Generating power with a conduit inspection tool
A method for operating a conduit inspection tool in a conduit includes positioning a conduit inspection tool in the conduit, the conduit inspection tool including a body that includes one or more wheels, at least two power generating sub-systems coupled to the body, and at least one energy storage device electrically coupled to the at least two power generating sub-systems; moving the body through and in contact with the conduit through the one or more wheels; generating electrical power by at least one of the at least two power generating sub-systems by the movement; and providing at least a portion of the generated electrical power to the at least one energy storage device to store the portion of the generated electrical power.
1. A method for operating a conduit inspection tool in a conduit, comprising:
positioning a conduit inspection tool in the conduit, the conduit inspection tool comprising:
a body that comprises one or more wheels,
at least two power generating sub-systems coupled to the body, and
at least one energy storage device electrically coupled to the at least two power generating sub-systems;
moving the body through and in contact with the conduit through the one or more wheels;
generating electrical power by at least one of the at least two power generating sub-systems by the movement, wherein generating electrical power comprises:
generating electrical power with a wheel-pipe coupler generator that comprises one or more gears rotatingly coupled to the one or more wheels and a flywheel, the flywheel configured to generate direct electrical power from rotation of the one or more gears based on movement of the one or more wheels in the conduit; and
providing at least a portion of the generated electrical power to the at least one energy storage device to store the portion of the generated electrical power.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating electrical power comprises generating electrical power with a wheel generator electrically coupled to the one or more wheels and comprising a power generator configured to generate alternating electrical power from movement of the one or more wheels in the conduit.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one energy storage device comprises an electrical energy storage unit and a mechanical energy storage unit.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the electrical energy storage unit comprises one or more batteries, and the mechanical energy storage unit comprises the flywheel.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising rectifying at least a portion of the generated electrical power with a power conditioning unit electrically coupled between the at least two power generating sub-systems and the at least one energy storage device.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the conduit comprises a hydrocarbon pipeline, and the conduit inspection tool comprises a pipeline scraper.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy storage device comprises the flywheel.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two power generating sub-systems comprise a Kaplan turbine generator configured to generate alternating electrical power based on a flow of fluid in the conduit and through the Kaplan turbine generator when the one or more wheels are immobile in the conduit.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one energy storage device comprises an electrical energy storage unit and a mechanical energy storage unit.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the electrical energy storage unit comprises one or more batteries, and the mechanical energy storage unit comprises the flywheel.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising rectifying at least a portion of the generated electrical power with a power conditioning unit electrically coupled between the at least two power generating sub-systems and the at least one energy storage device.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the conduit comprises a hydrocarbon pipeline, and the conduit inspection tool comprises a pipeline scraper.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy storage device comprises an electrical energy storage unit and a mechanical energy storage unit.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the electrical energy storage unit comprises one or more batteries, and the mechanical energy storage unit comprises the flywheel.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising rectifying at least a portion of the generated electrical power with a power conditioning unit electrically coupled between the at least two power generating sub-systems and the at least one energy storage device.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring electrical power from an external charge source through an external charging sub-system to the at least one energy storage device.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein transferring electrical power from an external charge source comprises:
generating an electric charge from one or more power coils of an external charge source positioned adjacent the body;
transferring the generated electrical charge from the one or more power coils to one or more receiving coils mounted in the body;
generating an alternating magnetic flux with one or more permanent magnets based on the electric charge; and
generating alternating electric power from the alternating magnetic flux.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a hydrocarbon pipeline.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the conduit inspection tool comprises a pipeline scraper.
20. A method for operating a conduit inspection tool in a conduit, comprising:
positioning a conduit inspection tool in the conduit, the conduit inspection tool comprising:
a body that comprises one or more wheels,
at least two power generating sub-systems coupled to the body, and
at least one energy storage device electrically coupled to the at least two power generating sub-systems, wherein the at least one energy storage device comprises (i) an electrical energy storage unit that comprises one or more batteries, and (ii) a mechanical energy storage unit that comprises a flywheel;
moving the body through and in contact with the conduit through the one or more wheels;
generating electrical power by at least one of the at least two power generating sub-systems by the movement; and
providing at least a portion of the generated electrical power to the at least one energy storage device to store the portion of the generated electrical power.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein generating electrical power comprises generating electrical power with a wheel generator electrically coupled to the one or more wheels and comprising a power generator configured to generate alternating electrical power from movement of the one or more wheels in the conduit.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the at least two power generating sub-systems comprise a Kaplan turbine generator configured to generate alternating electrical power based on a flow of fluid in the conduit and through the Kaplan turbine generator when the one or more wheels are immobile in the conduit.
23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising rectifying at least a portion of the generated electrical power with a power conditioning unit electrically coupled between the at least two power generating sub-systems and the at least one energy storage device.
24. The method of claim 20 , further comprising transferring electrical power from an external charge source through an external charging sub-system to the at least one energy storage device.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein transferring electrical power from an external charge source comprises:
generating an electric charge from one or more power coils of an external charge source positioned adjacent the body;
transferring the generated electrical charge from the one or more power coils to one or more receiving coils mounted in the body;
generating an alternating magnetic flux with one or more permanent magnets based on the electric charge; and
generating alternating electric power from the alternating magnetic flux.
26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the conduit comprises a hydrocarbon pipeline.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the conduit inspection tool comprises a pipeline scraper.
28. A method for operating a conduit inspection tool in a conduit, comprising:
positioning a conduit inspection tool in the conduit, the conduit inspection tool comprising:
a body that comprises one or more wheels,
at least two power generating sub-systems coupled to the body, and
at least one energy storage device electrically coupled to the at least two power generating sub-systems;
moving the body through and in contact with the conduit through the one or more wheels;
generating electrical power by at least one of the at least two power generating sub-systems by the movement;
providing at least a portion of the generated electrical power to the at least one energy storage device to store the portion of the generated electrical power; and
transferring electrical power from an external charge source through an external charging sub-system to the at least one energy storage device.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein generating electrical power comprises generating electrical power with a wheel generator electrically coupled to the one or more wheels and comprising a power generator configured to generate alternating electrical power from movement of the one or more wheels in the conduit.
30. The method of claim 28 , wherein the at least two power generating sub-systems comprise a Kaplan turbine generator configured to generate alternating electrical power based on a flow of fluid in the conduit and through the Kaplan turbine generator when the one or more wheels are immobile in the conduit.
31. The method of claim 28 , wherein the at least one energy storage device comprises an electrical energy storage unit and a mechanical energy storage unit.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the electrical energy storage unit comprises one or more batteries, and the mechanical energy storage unit comprises a flywheel.
33. The method of claim 28 , further comprising rectifying at least a portion of the generated electrical power with a power conditioning unit electrically coupled between the at least two power generating sub-systems and the at least one energy storage device.
34. The method of claim 28 , wherein transferring electrical power from an external charge source comprises:
generating an electric charge from one or more power coils of an external charge source positioned adjacent the body;
transferring the generated electrical charge from the one or more power coils to one or more receiving coils mounted in the body;
generating an alternating magnetic flux with one or more permanent magnets based on the electric charge; and
generating alternating electric power from the alternating magnetic flux.
35. The method of claim 28 , wherein the conduit comprises a hydrocarbon pipeline.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein the conduit inspection tool comprises a pipeline scraper.