Improvements for a non-rotating wind energy generator

Abstract

Aspects of the invention relate to a control system for a non-rotating wind energy generator. The control system can comprise a sensor that senses at least one of: an amplitude of oscillation of a bluff body of the non-rotating wind energy generator, a power output of a linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator, a voltage output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator, and a current output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator. Additionally, the control system can comprise a damper that applies a damping force to the bluff body based in part on at least one of the amplitude, the voltage output, the current output, and the power output.

1 . A control system for a non-rotating wind energy generator, comprising:
 a sensor that senses at least one of:
 an amplitude of oscillation of a bluff body of the non-rotating wind energy generator, 
 a power output of a linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator, 
 a voltage output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator, and 
 a current output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator; and 
   a damper that applies a damping force to the bluff body based in part on at least one of the amplitude, the voltage output, the current output, and the power output.   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the damper increases the damping force based at least in part on a first sensor input. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the damper decreases the damping force based at least in part on a second sensor input. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the damper increases the damping force when the amplitude is above a first threshold; and   the damper decreases the damping force when the amplitude is below a second threshold.   
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the damper applies a maximum damping force when the amplitude is above a maximum threshold until the amplitude is below a minimum threshold.   
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the damper waits a predetermined time before changing the damping force. 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein applying the damping force comprises applying a load to the linear alternator system. 
     
     
         8 . The control system of  claim 1 , comprising a controller that receives an input from the sensor and sends a control instruction to the damper, wherein the damping force is based in part on the control instruction. 
     
     
         9 . The control system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a battery charge controller that controls charging of a battery, wherein the sensor determines a charge level of the battery.   
     
     
         10 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises at least one of a variable resistor and a transistor that applies a variable resistance to the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator to control the damping force. 
     
     
         11 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises a transistor and a variable resistor that each apply a variable resistance to the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator to control the damping force. 
     
     
         12 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the damper controls the damping force based in part on a pulse-width modulation signal. 
     
     
         13 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one optical sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises:
 a first at least one sensor that determines whether the amplitude is above a first threshold; and   a second at least one sensor that determines whether the amplitude is above a second threshold.   
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling a non-rotating wind energy generator, the method comprising:
 determining at least one of:
 an amplitude of oscillation of a bluff body of the non-rotating wind energy generator,
 a power output of a linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator, 
 
 a voltage output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator, and 
 a current output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator; and 
   applying a damping force to the bluff body based in part on at least one of the amplitude, the voltage output, the current output, and the power output.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising increasing the damping force based at least in part on a first sensor measurement. 
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 16 , comprising decreasing the damping force based at least in part on a second sensor measurement. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising at least one of:
 increasing a damping force when an amplitude of oscillation of a bluff body of the non-rotating wind energy generator is above a first threshold; and   decreasing a damping force when the amplitude is below a second threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising waiting a predetermined time before changing the damping force. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 charging a battery using the non-rotating wind energy generator;   controlling a charging rate of the battery; and   determining a charge level of the battery.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising controlling the damping force based in part on varying a resistance of a variable resistor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising controlling the damping force based in part on a pulse-width modulation signal. 
     
     
         23 . A non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus, comprising:
 a flat spring bluff body assembly operable to initiate and sustain oscillatory motion in response to wind energy, wherein the flat spring bluff body assembly comprises one or more pairs of parallel flat springs; and   a linear alternator system operable to generate electrical energy via the motion of the suspended bluff body.   
     
     
         24 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 23 ,
 wherein the flat spring bluff body assembly comprises:
 a frame movably supporting at least one beam; 
 wherein the one or more flat springs attach the beam to the frame; 
   wherein the linear alternator system comprises:
 at least one electromagnetic coil attached to one of the beam or the frame; 
 at least one magnet attached to one of the frame or the beam; and 
   wherein motion of the beam when exposed to wind causes the at least one electromagnetic coil to pass the at least one magnet.   
     
     
         25 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 23 , comprising:
 one or more additional beams;   one or more additional flat springs;   wherein the one or more additional flat springs attach the one or more additional beams to the frame.   
     
     
         26 . A non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus, comprising:
 a suspended bluff body operable to initiate and sustain oscillatory motion in response to wind energy, wherein the suspended bluff body has at least one of the following cross-sectional profiles:
 an ellipse with a depth to height ratio between 8/16 and 14/16; 
 a rectangle with a depth to height ratio greater than 0 and less than 1; 
 a multiple D-shape with a first beam oriented in an opposing direction to a second beam, wherein the depth to height ratio of each beam is between 1/4 and 3/4; 
 a multiple D-shape with a first beam oriented in a same direction as a second beam, wherein the depth to height ratio of each beam is between 1/4 and 3/4; 
 a biconvex shape with a depth to height ratio between 8/16 and 14/16; 
 a diamond shape with a depth to height ratio between 4/10 and 7/10; and 
 a rounded rectangle with a depth to height ratio greater than 1/2 and less than 1; and 
   a linear alternator system operable to generate electrical energy via the motion of the suspended bluff body.   
     
     
         27 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 26 ,
 wherein the suspended bluff body comprises:   a frame movably supporting at least one beam;   one or more first springs;   one or more second springs;   wherein the one or more first springs attach a first portion of the frame to a first portion of the beam and the one or more second springs attach a second portion of the frame to a second portion of the beam such that the beam is suspended between the first and second portions of the frame; and   wherein the linear alternator system comprises:
 at least one electromagnetic coil attached to one of the beam or a third portion of the frame; 
 at least one magnet attached to one of the third portion of the frame or the beam; 
   wherein motion of the beam when exposed to wind causes the first electromagnetic coil to pass at least one magnet.   
     
     
         28 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a voltage multiplier circuit that generates a DC voltage from an AC voltage output by the linear alternator system, wherein the DC voltage is higher than the AC voltage.