Fully integrated power storage and supply appliance with power uploading capability

• US 20060158037A1
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gridpoint (Twenty First Century Utilities LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gridpoint (Twenty First Century Utilities LLC)
• Inventors: Miller, Craig H., Wallo, Andrew T., Dreher, Carl, Danley, Douglas Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US11/037,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158037A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for integrating alternative energy sources and energy storage components into a single device with systems for control and safety monitoring to provide for use of the generated power on the premises, resale of power to the utility, and for power supply from storage and/or the alternative energy sources in the event of an interruption of supply from a utility'"'"'s power grid. The device integrates the necessary components into a cabinet for use as a home appliance. The power storage and supply device cabinet contains essentially all necessary electrical components including charge controllers, inverters, relay circuitry, circuit breakers, and energy storage modules, such as batteries. A local controller device is disposed inside the cabinet and is configured to monitor and control the processes conducted by the power storage and supply device. The cabinet includes a ventilation system which uses an air intake located at the bottom of the cabinet for receiving air that is pulled into the lower section of the cabinet by fans located in the middle of the cabinet. The air is then circulated into the upper section of the cabinet where it is vented out through exhaust ports. Further, the cabinet of the power storage and supply device is compartmentalized by a separator panel that divides access to the compartments of the cabinet according to both levels associated with safety and a user'"'"'s expertise.

Claims

1. A energy storage and supply device configured for connection to an energy source and a home power system having at least one load, wherein the home power system is connected to a utility power grid, comprising:

a plurality of energy storage modules;

a plurality of inverters;

a plurality of charge controllers configured to receive energy from the energy source and provide the energy to one or more of the plurality of energy storage modules and the plurality of inverters;

at least one relay switch configured to receive energy from at least one of the plurality of inverters and provide the energy to one or more of the utility power grid and the load of the home power system; and

a local controller that controls the operation of the plurality of charge controllers and the at least one relay switch.

2. The energy storage and supply device of claim 1, further comprising:

a cabinet for enclosing the energy storage modules, inverters, charge controllers, and local controller;

wherein at least one shelf in the cabinet includes a plurality of raised grooves, wherein each of the plurality of raised grooves provides a guide for slidably receiving at least one of the plurality of energy storage modules.

3. The energy storage and supply device of claim 2, wherein the cabinet includes a divider shelf disposed therein, and wherein the divider shelf includes an aperture and an associated fan.

4. The energy storage and supply device of claim 2, wherein the raised grooves in the one shelf comprise elongated slots.

5. The energy storage and supply device of claim 1, further comprising a circuit breaker interconnecting the at least one relay switch the utility power grid and the load of the home power system.

6. The energy storage and supply device of claim 1, wherein the local controller includes at least two of a temperature subsystem for monitoring temperatures associated with the device and components thereof, a power monitoring subsystem for measuring energy flows and an event monitoring subsystem for monitoring events that may effect the performance of the device.

7. The energy storage and supply device of claim 6, wherein the local controller controls the operation of the plurality of charge controllers and the at least one relay switch based at least partially on readings from one or more of the temperature subsystem, a power monitoring subsystem and an event monitoring subsystem.

8. The energy storage and supply device of claim 6, wherein the power monitoring subsystem obtains power measurements from various points throughout the device and generates an alert if the power measurements are not within a predetermined range.

9. The energy storage and supply device of claim 6, wherein the temperature monitoring subsystem generates an alert when one or more of the monitored temperatures is outside a predetermined range.

10. The energy storage and supply device of claim 6, wherein the event monitoring system collects error and status data from components in the device, records the error and status data, and checks each data entry to determine if an immediate device shutdown should be performed or if a notice of failure message should be generated.

11. A system for ventilating a power storage and supply appliance, comprising:

a cabinet housing electrical components for power storage and supply,

wherein the cabinet comprises,

a lower section including energy storage modules,

an upper section including inverters and relay devices for controlling the operation of the energy storage modules, and

wherein the upper section and lower section are separated by a divider shelf, and wherein the divider shelf includes at least one aperture and at least one fan associated with the at least one aperture to move air from the lower section of the cabinet to the upper section of the cabinet.

12. The system for ventilating the appliance of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of slotted shelves located in the lower potion of the cabinet.

13. The system for ventilating the appliance of claim 12, further comprising a filter, wherein the filter is disposed in the lower section of the cabinet beneath the lowest slotted shelf.

14. The system for ventilating the appliance of claim 11, wherein the upper section includes at least one door and at least one access plate for accessing the electrical components internally disposed in the upper section of the cabinet.

15. The system for ventilating the appliance of claim 14, further comprising a separator panel that subdivides the upper section into at least three separate compartments, at least two of which are individually accessible by the at least one door and at least one access plate.

16. A multi-level access enclosure system for an energy storage and supply device comprising:

a cabinet, wherein the cabinet includes,

a lower section housing a plurality of energy storage modules, and

an upper section housing electrical components for controlling the operation of said energy storage modules, wherein the upper section includes at least one door and one access plate;

a separator panel disposed in the upper section of the cabinet to divide the upper section into a first compartment, a second compartment and a third compartment, wherein the separator plate provides selective accessibility to the components through the at least one door and at least one access panel.

17. The multi-level access enclosure system of claim 16, wherein the first compartment is formed to block access to the second compartment and the third compartment the second compartment blocking access to the first compartment and the third compartment and the third compartment blocking access to the first compartment and the second compartment.

18. The multi-level access enclosure system of claim 16, wherein the first compartment houses at least one of a plurality of circuit breakers, wherein the second compartment houses at least one of a plurality of terminals, and wherein the third compartment houses at least one of a plurality of controllers and at least one of a plurality of inverters.

19. The multi-level access enclosure system of claim 18, wherein at least one circuit breaker is mounted to the separator panel.

20. The multi-level access enclosure system of claim 18, wherein at least one of a plurality of terminals is mounted to the separator panel.

21. The multi-level access enclosure system for an energy storage device of claim 16, wherein the upper section and lower section are separated by a divider shelf;

and

wherein the divider shelf includes at least one aperture and at least one fan associated with the at least one aperture to move air from the lower section to the upper section of the cabinet.

22. The multi-level access enclosure system for an energy storage device of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of slotted shelves located in the lower potion of the cabinet.

23. The multi-level access enclosure system for an energy storage device of claim 22, further comprising a filter, wherein the filter is disposed in the lower section of the cabinet beneath the lowest slotted shelf.