Transforming the energy of fluid flow, eg wind or river flow, into another form of energy

The kinetic energy of fluid flow, eg wind or river flow, is transformed into another form of energy, eg electrical, heat or mechanical, by flowing the fluid medium through a duct 1 and over a working surface of a working element 2 of an energy converter 28 so that the flow induces oscillations of the working element 2. The working element 2 may form a moving rectangular vane hinged at its downstream end and forming a partition separating the flow into two channels. The duct may have an inlet 10 in the form of a nozzle and an outlet 12 in the form of a diffuser. The vane 2 may be connected mechanically, eg via crank (50, fig.6), to the energy converter, eg dynamo (28, fig.5) or a pump. One or more turbines 200 may be located downstream of the vane 2; oscillation of the vane causes pulsations which actuate the turbine(s) more effectively than would a steady flow.

Transforming energy of fluid flow, eg wind or river flow, into another form of energy

The kinetic energy of fluid flow, eg wind or river flow, is transformed into another form of energy, eg electrical, heat or mechanical, by flowing the fluid medium through a duct 1 and over a working surface of a working element 2 of an energy converter 28 so that the flow induces oscillations of the working element 2. The working element 2 may form a moving rectangular vane hinged at its downstream end and forming a partition separating the flow into two channels. The duct may have an inlet 10 in the form of a nozzle and an outlet 12 in the form of a diffuser. The vane 2 may be connected mechanically, eg via crank (50, fig.6), to the energy converter, eg dynamo (28, fig.5) or a pump. One or more turbines 200 may be located downstream of the vane 2; oscillation of the vane causes pulsations which actuate the turbine(s) more effectively than would a steady flow.

A method and apparatus for transforming energy in a fluid medium