초록

A device for generating power includes a fluid including magnetic particles. A source magnetizes the fluid thereby inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux. The rotations of the magnetic particles induce an electromagnetic force in a coil associated with the fluid.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A device for generating power, comprising: a) a fluid comprising magnetic particles; b) a source for magnetizing said fluid thereby inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux; c) a coil associated with said fluid; d) said magnetizing source comp

What is claimed is: 1. A device for generating power, comprising: a) a fluid comprising magnetic particles; b) a source for magnetizing said fluid thereby inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux; c) a coil associated with said fluid; d) said magnetizing source comprising an alternating and traveling magnetic field; e) said magnetic fluid flowing through a generally non-magnetic, non-conducting line; f) means for aligning magnetic dipoles of the particles in a generally common direction; g) a reservoir for comprising said fluid; and h) a pump for pumping said fluid from said reservoir into said line. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein: a) said fluid comprises core particles of a magnetic material. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein: a) said core particles comprise coated particles. 4. The device of claim 2, wherein: a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 1 nm to 1000 nm. 5. The device of claim 2, wherein: a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 10 nm to 500 nm. 6. The device of claim 2, wherein: a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 10 nm to 100 nm. 7. The device of claim 2, wherein: a) said magnetic material is selected from the group consisting of iron, iron oxide, cobalt, cobalt oxide, nickel, nickel oxide, an alloy, and a combination thereof. 8. The device of claim 2, wherein: a) said core particles comprise a coating of a surfactant. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein: a) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, Surfynol짰, and a combination thereof. 10. The device of claim 2, wherein: a) said core particles comprise a coating selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof. 11. The device of claim 10, wherein: a) the coating is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, polyethylene glycol, polystyrene, dextran, and a combination thereof. 12. The device of claim 2, wherein: a) said core particles comprise first and second successive coatings. 13. The device of claim 12, wherein: a) said first coating comprises a coating of a surfactant; and b) said second coating comprises a coating of a material selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof. 14. The device claim 13, wherein: a) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, Surfynol짰, and a combination thereof. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein: a) said second coating is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, polyethylene glycol, polystyrene, dextran, and a combination thereof. 16. The device of claim 4, wherein: a) said core particles are coated with a surfactant and dispersed in a carrier fluid. 17. The device of claim 16, wherein: a) said carrier fluid comprises a water-based or an oil-based carrier fluid. 18. The device of claim 16, wherein: a) said carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, hydraulic oil, mineral oil, silicone oil, biodegradable oil, and a combination thereof. 19. The device of claim 16, wherein: a) the fraction of said core particles is about 1-95%. 20. The device of claim 4, wherein: a) said core particles comprise a general shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, needle-like, cubic, irregular, cylindrical, diamond, oval, and a combination thereof. 21. The device of claim 2, further comprising: a) core particles of a non-magnetic material. 22. The device of claim 21, wherein: a) said core particles of a non-magnetic material comprise particles of a thermally conducting material, electrically conducting material, a non-conducting material, or a combination thereof. 23. A device for generating power, comprising: a) a fluid for flowing through a generally non-magnetic, non-conducting line; b) said fluid comprising magnetic particles; c) an alternating and traveling magnetic field for inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux; d) a coil associated with said line; e) means for aligning magnetic dipoles of the magnetic particles in a generally common direction; f) a reservoir associated with said line for comprising said fluid; and g) a pump for pumping said fluid from said reservoir into said line. 24. The device of claim 23, wherein: a) said fluid comprises core particles of a magnetic material. 25. The device of claim 24, wherein: a) said core particles comprise coated particles. 26. The device of claim 24, wherein: a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 1 nm to 1000 nm. 27. The device of claim 24, wherein: a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 10 nm to 500 nm. 28. The device of claim 24, wherein: a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 10 nm to 100 nm. 29. The device of claim 24, wherein: a) said magnetic material is selected from the group consisting of iron, iron oxide, cobalt, cobalt oxide, nickel, nickel oxide, an alloy, and a combination thereof. 30. The device of claim 24, wherein: a) said core particles comprise a coating of a surfactant. 31. The device of claim 30, wherein: a) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, Surfynol짰, and a combination thereof. 32. The device of claim 24, wherein: a) said core particles comprise a coating selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof. 33. The device of claim 32, wherein: a) the coating is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, polyethylene glycol, polystyrene, dextran, and a combination thereof. 34. The device of claim 24, wherein: a) said core particles comprise first and second successive coatings. 35. The device of claim 34, wherein: a) said first coating comprises a coating of a surfactant; and b) said second coating comprises a coating of a material selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof. 36. The device of claim 35, wherein: a) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, Surfynol짰, and a combination thereof. 37. The device of claim 36, wherein: a) said second coating is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, polyethylene glycol, polystyrene, dextran, and a combination thereof. 38. The device of claim 26, wherein: a) said core particles are coated with a surfactant and dispersed in a carrier fluid. 39. The device of claim 38, wherein: a) said carrier fluid comprises a water-based or an oil-based carrier fluid. 40. The device of claim 38, wherein: a) said carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, hydraulic oil, mineral oil, silicone oil, biodegradable oil, and a combination thereof. 41. The device of claim 38, wherein: a) the fraction of said core particles is about 1-95% by weight of said carrier fluid. 42. The device of claim 26, wherein: a) said core particles comprise a general shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, needle-like, cubic, irregular, cylindrical, diamond, oval, and a combination thereof. 43. The device of claim 24, further comprising: a) core particles of a non-magnetic material. 44. The device of claim 43, wherein: a) said core particles of a non-magnetic material comprise particles of a thermally conducting material, electrically conducting material, a non-conducting material, or a combination thereof. 45. A method of generating power, comprising the steps of: a) flowing a fluid comprising magnetic particles in a generally non-magnetic, non-conducing line; b) magnetizing the fluid by an alternating and traveling magnetic field thereby inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux; c) aligning magnetic dipoles of the rotating magnetic particles in a generally common direction; and d) inducing an electromagnetic force in a coil associated with the line. 46. A device for generating power, comprising: a) a fluid comprising magnetic particles; b) a source for magnetizing said fluid thereby inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux; c) a coil associated with said fluid; d) said fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material; and e) said core particles comprising a coating of a surfactant. 47. The device of claim 46, wherein: a) said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, Surfynol짰, and a combination thereof. 48. The device of claim 46, wherein: a) said core particles comprise a coating selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof. 49. The device of claim 48, wherein: a) the coating is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, polyethylene glycol, polystyrene, dextran, and a combination thereof. 50. The device of claim 46, wherein: a) said core particles comprise first and second successive coatings. 51. The device of claim 50, wherein: a) said first coating comprises a coating of a surfactant; and b) said second coating comprises a coating of a material selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, a polymer material, and a combination thereof. 52. A device for generating power, comprising: a) a fluid for flowing through a generally non-magnetic, non-conducting line; b) said fluid comprising magnetic particles; c) an alternating and traveling magnetic field for inducing rotations in the magnetic particles for creating a magnetic flux; d) a coil associated with said line; e) means for aligning magnetic dipoles of the magnetic particles in a generally common direction; f) said fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material; and g) said core particles comprising a coating of a surfactant.