Methods and apparatus for generating electricity from moving fluid

Abstract

In one aspect, a system for generating electricity based on water flow is disclosed. The system comprises a first pipe fitting, a turbine, and a second pipe fitting. The first pipe fitting couples to a pipe that supplies a fluid to a building. The turbine is in fluid communication with the first pipe fitting and rotates in response to a kinetic energy of the fluid supplied by the pipe flowing through the turbine, generates electricity in response to rotation of the turbine, and reduces a pressure of the fluid from a first pressure to a second pressure. The second pipe fitting couples the turbine to an input pipe of the building. The turbine further comprises a conversion circuit that conditions the generated electricity for consumption by the building and conveys the generated electricity to the building via one or more conductors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for generating electricity based on a fluid flow, comprising:
 a first pipe fitting configured to couple to a pipe that supplies the fluid to a building from a supply distribution system;   a turbine comprising an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the first pipe fitting; and   a second pipe fitting arranged in fluid communication with the outlet of the turbine and configured to couple the turbine to an input pipe of the building,   wherein the turbine further comprises a conversion circuit, and   wherein when the building demands the fluid through the input pipe the fluid flows through the turbine.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the turbine is configured to:
 rotate in response to a kinetic energy of the fluid supplied by the pipe from the supply distribution system flowing through the turbine,   generate electricity in response to rotation of the turbine, and   reduce a pressure of the fluid from a first pressure to a second pressure between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the second pressure is established based on an input pressure requirement of the building.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a storage device configured to store at least a portion of the generated electricity. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the storage device comprises one or more battery packs. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the storage device comprises one or more super-capacitors. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the conversion circuit is configured to:
 condition the generated electricity generated by the turbine for consumption by the building, and   convey the conditioned electricity to the building via one or more conductors.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the conversion circuit is further configured to convert the conditioned electricity to an alternating current signal prior to the conveying of the conditioned electricity to the building. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is water and wherein the turbine is configured to:
 generate distilled water based on causing a portion of the water flowing through the turbine to evaporate and condense, and   convey the distilled water to a distilled water storage tank.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid recirculation loop configured to circulate fluid from the outlet to the supply distribution system when the building is not demanding fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the turbine is a turbo turbine. 
     
     
         11 . A method of generating electricity, comprising:
 causing fluid to flow from a pipe that supplies the fluid from a supply distribution system to a turbine comprising an inlet in fluid communication with the first pipe and through the turbine to an outlet in fluid communication with an input pipe of the building; and   causing the turbine to rotate in response of the fluid flowing from the pipe that supplies the fluid from the supply distribution system to the input pipe of the building,   wherein the turbine comprises a conversion circuit, and   wherein when the fluid is caused to flow from the pipe that supplies the fluid from the supply distribution system to the input pipe of the building in response to a building demand for the fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein causing the turbine to rotate comprises causing the turbine to rotate in response to a kinetic energy of the fluid supplied by the pipe from the supply distribution system flowing through the turbine and further comprising causing the turbine to:
 generate electricity in response to rotation of the turbine, and   reduce a pressure of the fluid from a first pressure to a second pressure between the inlet and the outlet,   wherein the second pressure is established based on an input pressure requirement of the building.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a storage device configured to store at least a portion of the generated electricity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the storage device comprises one or more battery packs. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the storage device comprises one or more super-capacitors. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising conditioning the generated electricity with a conversion circuit and conveying the conditioned electricity to the building via one or more conductors. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said conditioning comprises converting the generated electricity to an alternating current signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid is water and further comprising:
 generating distilled water via the turbine based on causing a portion of the water flowing through the turbine to evaporate and condense; and   conveying the distilled water to a distilled water storage tank.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising recirculating the fluid from the outlet to the supply distribution system via a recirculation loop when the building is not demanding fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the turbine is a turbo turbine.