Method for transporting electric energy

• US 20060180364A1
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Original Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Inventors: Wobben, Aloys
• Application Number:
  US10/516,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20060180364A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 25/00 Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby trimming otherwise than by cargo division, e.g. by use of ballast B63B43/06, B63B43/08; constructive aspects of cargo spaces B63B11/00; hatches, hatchways B63B19/12
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/00 Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for and a method of transporting electrical energy. In one embodiment a storage device formed from a plurality of storage elements is arranged as a payload on and/or in a vehicle or craft, wherein in the delivery of the electrical energy the storage device remains on and/or in the vehicle and the vehicle has a connection for transmitting the stored electrical energy upon discharge.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving and transporting electrical energy, comprising:

a storage device formed from a plurality of storage elements;

a vehicle having a connection for receiving electrical energy from an external source and for transmitting electrical energy from the storage device to an external load, wherein the storage device is arranged as a payload for the vehicle and in the receiving and transmitting of the electrical energy the storage device remains arranged as a payload for the vehicle.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the storage elements comprise accumulators.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of storage elements are combined to form storage device groups.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein a vehicle drive is operable with stored energy.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

fixed stations for charging up and discharging the storage device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the fixed stations comprise:

intermediate storage devices for intermediate storage of the electrical energy.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one electrical collective connection for a plurality of storage elements.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one opening in each storage element for introducing or draining off a fluid.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising one or more collecting conduits which connect the openings of the storage elements together.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the collecting conduit opens into a container on board the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a device for monitoring individual storage elements.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the monitoring device is configured to indicate an operating condition of at least one of individual storage elements or storage device groups.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the monitoring device is arranged on board the vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the device includes at least a microprocessor and a memory.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the storage elements comprise capacitors.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

fixed stations for converting the electrical energy.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a device for controlling a charging/discharging operation.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a device for supplying or removing fluid.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a device for controlling the charging/discharging operation and for supplying or removing fluid.

15. A method of storing and transporting electrical energy by means of a vehicle carrying an electrical storage device as a payload, comprising the steps of:

receiving electrical energy from a source external to the vehicle;

charging the storage device with the received electrical energy;

transporting the vehicle to a destination; and

discharging the storage device at the destination.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising:

draining a fluid contained in the storage device after charging of the electrical energy into the storage device but prior to transport of the storage device to the destination; and

introducing a fluid into the storage device after transport of the storage device to the destination but prior to removal of the electrical energy fluid.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising:

cleaning the fluid after removal; and

storing the cleaned fluid.

18. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein transporting the vehicle to a destination comprises removing a container of storage device fluid from the vehicle.

19. The method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising:

monitoring a number of charge/discharge cycles for each storage elements; and

outputting a corresponding notification when a predetermined number of cycles is reached.

25. A vehicle, comprising:

means for storing electrical energy received from an external source at a first location; and

means for discharging the stored electrical energy at a second location.