Method of controlling a thermal energy harvesting system

1. A method of controlling an energy harvesting system that converts radiant heat from a heat source into mechanical energy, wherein the energy harvesting system includes a heat engine having a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) member cyclically moveable between an austenite phase and a martensite phase in response to a temperature difference between a first fluid region and a second fluid region, the method comprising:

obtaining current operational parameters of the energy harvesting system, including, a cycle frequency, a maximum temperature of the SMA member during a cycle, and a minimum temperature of the SMA member during a cycle;

comparing the obtained current operational parameters to a target operating condition of the energy harvesting system, including a finish temperature of the martensite phase, and a finish temperature of the austenite phase, to determine if the current operational parameters are within a pre-defined range of the target operating condition of the energy harvesting system;

calculating a magnitude of adjustment for a heating rate of the SMA member, a magnitude of adjustment for a cooling rate of the of the SMA member, or a magnitude of adjustment for the cycle frequency of the SMA member, based on a numerical difference between the obtained current operating parameters of the energy harvesting system and the target operating condition of the energy harvesting system;

adjusting at least one of the heating rate of the SMA member at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the heating rate, the cooling rate of the SMA member at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the cooling rate of the SMA member, or the cycle frequency of the SMA member at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the cycle frequency of the SMA member when the current operational parameters are outside the pre-defined range of the target operating condition until the obtained current operational parameters are within the pre-defined range of the target operating conditions to maximize an operating efficiency of the energy harvesting system;

wherein the cycle frequency is adjusted at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the cycle frequency, when the SMA member is overheated and overcooled with the maximum temperature of the SMA member during a cycle being greater than the finish temperature of the austenite phase, and with the minimum temperature of the SMA member during a cycle being less than the finish temperature of the martensite phase;

wherein the cooling rate is increased at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the cooling rate, or the heating rate is decreased at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the heating rate, when the SMA member is overheated and undercooled with the maximum temperature of the SMA member during a cycle being greater than the finish temperature of the austenite phase, and with the minimum temperature of the SMA member during a cycle being greater than the finish temperature of the martensite phase; and

wherein the heating rate is increased at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the heating rate, or the cooling rate is decreased at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the cooling rate, when the SMA member is underheated and overcooled with the maximum temperature of the SMA member during a cycle being less than the finish temperature of the austenite phase, and with the minimum temperature of the SMA member during a cycle being less than the finish temperature of the martensite phase.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein adjusting at least one of the heating rate of the SMA member at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the heating rate, the cooling rate of the SMA member at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the cooling rate of the SMA member, or the cycle frequency of the SMA member at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the cycle frequency of the SMA member includes adjusting a heat transfer rate from one of the first fluid region or the second fluid region to the SMA member.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein adjusting at least one of the heating rate of the SMA member at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the heating rate, the cooling rate of the SMA member at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the cooling rate of the SMA member, or the cycle frequency of the SMA member at the calculated magnitude of adjustment for the cycle frequency of the SMA member includes adjusting a heat transfer rate from the SMA member to a heat sink.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the energy harvesting system includes a driven component and the method further comprises disconnecting the driven component.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the energy harvesting system includes a driven component and the method further comprises adjusting an output of the driven component to match an energy output of the heat engine.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising engaging the heat engine when the current operational parameters of the energy harvesting system are within the target operating condition of the energy harvesting system.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein obtaining the current operational parameters is further defined as inferring a set of current operational parameters.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the energy harvesting system includes at least one temperature sensor, and wherein obtaining the current operational parameters is further defined as sensing the current operational parameters with the at least one temperature sensor to obtain a maximum temperature of the SMA member and a minimum temperature of the SMA member during a cycle.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising defining the target operating condition for the energy harvesting system.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein obtaining the current operational parameters is further defined as continuously obtaining a set of current operational parameters.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein comparing the obtained current operational parameters to a target operating condition of the energy harvesting system to determine if the current operational parameters are within a pre-defined range of the target operating condition of the energy harvesting system is further defined as comparing the obtained current operational parameters to a target operating condition of the energy harvesting system to determine if the current operational parameters are equal to the target operating condition of the energy harvesting system.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein obtaining the current operational parameters includes detecting a transformation of the shape memory alloy member between a martensite phase and an austenite phase.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising acting to stop transferring radiant heat to the shape memory alloy member and start transferring heat from the shape memory alloy member when the shape memory alloy member has transformed from the martensite phase to the austenite phase.

14. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising acting to stop transferring heat from the shape memory alloy member and start transferring radiant heat to the shape memory alloy member when the shape memory alloy member has transformed from the austenite phase to the martensite phase.