Energy storage units and systems with segmented branch interconnects

• US 10,404,039 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Fiebig, Bradley, Tigges, Jason R., Wright, William L., Zimbru, George C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffberg, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US15/725,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20180097341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/10 Batteries in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/20 Bus-bar or other wiring layouts, e.g. in cubicles, in switchyards installations of bus-bars H02G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/26 Casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An energy storage unit (ESU) is provided herein. The ESU includes a housing forming an interior volume configured to store a plurality of batteries that can collectively provide a maximum power level. The ESU includes a segmented branch interconnect system including a power transfer assembly that includes a first power interconnect system and a second power interconnect system. The second power interconnect system is configured to be coupled to a first adjacent power interconnect system of a first adjacent ESU. The power transfer assembly includes one or more conductors coupled to the first power interconnect system and the second power interconnect system, and is configured to transfer electrical power therebetween. The power transfer assembly is rated to transfer a power level that is at least three times the maximum power level provided by the plurality of batteries stored in the housing.

Claims

1. An energy storage unit comprising:

a housing comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the housing forming an interior volume configured to store a plurality of batteries that can collectively provide a maximum power level; and

a segmented branch interconnect system comprising;

a power transfer assembly comprising;

a first power interconnect system positioned in proximity to the first end portion;

a second power interconnect system positioned in proximity to the second end portion, the second power interconnect system configured to be coupled to a first adjacent power interconnect system of a first adjacent energy storage unit, the first power interconnect system and the second power interconnect system each configured for a three phase AC connection; and

three or more conductors coupled to the first power interconnect system and the second power interconnect system, the three or more conductors being configured to transfer three phase electrical power between the first power interconnect system and the second power interconnect system;

wherein the power transfer assembly is rated to transfer a power level that is at least three times the maximum power level provided by the plurality of batteries stored in the housing.

2. The energy storage unit of claim 1, wherein the first power interconnect system is positioned in the interior volume and the second power interconnect system is positioned in the interior volume.

3. The energy storage unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a power converter configured to be coupled between the plurality of batteries and the power transfer assembly, and configured to;

convert direct current provided by the plurality of batteries to alternating current for transfer of the alternating current by the power transfer assembly; and

convert alternating current provided by the power transfer assembly to direct current for storage in the plurality of batteries.

4. The energy storage unit of claim 1, wherein the second power interconnect system is configured to be coupled to the first adjacent power interconnect system of the first adjacent energy storage unit above ground.

5. The energy storage unit of claim 1, wherein the first power interconnect system is configured to be coupled to a second adjacent power interconnect system of a second adjacent energy storage unit.

6. The energy storage unit of claim 1, wherein the first power interconnect system is configured to be coupled to an electrical grid.

7. The energy storage unit of claim 1, wherein the three or more conductors comprise aluminum.

8. The energy storage unit of claim 1, wherein the segmented branch interconnect system further comprises:

an auxiliary power assembly comprising;

a first auxiliary power interconnect system positioned in proximity to the first end portion;

a second auxiliary power interconnect system positioned in proximity to the second end portion, the second auxiliary power interconnect system configured to be coupled to a first adjacent auxiliary power interconnect system of the first adjacent energy storage unit; and

an auxiliary power line coupled to the first auxiliary power interconnect system and the second auxiliary power interconnect system, the auxiliary power line being configured to transfer auxiliary power between the first auxiliary power interconnect system and the second auxiliary power interconnect system;

wherein the auxiliary power line is rated to transfer a power level that is at least three times a maximum auxiliary power level utilized by the energy storage unit.

9. The energy storage unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of batteries can collectively generate a maximum of 450 A.

10. The energy storage unit of claim 1, wherein the power transfer assembly is rated to transfer a power level of 2000 A at 480 VAC.

11. The energy storage unit of claim 1, further comprising an air conditioning unit configured to cool the three or more conductors coupled to the first power interconnect system and the second power interconnect system.

12. An energy storage system comprising:

a plurality of energy storage units, each of the energy storage units comprising;

a housing comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the housing forming an interior volume configured to store a plurality of batteries that can collectively provide a maximum power level;

a segmented branch interconnect system comprising;

a power transfer assembly comprising;

a first power interconnect system positioned in proximity to the first end portion;

a second power interconnect system positioned in proximity to the second end portion, the first power interconnect system and the second power interconnect system each configured for a three phase AC connection; and

three or more conductors coupled to the first power interconnect system and the second power interconnect system, the three or more conductors being configured to transfer three phase electrical power between the first power interconnect system and the second power interconnect system;

wherein the power transfer assembly is rated to transfer a power level that is at least three times the maximum power level provided by the plurality of batteries stored in the housing; and

a first energy storage unit of the plurality of energy storage units being configured to be coupled to an electrical grid;

wherein each power transfer assembly of each of the energy storage units is configured to be coupled to a power transfer assembly of another energy storage unit such that each power transfer assembly in the plurality of energy storage units are coupled together.

13. The energy storage system of claim 12, wherein each of the energy storage units further comprises:

a power converter configured to be coupled between the plurality of batteries and the power transfer assembly, and configured to;

convert direct current provided by the plurality of batteries to alternating current for transfer of the alternating current by the power transfer assembly; and

convert alternating current provided by the power transfer assembly to direct current for storage in the plurality of batteries.

14. The energy storage system of claim 12, wherein each of the energy storage units is configured to be coupled to at least one other of the energy storage units above ground.

15. The energy storage system of claim 12, wherein the three or more conductors in each power transfer assembly comprise aluminum.

16. An energy storage unit comprising:

a housing that forms an interior volume configured to store a plurality of batteries that can collectively provide a maximum power level; and

a segmented branch interconnect system comprising;

a power transfer assembly comprising;

a power interconnect system configured to be coupled to an adjacent power interconnect system of an adjacent energy storage unit, the power interconnect system configured for a three phase AC connection; and

three or more conductors configured to transfer three phase electrical power and to be coupled to the plurality of batteries and the adjacent power interconnect system of the adjacent energy storage unit;

wherein the power transfer assembly is rated to transfer a power level that is at least three times the maximum power level provided by the plurality of batteries stored in the housing.

17. The energy storage unit of claim 16, wherein the power interconnect system is positioned in the interior volume.

18. The energy storage unit of claim 16, further comprising:

a power converter configured to be coupled between the plurality of batteries and the power transfer assembly, and configured to;

convert direct current provided by the plurality of batteries to alternating current for transfer of the alternating current by the power transfer assembly; and

convert alternating current provided by the power transfer assembly to direct current for storage in the plurality of batteries.

19. The energy storage unit of claim 16, wherein the power interconnect system is configured to be coupled to the adjacent power interconnect system of the adjacent energy storage unit above ground.

20. The energy storage unit of claim 16, wherein the power interconnect system is configured to be coupled to a second adjacent power interconnect system of a second adjacent energy storage unit.

21. The energy storage unit of claim 16, wherein the power interconnect system is configured to be coupled to an electrical grid.

22. The energy storage unit of claim 16, wherein the three or more conductors comprise aluminum.

23. The energy storage unit of claim 16, wherein the segmented branch interconnect system further comprises:

an auxiliary power assembly comprising;

an auxiliary power interconnect system; and

an auxiliary power line coupled to the auxiliary power interconnect system, the auxiliary power line being configured to transfer auxiliary power;

wherein the auxiliary power line is rated to transfer a power level that is at least three times a maximum auxiliary power level utilized by the energy storage unit.