System and Method for Supplying Back-Up Electric Power to a House from a Hybrid Vehicle

• US 20120016546A1
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James P. Phillips, Ole K Nilssen, Sharon E.J. Phillips
• Original Assignee: James P. Phillips, Ole K Nilssen, Sharon E.J. Phillips
• Inventors: Nilssen, Ole K., Phillips, James P., Phillips, Sharon E.J.
• Application Number:
  US13/181,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20120016546A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/50 Charging stations characterised by energy-storage or power-generation means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/57 Charging stations without connection to power networks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/08 requiring starting of a prime-mover
• 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: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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: Y04S 10/126 the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A system and method for supplying back-up electric power to a house or other building from a hybrid vehicle. Switches in the vehicle and in the house can place the vehicle in a mode where it receives charging power from the house, or where it can supply power into the main electrical distribution system of the house. These switches can be controlled from a control module in the house that can sense or cause the vehicle to sense if there is adequate ventilation in the environment to start the internal combustion engine (ICE) in the vehicle. The control module or the vehicle can cause a garage door to open or ventilation fans or vents to open. If the ICE can be started, the generator/battery can supply most if not all of the power needed by the house until the outage is over. If there is inadequate ventilation, the control system can cause only the battery in the vehicle to supply limited power to the house, typically only to critical circuits. When main power is restored, the system can revert back automatically. The ICE can be turned off anytime there is inadequate ventilation or an abnormal condition.

Claims

1. A method of providing back-up electrical power to house comprising:

attaching said vehicle to said house so that the vehicle can supply electrical power into the main electrical distribution box of said house when commercially supplied power is unavailable;

automatically monitoring said vehicle to assure adequate ventilation to start and run an internal combustion engine in said vehicle;

automatically starting said internal combustion engine when said ventilation is adequate;

automatically supplying electrical power to said house while said commercially supplied power is unavailable;

automatically ceasing to supply electrical power to said house when said commercially supplied power is restored;

automatically shutting off said internal combustion engine when said becomes inadequate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a power cable is connected between said vehicle and said house.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising charging a battery in said vehicle when said commercial power is available.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a data cable is connected between said vehicle and said house.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein power and data are multiplexed on a single cable between said vehicle and said house.

6. An system for connecting a hybrid vehicle to a house to supply back-up AC power in case of a power failure comprising:

a inverter capable of converting DC from said vehicle to proper voltage and frequency to power said house;

a switch in said vehicle adapted to receive power from said house in a first mode charging a battery, and adapted to supply power to said house in a second mode;

a switch in said house adapted to supply power to said vehicle in a first mode and adapted to receive power from said vehicle in a second mode;

a control unit in said house sensing presence of commercial electric power causing said switch in the vehicle and said switch in the house to change modes when commercial electric power is unavailable;

wherein, said control unit also continually senses for adequate ventilation to cause an internal combustion engine in said vehicle to start and run;

and wherein, said control unit stops said internal combustion engine when commercial power is restored and causes said switch in the vehicle and said switch in the house to return to a normal mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a sensor notifies said control unit if a garage door is open or shut.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control unit can cause a garage door to open or close.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein main power in said house is segregated into high priority, essential and low priority, non-essential circuits.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said vehicle supplies limited electric power to said house from a battery alone.