Patent Application
20050280528
The invention relates to battery and inverter configuration and more specifically with increased efficiency.
The current electricity infrastructure relies on electricity production and delivery on demand. Some critical operations have back-up generators and or uninterruptible power systems, which can provide local power for a limited time, but it is not wide spread and the usage of distributed generators is not economically and environmentally optimized.
The communication infrastructure today relies on a combination of landlines and wireless systems. In case of emergencies where the landlines are cut and/or a few strategic wireless towers are lost, the communication system can no longer operate.
There is still room for improvement in the art.
The current invention is a device that is connected to a power grid in order to perform beneficial functions for the end user and/or utility company such as backup power, power quality improvement, peak shaving of the electrical load, etc. Inside the device would be energy storage devices such as batteries, and intelligent hardware and software controlling charging, discharging and interactive communications.
The device can be remotely controlled and monitored through the use of communications hardware as, but not limited to Internet, phone-line, power-line, wireless, cellular, RF, microwave, or a combination of multiples of these.
As an addition to the normal functions above, the device can be used in an emergency response mode to perform critical functions as a crisis may require. This can include acting as a self-powered communications repeater, network information server, communications node, or remote emergency data acquisition node.
The device can be outfitted with any number of sensors or be connected to critical equipment for emergency interaction.
The device could be configured to supplement it's own energy storage with intelligent control of external sources such as generators, fuel cells, or others.
Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the following drawings:
The following description is demonstrative in nature and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention or its application of uses.
There are a number of significant design features and improvements incorporated within the invention.
The current invention is a device connected to the power grid in order to perform beneficial functions for the end user and/or utility company such as backup power, power quality improvement, peak shaving of the electrical load, etc. Inside the device would be energy storage devices such as batteries, and intelligent hardware and software controlling charging, discharging and interactive communications.
The devices's 1 basic components are shown in
The device 1 consists of the energy storage component 30, such as a battery or capacitor bank, which is coupled to an intelligent power management controller 20. This controller 20 is capable of regulating the flow of energy in and out of the energy storage device 30 and may consist of components such as DC-AC converters, DC-DC converters, and AC-DC converters. The intelligent controller 20 is connected to a communications node 10 that has the capability to provide remote interaction with the controller via any number of communications protocols for information exchange, monitoring and/or control. By utilizing the individual capabilities of the invention in a networked-system approach, many new and important benefits are realized.
Functioning in normal mode, the device 1 can provide benefits to the utility, community, and end-user of electricity.
In case of a power and/or communications failure, the device 1 unit turns into a battery powered, redundant communications and distributed energy network.
During normal operation, as shown in
The device 1 during emergency operation is detailed in
Hardware and software added to the base device 1 enables the system to become a self-powered, emergency communications network node. This provides redundant communication network where one or more signal devices is capable of function as a repeater unit to relay communications.
The intelligent control 20 enables virtual networking of mobile generation. The communications streams, power data, remote sensor data, externally acquired data and global positioning data can be broadcast and relayed. The intelligent control 20 allows a controlled shutdown of critical equipment possible over wide area. The intelligent control 20 consists in the preferred embodiment of a computer processor connected to a memory means. These are common in the industry and not described in great detail here.
The device 1 can be equipped with sensors that can send information to local or centralized entities to warn about earthquakes, chemical or biological warfare, or other conditions that would require a response.
The device can be equipped with position devices (i.e. GPS) to transmit the exact location of unit for highly manageable emergency deployment. The device 11 can be equipped to manage local distributed power generators such as fuel-cells, gas turbines, and diesel or gas generators. It can work independently or complementary to the power grid and standard telephone and/or wireless networks as conditions allow.
As an addition to the normal functions in the preferred embodiment above, the device 1 can be used in an emergency response mode to perform critical functions as a crisis may require. This can include acting as a self-powered communications repeater, network information server, communications node, or remote emergency data acquisition node.
The device can be outfitted with any number of sensors or be hooked to critical equipment for emergency interaction.
The device could be configured to supplement it's own energy storage with intelligent control of external sources such as generators, fuel cells, or others.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the point and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
