring system.
Many different environmental aspects can be used in accordance with the present disclosure. As non-limiting examples:
The present disclosure also includes a system for generating power in an enclosure. The system can include: means for deriving an electrical current from at least one environmental aspect of the enclosure; means for storing an electrical charge generated by the electrical current; means for converting the stored charge to a charge of a different voltage; means for storing the different voltage charge; and means for transferring the stored different voltage charge to at least one component of an environmental monitoring system.
The features, nature, and advantages of the presently disclosed methods and apparatuses will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify corresponding items throughout.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. In this regard, terminology such as “first,” “then,” “afterwards,” “before,” “next,” “finally,” “above,” “below,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the drawing being described. Because the processes and methods of the present subject matter can be performed in a number of different orders, and because the individual elements of the apparatus and systems of the present subject matter may be configured in a number of different orders, the above terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present subject matter includes the full scope of the appended claims.
Although a number of discrete embodiments are described below, it is to be understood that these are merely non-limiting examples, and that any given embodiment of the subject matter may comprise some of the features of one shown embodiment, and/or some of the features of another shown embodiment. In the charts presented herewith, optional steps are illustrated in dashed lines. Other modifications between embodiments will be clear to one skilled in the art upon reading the following disclosure.
In general, enclosures such as manholes may have unique environmental conditions and aspects which can be utilized to derive power for at least one component of an environmental monitoring system. Since manholes and other enclosures can extend deep into the cool earth, and can be exposed to solar energy at their top but not at their bottom, temperature differences between two areas of the enclosure can be utilized to derive power. Since manholes and other enclosures may provide a moderating temperature environment that could be either cooler or warmer that an enclosure cover over the course of the day, these temperature differences and their changes produce heat flows toward or away from the cover, which may be utilized to derive power. Since manholes and other enclosures may contain more moisture than their surrounding environments, temperature changes caused by a formation of condensation at a surface of the enclosure can be utilized to derive power, and/or electrical current can be derived from passage of the moisture through a membrane. Since manholes and other enclosures can be subject to seismic motion (such as from motor or rail vehicles passing overhead or nearby) an electrical current can be derived by an electromechanical generator or microelectromechanical system. Finally, since manholes and other enclosures often have convection currents and other pressure-differential-based airflows, electrical current can be derived from motion induced by the airflow or by the pressure differences.
Energy and currents derived from the above environmental conditions and aspects are often small, but can be sufficient to trickle-charge rechargeable batteries or other power sources. These methods could greatly increase the lifetime of the batteries and greatly reduce the frequency of service needed to replace batteries, especially when used in conjunction with a power converter and/or a controller, as described below.
The apparatus also includes a first power storage device 104 connected to the power generation device and configured to store power generated by the power generation device. This first power storage device may be a capacitor, or may be a rechargeable battery, or may be any other kind of power storage device.
The apparatus also includes a power converter 108 connected to the power storage device and configured to output power at a voltage different than that output by the power storage device. Since energy and currents derived from the above environmental conditions and aspects are often small, they may generate voltages only in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 volts, although this range is merely a non-limiting example, and other voltages may be generated, including voltages in the range of 0.5 to 5.0 volts, 0.1 to 5.0 volts, and 0.5 to 1.0 volts. Even if combined in series, such energies and currents might not exceed 2 to 10 volts. For this reason, a power converter 108 may be used to help produce an ultimate output of 2 to 24 volts. Again, this is a non-limiting example, and other values of output powers for the power converter 108 may be used, including ultimate outputs of 12 to 24 volts, or 1 to 2 volts. As a further non-limiting example, the power converter 108 may include a switched inductor boost circuit and/or a boost regulator to aid in converting the power for use. Although the above examples refer to the conversion of low voltage energy to higher voltage energy, it should be noted that some methods disclosed herein (such as piezoelectric generators) may produce an originally high voltage energy, in which case the power converter 108 may be used to produce a ultimate output of a lower voltage.
The apparatus also includes a second power storage device 112 connected directly or indirectly to the power converter and configured to store power output by the power converter. The second power storage device 112 may be a rechargeable battery such as a nickel metal hydride cell or lithium ion cell, although other power storage devices may be used. The second power storage device may then provide power for at least one component 116 of an environmental monitoring system.
The apparatus may optionally include a controller 120 connected to the power converter and to the second power storage device, which controls the transfer of power from the power converter to the second power storage. Such a controller 120 can help maximize the life and efficiency of the second power storage device 112 by regulating the rate at which it is charged or recharged, optionally by monitoring its power output and adjusting its charge rate appropriately.
The apparatus may optionally include a second power generation device 124, also configured to operate in environmental conditions of the enclosure. The apparatus may optionally also include a second controller 128 connected to both power generation devices, which selects one of the power generation devices for use at a given time with respect to the environmental conditions of the enclosure. More than two power generation devices, or different or similar types, may be used.
Environmental monitoring system 204 derives its power from an apparatus for generating power in an enclosure in accordance with the present disclosure. This power apparatus 222 includes a first power storage device 212, a power converter 220; and a second power storage device 224. As illustrated here, the second power storage device 224 may be housed in the environmental monitoring system 204, but may alternatively be housed separately with the power apparatus 222. Still alternatively, the environmental monitoring system 204 and power apparatus 222 may be housed together. Optional controller 216 is illustrated as connected to the power converter 220 and to the second power storage device 224, to control the transfer of power from the power converter 220 to the second power storage 224.
Importantly, note that any suspended sensor 208 may require power, and that although this power may be delivered from the housing of the monitoring system 204 above, the sensor may be configured to derive its own power from the same or an additional power apparatus 222; Thus, the present disclosure includes scenarios where individual sensors are provided with their own power generation device, first power storage device, power converter, and second power storage device. This is particularly advantageous where the sensor is located somewhere where power is easily derived: as non-limiting examples, motion or tamper sensors at a manhole cover can include a condensation-based power source, since condensation often occurs at the cover; suspended airflow sensors can include airflow-based power sources; and, radio receiving sensors can include devices for converting radio energy to power.
Various power generation devices configured to operate in environmental conditions of the enclosure will now be described with reference to
A number of devices can be used to generate power where a temperature difference is found. Some such devices utilize the “Seebeck” effect, in which power is generated from the direct conversion of a temperature difference to current. Early mechanisms for generating power from a temperature difference may be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,510,397; 2,881,384; 2,915,652; or 3,175,105, incorporated herein by reference, but many modern materials are also available for use. Such modern materials can include pairs of “n” and “p” doped semiconductors. Metals such as copper, zinc, iron, manganese, nickel, tin and silver, in various pairs, can also be used. As a non-limiting example,
The metal plates 304, 312 may be further configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure. In view of the corrosive conditions inside a manhole, for example, the plates could optionally be enclosed in a protective sheath, such as one of fluoropolymers (such as Teflon, a registered trademark of the DuPont company), urethane, vinyl, or any other polymer, to protect the metals from corrosion. Also, the plates 304, 312 could be secured to a region of the enclosure to prevent them from moving if the cover 236 is lifted. Also, the plates 304, 312 could be made waterproof, and (if the enclosure is a manhole) placed directly in a fluid in the manhole. These are merely examples of manners in which the metal plates 304, 312 could be configured in view of the environmental conditions of the enclosure, and other configurations may be used.
Semiconductor pairs 400 may be further configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure. In view of the corrosive conditions inside a manhole, for example, the semiconductors could optionally be enclosed in a protective sheath, such as fluoropolymers, urethane or vinyl, or any other polymer, as long as the sheath does not thermally insulate the semiconductor. Also, the pairs 400 could be secured to a region of the enclosure to prevent them from moving if the cover 236 is lifted. These are merely examples of manners in which the pairs 400 could be configured in view of the environmental conditions of the enclosure, and other configurations may be used.
The membrane 500 may be further configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure. In view of the climate conditions inside a manhole, for example, the membrane 500 could be provided with a balanced salinity which is not likely to change over time, even as humidity and salinity in the manhole vary. Also, the membrane 500 could be secured to a region of the enclosure to prevent it from moving if the cover 236 is lifted. Also, the membrane 500 could be placed at a hole in the manhole cover 236, and thus capture humidity from the manhole air as it escapes to the dry outside. These are merely examples of manners in which the membrane 500 could be configured in view of the environmental conditions of the enclosure, and other configurations may be used.
The antenna 600 may be further configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure. In view of the corrosive conditions inside a manhole, for example, the antenna could optionally be enclosed in a protective sheath, such as fluoropolymers, urethane or vinyl, or any other polymer, to protect the antenna from corrosion. Also, the antenna could be secured to a region of the enclosure to prevent it from moving if the cover 236 is lifted. These are merely examples of manners in which the antenna 600 could be configured in view of the environmental conditions of the enclosure, and other configurations may be used.
The generator 700 may be further configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure. In view of the corrosive conditions inside a manhole, for example, the generator 700 could optionally be enclosed in a protective sheath, such as fluoropolymers, urethane or vinyl, or any other polymer, to protect it from corrosion. Also, the generator 700 could be made waterproof, and (if the enclosure is a manhole) placed directly in a fluid in the manhole, where fluid motion could be used to derive power. These are merely examples of manners in which the generator 700 could be configured in view of the environmental conditions of the enclosure, and other configurations may be used.
The generator 800 may be further configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure. In view of the corrosive conditions inside a manhole, for example, the blades or windings of the generator 800 could optionally be enclosed in a protective sheath, such as fluoropolymers, urethane or vinyl, or any other polymer, to protect the metals from corrosion. Also, the generator 800 could be secured to a region of the enclosure to prevent it from moving if the cover 236 is lifted. Also, the generator 800 could be made waterproof, and (if the enclosure is a manhole) placed directly in a fluid in the manhole, to be moved by fluid instead of by air. These are merely examples of manners in which the generator 800 could be configured in view of the environmental conditions of the enclosure, and other configurations may be used.
The pad 900 may be further configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure. In view of the corrosive conditions inside a manhole, for example, the pad could optionally be enclosed in a protective sheath, such as urethane or vinyl, or any other polymer, to protect the piezoelectric materials from corrosion or wear. Also, the pad could be secured to the enclosure surface 904 to prevent it from moving if the cover 236 is lifted. These are merely examples of manners in which the pad 900 could be configured in view of the environmental conditions of the enclosure, and other configurations may be used.
As an alternative configuration, note that instead of utilizing the enclosure cover 236, pad 900 can instead be placed within the enclosure 200, and can include not only piezoelectric or electromagnetic generators, but also gases which expand or contract in accordance with diurnal changes in the temperature of an enclosure cover or other enclosure structure to drive the generators.
As a yet alternative configuration, note that pad 900 can include gases, liquids, or other materials which can expand or contract in accordance with changes in barometric pressure of the enclosure and the surrounding atmosphere, and that these changes can drive the generators.
The previous description of some aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presently disclosed methods and apparatuses. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive subject matter. For example, one or more elements can be rearranged and/or combined, or additional elements may be added. Thus, the present inventive subject matter is not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/925,204, filed Apr. 19, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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