Method and apparatus for storing and using energy to reduce the end-user cost of energy

• US 20050138929A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ben M. Enis, Paul Lieberman
• Original Assignee: Ben M. Enis, Paul Lieberman
• Inventors: Lieberman, Paul, Enis, Ben M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/641.800
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/16 Waste heat
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 60/30 storing heat in liquids
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/00 Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 15/006 in the form of pneumatic energy, e.g. compressed air energy storage [CAES] accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/10 Power transmission or distribution systems management focussing at grid-level, e.g. load flow analysis, node profile computation, meshed network optimisation, active network management or spinning reserve management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• 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: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy storing method and apparatus for use by end-users of energy, such as commercial property owners and operators. The system differs from past systems, insofar as it is not intended to be used by and in connection with energy suppliers, such as large utility and power supply plants and grids. The system preferably relates to the manner in which an end-user of energy can implement energy and costs savings, by using energy storage and time-shifting methods, to control and regulate the consumption of energy in a manner that achieves a cost savings over a period of time. One aspect of the method relates to accurately forecasting and predicting the energy demands and peaks that might occur on a daily basis, by recording and analyzing the prior day'"'"'s history, as well as the overall energy demand histories, using short and long term forecasts, and then setting up a variable energy storage/use plan or schedule that helps to reduce the peak demands by time-shifting the energy that is used, i.e., reducing consumption during high demand/high cost periods, and using the energy stored during low demand/low cost periods during the high demand/high cost periods.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the end-user cost of energy at a predetermined location, comprising:

creating at least one demand history for the predetermined location to help forecast and predict how much energy will be used at the predetermined location during an upcoming predetermined period of time;

determining when energy will be available from an energy source at a relatively low first rate, and when energy will be available at a relatively high second rate, during the upcoming predetermined period of time;

providing an energy storage system and connecting it to the energy source and adapting it to store energy during a first period during which the low first rate applies, and making the stored energy available during a second period during which the high second rate applies; and

using the storage system to release the stored energy during the second period, to reduce the cost of energy used during the second period, and/or offset spikes or surges that may otherwise be experienced during the second period at the predetermined location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the upcoming predetermined period of time is a 24 hour period, and the at least one demand history used to forecast and predict energy usage during that 24 hour period comprises an energy usage history for the preceding 24 hour period.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one demand history also comprises an energy usage history for the overall season or period during which the predetermined period of time occurs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a power grid that can be accessed to supply energy into storage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises using the forecasts and predictions to develop an energy usage schedule for the upcoming period of time to determine how the energy from storage should be used to achieve the desired cost savings.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method comprises determining the demand charge that may be applied based on the spike or surges that may occur during a given period, and developing the energy usage schedule to reduce and/or offset the spikes or surges in a manner that will achieve the desired cost savings.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location is a commercial property end-user of energy, and wherein the storage system is used to lower the overall cost of energy at the predetermined location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy storage system comprises at least one compressor, storage tank, turbo-expander and generator, which is used to store compressed air energy to make it available during the second period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated cost savings for each period of time is determined, and then that determination is repeated for an extended period of time, to help determine the overall cost savings that can be achieved by the system during the extended period of time.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the energy storage system comprises at least one device taken from the group consisting of:

a. a solar thermal collector;

b. thermal inertia mass;

c. thin walled tubing with anti-freeze distributed inside the tank;

d. fossil fuel burner;

e. circulation device for using hot air from the compressor;

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the energy storage system is adapted to use cold air from the turbo-expander for cooling and/or refrigeration purposes at the predetermined location.

12. A system for reducing the end-user cost of energy at a predetermined location, comprising:

at least one user demand history for the predetermined location;

forecasts using the at least one demand history to predict energy usage at the predetermined location during an upcoming predetermined period of time;

an energy storage system connected to an energy source, wherein the storage system is adapted to store energy from the source during a first period of time during which a low cost rate of energy applies, and to release the stored energy during a second period of time during which a high cost rate of energy applies; and

wherein the storage system is adapted to release the stored energy during the second period of time in manner that helps to reduce the overall cost of energy used at the predetermined location during the second period of time, and/or to offset spikes or surges that may otherwise be experienced at the predetermined location during the predetermined period of time.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the upcoming predetermined period of time is a 24 hour period, and the at least one demand history used to forecast and predict energy usage during that 24 hour period comprises an energy usage history for the preceding 24 hour period.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one demand history also comprises an energy usage history for the overall season or period during which the predetermined period of time occurs.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the energy source is a power grid that can be accessed to supply energy into storage.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein an energy usage schedule is developed using the forecasts and predictions for the upcoming period of time to determine how the energy from storage should be used to achieve the desired cost savings, wherein the schedule takes into account the spikes or surges that may occur during a given period, and developing the energy usage schedule to reduce and/or offset the spikes or surges in a manner that will achieve the desired cost savings

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined location is a commercial property end-user of energy, and wherein the storage system is used to lower the overall cost of energy at the predetermined location.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the energy storage system comprises a compressed air energy storage system, and wherein the compressed air energy storage system comprises at least one compressor, storage tank, turbo-expander and generator, which are used to store compressed air energy to make it available during the second period of time.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the compressed air energy storage system comprises at least one heating device taken from the group consisting of:

a. a solar thermal collector;

b. thermal inertia mass;

c. thin walled tubing with anti-freeze distributed inside the tank;

d. fossil fuel burner;

e. circulation device for using hot air from the compressor;

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the compressed air energy storage system is adapted to use cold air from the turbo-expander for cooling and/or refrigeration purposes at the predetermined location.