(12)INTERNATIONALAPPLICATIONPUBLISHEDUNDERTHEPATENT COOPERATION TREATY(PCT)(19)World Intellectual Property OrganizationInternational Bureau(10)International Publication Number(43) International Publication Date27January2011(27.01.2011)WO 2011/011026 Al(51) International Patent Classification:(81) Designated States(unless otherwise indicated, for everyF03B13/10(2006.01)kind of national protection available):AE, AG, AL, AM,AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BR, BW, BY, BZ,(21) International ApplicationNumber:CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO,PCT/US2009/062257DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT,(22) International FilingDate:HN, HR, HU,ID,IL,IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP,27 October 2009 (27.10.2009)KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD,ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI,(25) Filing Language:EnglishNO, NZ, OM, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD,(26) Publication Language:EnglishSE, SG, SK,SL,SM, ST, SV, SY, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT,TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW.(30) PriorityData:61/227,27921July 2009(21.07.2009)US(84) Designated States(unless otherwise indicated, for everykind of regional protection available):ARIPO (BW, GH,(71) Applicant(forall designated States exceptUS):PliantGM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM,Energy SystemsLLC US/US; 116West 32nd Street,ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ,Suite1302,New York, New York10001(US).TM), European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE,(72) Inventor; andES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU,IE,IS,IT,LT, LU, LV,(75) Inventor/Applicant(forUSonly):FILARDO,BenMC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE,SI,SK, SM,TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW,jamin PietroUS/US;383Grand Street, M507, NewML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).York, New York10022(US).Published:(74)Agent:HANCHUK, WalterG.;Chadbourne & ParkeLLP,30Rockefeller Plaza, 31fl,New York, New Yorkwith international search report(Art.21(3)10112(US).(54)Title:PLIANT MECHANISMS FOR EXTRACTING POWER FROM MOVING FLUID(57) Abstract:Flexible mechanisms for extracting power from a moving fluid are described. A flexible sheet-like material may bedeformed during fabrication through applied forcesoas to create strains within the undulating deformations of said material. Insome embodiments, deformations may be maintained by deformation-retaining components. When anchored in moving fluid theenergy of the moving fluid excites the undulating deformations within the material. Power may be extracted from excitations ofthe undulations in a wide variety of ways, including via the utilization of a flexible material which exhibits an electrical responseto mechanical strain, whereby electricityisextracted via two or more electrodes. In other implementations, power may beextracted via mechanical coupling of the undulations in the sheet-like material to a power-extracting output device, such as a rotatingmechanism which turns an electro-magnetic generator. In other implementations, mechanisms transfer energy from one movingfluid to another.PLIANT MECHANISMSFOREXTRACTING POWER FROM MOVINGFLUIDPRIORITYCLAIMThisapplicationclaimsprioritytopriorU.S.provisional patent applicationserialnumber61/227,279entitled,CompliantElements, filedonJuly21,2009(AttorneyDocketno.19861-003PV).The aforementioned applicationisexpressly incorporatedherein byreference.BACKGROUNDTheenergy of moving waterhasbeen utilized bymanforthousands ofyearsandhasbeen harnessedtogenerate electricitysincethe19thcentury.Today power harnessedfrommoving water supplies20%ofglobalelectricity demandandisby far the largestsourceof renewable energy. Electricityfromatypicalhydroelectric mechanismisgenerated by harnessing theforcesof moving water via kinetic-energy-receivingturbine-blades,whichtransfer theseforcesintotherotationalmovement of ashaft,whichturnsanelectro-magnetic generator. Many of the mechanicalsystemscurrently employed forhydroelectric energy conversion have a variety of different problems, inefficienciesandshortcomings.SUMMARYThepotentialadvantages of turbine-free power generationincludeeconomyofdesignwithfewerornoarticulated movingpartsandpotentially greater efficiency.Thevarious implementations described herein encompass a range of mechanisms thatapplyprinciplesforthe creation of scalable hydro-electricgenerators,andmay employ any of avariety of advanced materials in variousimplementations.Other describedimplementations utilizesharedanduniqueelementsof apparatusesandmethodshereintopower electromagneticgenerators.One non-exclusive application of embodiments described hereinisin the field ofso-called free-flow or run-of-the-river hydroelectric power generation, where thekinetic energy of rivers, streams ortidalcurrentsisharnessed without the need for dams.A dam builtinthe path of flowing water creates a high energy potential differential aboveand belowthedam, allowing watertopass through turbines at high speed and pressure.However, dams are expensivetoconstruct and have a high environmental impact.Some embodiments described her