WO2018176165A1

WO2018176165A1 - Method and apparatus for generating electric ac power that can be fed into an electric grid

Info

Publication number: WO2018176165A1
Application number: PCT/CH2018/000006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernard Douet
Original assignee: DOUET, Laurence; DOUET, Albert
Priority date: 2017-03-31
Filing date: 2018-03-08
Publication date: 2018-10-04
Also published as: CH713042B1

Abstract

The apparatus for generating electric energy that can be fed into an electric grid (10) comprises at least one sonic transducer (2) for capturing the sound energy of at least one noise source (1). During operation, the sound energy is converted into electric signals, is stored in an accumulator (6, 7) and then fed into the electric grid as AC power (10).

Description

Method and device for generating electrical, can be fed into a power grid AC power

The invention relates to a method and a device for generating electrical power that can be fed into a power grid.

One reason for the present invention is the increasing international demand for renewable energy, which virtually calls for a device that is simple, does not require an external power supply for start-up, that is economical and is a cheap system for energy regenerative technology. In this case, only a technically simple, robust, maintenance-friendly and thus also cost-effective device, as can be provided by the present invention, come into question. The inventive method can also be carried out by means of simple components whose mass production has already been proven with high quality for use as electrical energy components.

Various methods are known which convert sound energy generated from noise into electrical energy and consume it again immediately or store it in a battery. These methods have the common disadvantage that the electrical energy generated from noise energy can not be fed as AC power into a power grid. This will give you a valuable profit. Under certain circumstances, the stored energy will be lost immediately due to the battery self-discharge.

The following is already known from the prior art:

US2015229242 A1 discloses a costly device with mechanically movable parts to convert sound energy into electricity energy.

US2008174281 A1 discloses a costly device that converts the sound energy into electricity energy. This device is intended to replace a battery.

US2009051229 A1 discloses a costly, partly mechanical device which charges an existing battery. US2007205881 A1 discloses a method which uses the movement of a vehicle to generate electric power which merely serves to charge the vehicle battery.

- WQ2Q 5140536 A1 discloses a method that uses the sound energy from a drum to convert it into electricity energy, which is used for subsequent use in another device.

US7219449 B1 discloses a method for generating and storing current energy in a shoe by its movement.

US201652252 A1 discloses a method which utilizes the mechanical motion of a railway vehicle to generate electric power used within the vehicle.

US2010227521 A1 relates to piezoelectric materials, in particular active fiber composite materials comprising piezoelectric materials.

US2012153780 A1 relates to piezoelectric materials, in particular three-dimensional active fiber composite materials comprising piezoelectric materials.

None of these documents provides for feeding energy generated from noise into a power grid.

An object of the present invention is to further develop methods and apparatus so that the disadvantages of the above-mentioned prior art are at least partially overcome.

This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1 and the device according to the independent device claim.

In the method according to the invention, the sound energy of at least one noise source is converted into electrical energy, which in the end is connected to the power grid is fed. For this purpose, a device which is constructed, for example, in the subsequently described form is particularly suitable. A component of the device according to the invention is the provision of at least one sound transducer for detecting the sound energy and converting it into corresponding electrical signals. The sound energy is for example in the form of acoustic signals that propagate as sound pressure oscillations from the noise source.

Preferably, the transducer does not require a power supply for its commissioning. Further preferably, it is resistant to high sound pressure and mechanical stress. As sound transducers are e.g. Suitable: voice coil microphone, piezo microphone, microphone array. It is also possible to use any surface of per se known piezoelectric fabrics, preferably those in the form of active fiber composite materials comprising piezoelectric materials, in particular three-dimensional active fiber composite materials comprising piezoelectric materials, e.g. to cover the facade and / or the roof of a building.

Concerning the voice coil microphone, piezo microphone, microphone array, they can be used as directional antennas by being mounted as parabolic antennas in satellite dish. This is particularly advantageous if they are directed towards continuous noise sources. This gives an improved maximum value of the received noise energy.

During operation of the device, the following procedure is preferably followed for the detection of the sound energy: The output of the converted electrical voltage is fed to a rectifier ("rectifier") in order to convert the energy obtained into direct current, which is fed to a charge controller and a memory stored the predetermined amount of current required, the DC power stored in the memory is supplied to an inverter ("converter") which converts the DC power into AC power. Subsequently, the voltage value of this alternating current in a transformer is changed (as a rule increased) in order to equalize the voltage value to that of the power network. This alternating current energy is then fed into the power grid. A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the device may have components that are preferably used from charge controller of one or more other devices such as solar systems or wind turbines. Provided that the predetermined current parameter values for all devices match and that there are no impedance differences in the coupled module units.

Advantageous developments emerge from the dependent claims.

Moreover, the uses of the invention are manifold. The uses mentioned below are to be considered as examples only:

- In landscape areas where there is a mains power connection, as well as in buildings that are already connected to the mains and that are in the range of stronger and often active noise sources.

- In coastal areas connected to the electricity grid and where the repeated powerful sound-noise energies of the waves striking the shores are both frequent and audible

- Areas and buildings connected to the electricity network which are within the zone of audible noise emission from road or motorway traffic. Particularly affected are the areas that are on slopes, because in this case the sound energy of the noise are much more disturbing.

- Areas as well as buildings connected to the electricity grid which are located in regions which are often rainy. These include greenhouses - also called glasshouses or greenhouses. The raindrops falling on the roof and facades with a lot of noise cause significant noise-sound energy; to it come the sound energies of occasional thunder and storms.

Furthermore, and in relation to buildings, the use of the method and the device according to the invention can offer a number of advantages: when sound transducers are mounted on the facades, in particular around the windows and the doors, they can collect parts of the sound energy penetrating the building or absorb, in order to feed them in the end as electrical energy into the power grid. The leftover part, resulting from the non-absorbed sound energy, will enter the building as a reduced noise energy. This reduction in noise energy gives a quieter acoustics within the building. Furthermore, it is advantageous to install transducers within a building in order to create even quieter acoustics in the rooms.

- In or on subways and railways connected to a power supply. The accumulated sound energy is most pronounced, especially in the tunnel zones, where the noise emissions of passing rail vehicles are extremely powerful. As a result, a maximum exploitation of acoustic energy can be achieved. Here is a distinction between on the one hand of the inventive device, by means of which noise energies in electricity converted and subsequently fed into the power grid, and on the other hand, previously known devices that are already mounted in the above-mentioned subways and railways and the released Railroad Kinetics Energy eg use at a speed reduction to feed electricity into the grid. The device according to the invention can also be mounted on vehicles which are operated with electricity mains electricity, e.g. Trolleybuses - also trolleybuses, called trolleybuses. The accumulated sound energy of the city noise is converted into electrical energy and then fed into the power grid.

- In covered passages for vehicles, for example in tunnels for subways, railways or motor vehicles, especially in highway tunnels. In the passageways, when driving the vehicles, significant noise energies are generated which can be harnessed by the present invention.

Advantageously, a security against lightning is installed for the entire device system.

Other specific design features and their advantages will become apparent from the following description and drawings. The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an Ausführungsbeispieis, which is shown in the drawings. Show it

1 shows an embodiment of the invention in a drawing block view,

Fig. 2 Beispielsymboie for some eligible noise sources,

3 and 4 examples of buildings that are already connected to the mains and that are in the range of sound energies from different noise sources,

5 shows a mains-powered railway with a mounted inventive device,

Fig. 6 is a tunnel route, which can also be used for mains electricity operated railways, and

Fig. 7 is a building in the area of the noise-sound energy of the waves beating on the coast.

The character block diagram shown in Figure 1, which illustrate methods and apparatus that convert sound energy generated from noise into electrical energy and feed it into the grid as alternating current, includes the following

Elements 1 -10:

A noise source 1 generates a sound energy.

At least one sound transducer 2 is provided, which converts the acoustic signals in the form of sound pressure oscillations into corresponding electrical signals. It advantageously requires no power supply for its commissioning and is resistant to high rail pressures and mechanical loads. He is z. B. formed as a voice coil microphone, piezo microphone, microphone array, any surface of known piezoelectric tissues, preferably those in the form of active Fiber composite materials comprising piezoelectric materials, three-dimensional active fiber composite materials comprising piezoelectric materials, and / or similar utensils that can convert sound pressure oscillations in the air to corresponding electrical signals.

The rectifier ("rectifier") 3 converts the electrical signals from the transducer 2 into direct current.

Component 4 represents a variant of an external charge controller - also charging circuit.

Component 5 represents another variant in which the charge controller is built into the memory ("accumulator") Charge controllers sometimes use several parameters for charge control: ^* temperature, ^* voltage, * capacity, ^* time, ^* charging current.

The memory 6 - also called accumulator or battery - is not discharged until it has stored the predetermined current value. The discharged current is fed via a buffer 7 to the inverter ("converter") 8.

The buffer 7 allows the passage of the stored current from the battery 6 in the direction of the inverter 8, but prevents the flow back into the battery. 6

Fig. 2 shows examples of some noise sources. From left to right, symbols are shown for: * - thunderstorms, lightning and thunder, * - powerful wind and storms, * - heavy rain, * - any other sources of noise, e.g. caused by road and highway traffic, construction machinery, waves beating strong on the coast.

Fig. 3 shows a connected to the mains power house building, which is within the influence of the noise sources, wherein the reference numerals 11, 12, and 13 indicate possible locations to install there sound transducer, preferably in the form of known per se piezoelectric tissues, active fiber composite Materials comprising piezoelectric materials or three-dimensional active fiber composite materials comprising piezoelectric materials.

Fig. 4 shows a grid connected greenhouse, which is also within the control of noise sources, reference numeral 14 indicating an example of a location where sound transducers can be mounted.

Fig. 5 shows an example of a railroad which is powered by electricity, with the reference numeral 15 designating the power supply connection and the reference numeral 16 indicating an on and / or rail mounted device according to the invention which converts noise energy from sound into electrical energy and AC power fed into the power grid.

Fig. 6 shows a tunnel section 17 which can also be used for mains operated railways. The droning Hall resonance energies produced by fast-moving railways within this route are detected by the device according to the invention present in the respective railways and the sound energy obtained from noise is converted into electrical energy and then fed into the power grid as alternating current. Alternatively or additionally, the device according to the invention can be attached to the tunnel wall in order to convert the noise generated by the railway into electrical energy and to feed it into the power grid.

Fig. 7 shows an example of buildings that are connected to the mains and are provided with mounted inventive devices and are in the range of audible noise-sound energies of the waves beating on the coast. The recorded noise noise energies are detected by the devices according to the invention present in the building and the sound energy obtained from noise is converted into electrical energy and then fed as alternating current into the power grid.

Claims

claims

1. A method for generating electrical, in a power grid (10) einspeisbarer energy from the sound energy of at least one noise source (1), wherein at least one sound transducer (2) is used, which detects the sound energy and converts it into electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals Rectifier (3) are supplied, which converts them into a direct current, which is fed via a charge controller (4, 5) to a memory (6, 7), wherein the memory (6, 7) at enough stored amount of current an inverter (8 ) is supplied with direct current which the inverter (8) converts to an alternating current whose voltage value is adjusted to the voltage value of the transformer by means of a transformer (9)

Power system (10) is transformed, wherein the transformed alternating current is fed into the power grid (10).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound transducer (2) is operated without additional power supply and / or against sound pressure generated by the noise waves, which exceed a threshold, and / or mechanical loads is resistant.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a piezoelectric fabric is used as a sound transducer (10), preferably a fabric in the form of active fiber composite materials comprising piezoelectric materials, in particular three-dimensional active fiber composite materials, the piezoelectric materials include. Concerning the voice coil microphone, piezo microphone, microphone array, they can be used as directional antennas directed toward continuous noise sources.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that components are used in carrying out the method, which are used by at least one other plant for power generation, in particular a solar system and / or wind turbine.

5. An apparatus for generating electrical energy, which can be fed into a power grid (10), from sound energy of at least one noise source (1), the apparatus comprising the following components:

- At least one sound transducer (2) for detecting the sound energy and

Converting it into electrical signals,

A rectifier (3) to which the electrical signals can be fed in order to convert them into direct current,

A charge controller (4, 5), which is connected downstream of the rectifier (3) and to which the direct current can be supplied,

A memory (6, 7) in which the direct current supplied via the charge regulator can be stored,

- An inverter (8) which is downstream of the memory (6, 7) and for converting direct current from the memory (6, 7) is arranged in alternating current, and

- A transformer (9) for transforming the alternating current to the voltage of the power grid (10) to which the transformer (9) is coupled to feed the transformed alternating current.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the mentioned components can be used in combination with another system, with which electrical energy from solar and / or wind power can be generated.

7. Device according to one of claims 5-6, characterized in that the components are mounted inside and / or outside of a building and / or an electrically operated vehicle.

8. Device according to one of claims 5-7, characterized in that the sound transducer (10) is part of a piezoelectric fabric.

9. Device according to one of claims 5-8, characterized in that at least the at least one sound transducer (2) on the inner wall of a covered passage for vehicles can be mounted.