POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM

• US 20110035070A1
• Filed: 07/21/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: KANAI, Yasushi
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/288
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/00 Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/10 The dispersed energy generation being of fossil origin, e.g. diesel generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/22 The renewable source being solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/58 The condition being electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

In a power supply system (10) having a cogeneration unit (12) equipped with an internal combustion engine (12a) and a generator (12b) to generate power to be supplied to a power destination and hot water to be supplied to a hot water destination, there are provided with a natural energy generation unit (14) that generates power with natural energy, a power supply unit (20) that receives the power generated by the generator and natural energy generation unit to supply the received power to the power destination; a voltage detector (22a) that detects voltage (V1) of the power flowing through an connecting bus (22), and an electric heater (12l). The power supply unit (20) controls operation of the electric heater based on the detected connecting bus power voltage (V1), thereby effectively utilizing surplus electricity without transmitting back it to a commercial power source.

Claims

1. A power supply system having a cogeneration unit equipped with an internal combustion engine and a generator driven by the engine to generate power to be supplied to a power destination and hot water to be supplied to a hot water destination by heat exhausted from the engine, comprising:

a natural energy generation unit that generates power with natural energy;

a power supply unit that receives the power generated by the generator and the natural energy generation unit to supply the received power to the power destination;

a connecting bus that electrically connects the cogeneration unit, the natural energy generation unit and the power supply unit;

a voltage detector that detects voltage of the power flowing through the connecting bus; and

an electric heater that heats the hot water by the power supplied through the connecting bus,

wherein the power supply unit controls operation of the electric heater based on the detected connecting bus power voltage.

2. The system according to claim 1, further including:

a storage unit that is connected to the connecting bus and stores the power not supplied to the power destination;

and the power supply unit controls operation of the storage unit based on the detected connecting bus power voltage.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the power supply unit controls the operation of the storage unit to discharge the stored power when the detected connecting bus power voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined voltage.

4. The system according to claim 1, further including:

a storage unit that is connected to the connecting bus and stores the power not supplied to the power destination; and

a detector that detects voltage of the power stored in the storage unit,

and the power supply unit controls the operation of the electric heater based on the detected stored power voltage.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the power supply unit controls the operation of the electric heater to on when the detected connecting bus power voltage exceeds a predetermined first voltage and the detected stored power voltage exceeds a predetermined second voltage.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the power supply unit controls the operation of the electric heater to on when the detected connecting bus power voltage exceeds a predetermined first voltage, but is equal to or less than a predetermined third voltage, and the detected stored power voltage exceeds a predetermined fourth voltage.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the connecting bus is connected to a commercial power source and the power supply unit determines whether or not to receive power from the commercial power source based on the detected connecting bus voltage and the detected stored power voltage.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the power supply unit determines to receive the power form the commercial power source when the detected connecting bus power voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined first voltage and the detected stored power voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined second voltage.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the natural energy generation unit comprises a photovoltaic generator.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cogeneration unit has a solar heater that heats the water with solar heat.