Electric power generation by traffic driven turbines

Abstract

Electric power is generated through turbines with magnetic material rotated by magnetized or non-magnetized ferrous material on vehicles passing by the turbines. The turbines are placed at preferably high traffic locations along highways, railways, and similar transportation paths. Magnetized or non-magnetized ferrous material such as external parts or add-on strips on vehicles cause rotation of the turbine generating electricity for use in local consumption or for adding to the power distribution network.

1 . A method for generating electric power, comprising:
 providing a traffic driven turbine adjacent to a road such that a vehicle passing on the road causes the turbine to be rotated and electricity to be generated as a result of rotation of the turbine, wherein the turbine includes magnetic material placed on an outer surface of the turbine such that an interaction between the magnetic material and a portion of the vehicle causes the rotation of the turbine; and   coupling the turbine to a circuit to receiving the generated electricity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine is placed vertically alongside the road with a vertical rotational axis perpendicular to a surface plane of the road and the magnetic material is placed on a vertical outer surface of the turbine. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine is placed vertically alongside the road with a horizontal rotational axis perpendicular to a surface plane of the road and the magnetic material is placed on a vertical outer surface of the turbine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine is placed horizontally over the road with a horizontal rotational axis parallel to a surface plane of the road and the magnetic material is placed on a horizontal outer surface of the turbine. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine is placed horizontally underneath the road with a horizontal rotational axis parallel to a surface plane of the road and the magnetic material is placed on a horizontal outer surface of the turbine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the traffic driven turbine comprises a plurality of turbines arranged such that rotational axes of the plurality of turbines are one of: parallel to each other and along the same line. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the vehicle is one of: a magnetized and a non-magnetized outer portion of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the vehicle is at least one magnetized ferrous material placed on a body of the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the road is one of: a highway, a commercial railroad, a rapid transit railroad, and a shipping channel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes at least one from a set of: an automobile, a truck, a bus, a train car, a trolley, a rapid-transit vehicle, and a marine vessel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic material is placed on the outer surface of the turbine in form of at least one from a set of: a solid patch substantially covering the outer surface, horizontal strips along a rotational axis of the turbine, vertical strips perpendicular to the rotational axis of the turbine, diagonal strips, a checkerboard pattern, a spotted pattern, and a random pattern. 
     
     
         12 . A traffic driven turbine for generating electric power, comprising:
 an electricity generation component for converting radial motion into electricity;   a substantially cylindrical outer member configured to rotate around a shaft member for providing the radial motion, wherein an external surface of the outer member includes magnetic material configured to cause the outer member to rotate in response to passing of a metal vehicle with a second magnetic material in close proximity to the outer member, and wherein the outer member and the shaft member are located adjacent to at least one from a set of: a roadway, a railway, and a shipping channel.   
     
     
         13 . The traffic driven turbine of  claim 12 , wherein the electricity generation component is configured to provide electrical power for one of: local consumption and input into a power distribution network. 
     
     
         14 . The traffic driven turbine of  claim 12 , wherein the shaft member is movable such that a distance between vehicles passing the roadway and the outer member is minimized above a predefined safety threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The traffic driven turbine of  claim 12 , wherein the outer member includes a plurality of flanges to assist rotation caused by the magnetic material. 
     
     
         16 . The traffic driven turbine of  claim 12 , wherein the magnetic material is placed at the end of a plurality of protrusions places on the external surface of the outer member. 
     
     
         17 . A system for generating electricity based on movement of vehicles on a roadway, the system comprising:
 a turbine placed adjacent to the roadway arranged to rotate in response to an interaction between a first magnetic material on an external surface of the turbine and a second magnetic material on the vehicle passing along the turbine;   an electricity generation circuit for generating and regulating electricity in response to the rotation of the turbine; and   the second magnetic material placed on an external surface of the vehicles in anticipation of a location of the turbine relative to the roadway.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the external surface of the turbine further includes an aerodynamic structure for increasing a rotational efficiency of the turbine. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the roadway is one of: a highway, a commercial railroad, a rapid transit railroad, and a shipping channel; wherein the vehicle includes at least one from a set of: an automobile, a truck, a bus, a train car, a trolley, a rapid-transit vehicle, and a marine vessel; and wherein the second magnetic material is placed on the outer surface of the turbine in form of at least one from a set of: a solid patch substantially covering the outer surface, horizontal strips along a rotational axis of the turbine, vertical strips perpendicular to the rotational axis of the turbine, diagonal strips, a checkerboard pattern, a spotted pattern, and a random pattern. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the second magnetic material is distributed through a governmental channel and a commercial channel to increase participation of vehicles in power generation through the turbine.