System and method of power control for an energy storage charging station

• US 10,520,966 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2015
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Veda, Santosh Sambamoorthy, King, Robert Dean, Berry, Irene Michelle, Zhou, Zhi, Nielsen, Matthew Christian, Salasoo, Lembit
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnes-Bullock, Crystal J
• Application Number:
  US15/319,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20170155253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/70 Regulating power factor; Regulating reactive current or power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/10 The network having a local or delimited stationary reach
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/58 The condition being electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/16 by adjustment of reactive power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/242 using phasor measuring units [PMU]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/388 Islanding, i.e. disconnection of local power supply from the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/30 : Reactive power compensation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 : Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 : the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 : Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/12 : Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A system includes a control unit having a processor and a communication interface. The communication interface is configured to communicate with one or more charging stations that are electrically coupled to receive electrical power from a power distribution grid and that are configured to selectively charge one or more energy storage devices connected to the charging stations. The processor is configured to generate first control signals for communication by the communication interface to the one or more charging stations to control transfer of reactive and/or active power from the charging stations to the power distribution grid. The control signals are generated based at least in part on a load cycle profile of one or more electric machines electrically coupled to the power distribution grid.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a control unit comprising a processor and a communication interface operably coupled to the processor, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with one or more charging stations electrically coupled to receive electrical power from a power distribution grid and configured to selectively charge one or more energy storage devices connected to the one or more charging stations,

wherein the processor of the control unit is configured to generate transfer control signals for communication by the communication interface to the one or more charging stations to control transfer of at least one of reactive power or active power from the one or more charging stations to the power distribution grid based at least in part on a load cycle profile of one or more electric machines electrically coupled to the power distribution grid, the load cycle profile including one or more scheduled draw times at which the one or more electric machines are scheduled to draw electrical power from the power distribution grid and one or more designated draw magnitudes of the electrical power scheduled to be drawn by the one or more electric machines from the power distribution grid at the one or more scheduled draw times,

wherein each of the one or more designated draw magnitudes of the electrical power to be drawn by the one or more electric machines from the power distribution grid at the one or more schedule draw times is at least one megawatt.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electric machines are discrete electric machines other than charging stations.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the load cycle profile also includes one or more scheduled transfer times at which the one or more electric machines are scheduled to transfer electrical power back to the power distribution grid and one or more designated transfer magnitudes of the electrical power to be transferred back to the power distribution grid by the one or more electric machines at the one or more scheduled transfer times;

the processor of the control unit is configured to generate the transfer control signals based at least in part of the one or more scheduled draw times and the one or more designated draw magnitudes; and

the processor is further configured to generate draw control signals, based at least in part on the one or more scheduled transfer times and the one or more designated transfer magnitudes, for communication by the communication interface to the one or more charging stations, to control the one or more charging stations to charge the one or more energy storage devices with electrical power drawn from the power distribution grid.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more electric machines are discrete electric machines other than charging stations.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the one or more scheduled draw magnitudes of the electrical power to be drawn by the one or more electric machines from the power distribution grid at the one or more scheduled draw times and each of the one or more designated transfer magnitudes of the electrical power to be transferred back to the power distribution grid by the one or more electric machines at the one or more scheduled transfer times is at least one megawatt.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the system is disposed in a mine, the one or more energy storage devices are configured for deployment in electric mine vehicles for providing on-board electrical power at least for vehicle propulsion, and the electric machines comprise mining equipment other than the electric mine vehicles.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor of the control unit is configured to:

conduct a real-time load assessment of the power distribution grid based on at least one of a voltage measurement, a current measurement, a power measurement, or a frequency measurement of electrical power associated with the power distribution grid; and

generate the transfer control signals further based on the load assessment.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor of the control unit is configured to:

determine a capacity of the one or more charging stations to transfer the at least one of reactive power or active power to the power distribution grid, based at least in part on one or more charging profiles of the energy storage devices; and

generate the transfer control signals further based on the capacity that is determined.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is housed within one of the one or more charging stations.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more charging stations comprises a plurality of charging stations; and

the control unit is a centralized control unit located remote from the charging stations.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each charging station includes a respective local control unit configured to receive the transfer control signals from the centralized control unit and to transfer to the power distribution grid the at least one of reactive power or active power based at least in part on the transfer control signals.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor of the control unit is configured to select one or more active power controls and to generate the transfer control signals for the one or more charging stations to implement the one or more active power controls that are selected, the one or more active power controls including load ramp regulation, frequency regulation, generator ramp regulation, supplemental reserve power, and emergency power.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the load cycle profile includes information of how much power the one or more electric machines are expected to draw from the power distribution grid while the one or more electric machines are operational.

14. A system comprising:

plural charging stations electrically coupled to receive electrical power from a power distribution grid and configured to selectively charge plural energy storage devices that are configured to be detachably electrically coupled to the charging stations, the energy storage devices being disposed in respective electric mine vehicles for providing on-board electrical power at least for vehicle propulsion; and

a control unit comprising a processor and a communication interface operably coupled to the processor, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with the charging stations;

wherein the processor of the control unit is configured to generate transfer control signals for communication by the communication interface to the charging stations to control transfer of at least one of reactive power or active power from the charging stations to the power distribution grid based at least in part on first information in a load cycle profile of mining equipment other than the mine vehicles and that are electrically coupled to the power distribution grid;

wherein the processor is further configured to generate charge control signals, based at least in part on second information in the load cycle profile, for communication by the communication interface to the charging stations to control the charging stations to charge the mining equipment with electrical power drawn from the power distribution grid;

wherein the mining equipment are discrete electric machines other than the charging stations;

wherein each of the magnitudes of the electrical power to be drawn by the mining equipment from the power distribution grid at the first times and each of the magnitudes of the electrical power to be transferred back to the power distribution grid by the mining equipment at the second times is at least one megawatt.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the first information including plural first times when the mining equipment are scheduled to draw electrical power from the power distribution grid and magnitudes of the electrical power to be drawn by the mining equipment from the power distribution grid at the first times; and

the second information including plural second times when the mining equipment are scheduled to transfer electrical power back to the power distribution grid and magnitudes of the electrical power to be transferred back to the power distribution grid by the mining equipment at the second times.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first information includes information of how much power the mining equipment are expected to draw from the power distribution grid when the mining equipment are operational, and wherein the second information includes information of how much power the mining equipment are expected to transfer back to the power distribution grid.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the mining equipment is configured to contribute at least one megawatt to how much power the mining equipment are expected to draw from the power distribution grid when the mining equipment are operational and at least one megawatt to how much power the mining equipment are expected to transfer back to the power distribution grid.

18. A system comprising:

a control unit comprising a processor and a communication interface operably coupled to the processor, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with one or more charging stations electrically coupled to receive electrical power from a power distribution grid and configured to selectively charge one or more energy storage devices connected to the one or more charging stations,

wherein the processor of the control unit is configured to generate transfer control signals for communication by the communication interface to the one or more charging stations to control transfer of at least one of reactive power or active power from the one or more charging stations to the power distribution grid based at least in part on a load cycle profile of one or more electric machines electrically coupled to the power distribution grid, the load cycle profile including one or more scheduled draw times at which the one or more electric machines are scheduled to draw electrical power from the power distribution grid and one or more designated draw magnitudes of the electrical power scheduled to be drawn by the one or more electric machines from the power distribution grid at the one or more scheduled draw times,

wherein the processor of the control unit is configured to select one or more active power controls and to generate the transfer control signals for the one or more charging stations to implement the one or more active power controls that are selected, the one or more active power controls including load ramp regulation, frequency regulation, generator ramp regulation, supplemental reserve power, and emergency power.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the load cycle profile also includes one or more scheduled transfer times at which the one or more electric machines are scheduled to transfer electrical power back to the power distribution grid and one or more designated transfer magnitudes of the electrical power to be transferred back to the power distribution grid by the one or more electric machines at the one or more scheduled transfer times;

the processor of the control unit is configured to generate the transfer control signals based at least in part of the one or more scheduled draw times and the one or more designated draw magnitudes;

the processor is further configured to generate draw control signals, based at least in part on the one or more scheduled transfer times and the one or more designated transfer magnitudes, for communication by the communication interface to the one or more charging stations, to control the one or more charging stations to charge the one or more energy storage devices with electrical power drawn from the power distribution grid;

wherein the one or more electric machines are discrete electric machines other than charging stations; and

wherein each of the one or more scheduled draw magnitudes of the electrical power to be drawn by the one or more electric machines from the power distribution grid at the one or more scheduled draw times and each of the one or more designated transfer magnitudes of the electrical power to be transferred back to the power distribution grid by the one or more electric machines at the one or more scheduled transfer times is at least one megawatt.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the system is disposed in a mine, the one or more energy storage devices are configured for deployment in electric mine vehicles for providing on-board electrical power at least for vehicle propulsion, and the electric machines comprise mining equipment other than the electric mine vehicles.