METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR A POWER STORAGE AND DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20140265593A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brett Hensler, John D. Hensler
• Original Assignee: Brett Hensler, John D. Hensler
• Inventors: Hensler, John D., Hensler, Brett
• Application Number:
  US13/830,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265593A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 15/00 Systems for storing electric energy mechanical systems therefor F01-F04; in chemical form H01M

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a power storage and delivery system according to various aspects of the present invention generally comprise receiving a first electric current from one or more sources, storing energy derived from the electric current in a magnetic capacitor, releasing the stored energy as a second electric current, and providing the second electric current to a residential property, commercial property, or any other structure with similar electrical needs. The systems and methods of the present invention may be capable of operating as the sole provider of electric current to a structure for multiple days without the assistance of another source of electric current.

Claims

1. A power storage and delivery system capable of accepting at least one source of electric current and capable of operating continuously as the sole provider of electric current for a structure for multiple days without the assistance of another source of electric current, comprising:

a supply input configured to accept the at least one source of electric current;

a mains output configured deliver mains electricity to the structure;

a DC-AC inverter, wherein a DC-AC inverter output is electrically coupled with the mains output;

an energy storage module, comprising;

an input electrically coupled with the supply input;

an output electrically coupled with a DC-AC inverter input; and

a magnetic capacitor electrically coupled with the energy storage module input and output and configured to;

collect energy received via the input of the energy storage module in response to a first signal;

retain the collected energy in response to a second signal; and

release the stored energy to the energy storage module output in response to a third signal;

a capacitor management system communicatively linked with the energy storage module and configured to provide the first, second, and third signals to the magnetic capacitor; and

a controller communicatively linked with the capacitor management system and electrically coupled with the DC-AC inverter, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the DC-AC inverter.

2. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 1, wherein:

the energy storage module comprises a second magnetic capacitor electrically coupled with the energy storage module input and output; and

the capacitor management system is configured to individually provide the first, second, and third signals to each magnetic capacitor.

3. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 1, wherein:

the energy storage module comprises a group of magnetic capacitors; and

the capacitor management system is configured to provide the first, second, and third signals to the group of magnetic capacitors.

4. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a rectifier, wherein;

a rectifier output is electrically coupled with the input of the energy storage module; and

a rectifier input is electrically coupled with the supply input.

5. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 4, further comprising an active power factor correction circuit electrically coupled with the rectifier output and the input of the energy storage module.

6. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 4, further comprising a DC-DC conversion circuit electrically coupled with the rectifier output and the energy storage module input.

7. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a contactor, wherein;

a contactor output is electrically coupled with the rectifier input;

a contactor input is electrically coupled with the supply input;

the contactor is configured to operate in response to a contactor control signal; and

the controller is electrically coupled with the contactor and configured to provide the contactor control signal.

8. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising an output sensor arranged to measure the electric current output via the mains output, wherein:

the output sensor is electrically coupled with the controller; and

the controller is configured to determine an amount of energy used by the structure based on the measured electric current output.

9. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 8, further comprising an input sensor arranged to measure the electric current received via the supply input, wherein:

the input sensor is electrically coupled with the controller; and

the controller is configured to determine an efficiency of the power storage and delivery system based on the measured electric current output and measured electric current received.

10. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a communication interface.

11. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 10, wherein the communication interface comprises a network interface.

12. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to:

access, via the communication interface, cost information corresponding to a source of electricity the supply input is configured to accept; and

cause the energy storage module to charge the magnetic capacitor during a predetermined period.

13. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 12, wherein:

the supply input is configured to accept a plurality of sources of electric current; and

the controller is configured to selectively cause the energy storage module to charge the magnetic capacitor, in a non-exclusive manner, from a particular source of electric current during the predetermined period.

14. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 12, wherein:

the supply input is configured to accept a plurality of sources of electric current; and

the controller is configured to selectively cause the energy storage module to charge the magnetic capacitor preferentially from the source of electric current having a preferred cost during a predetermined period.

15. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising an output device communicatively coupled with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine information corresponding to the operation of the power storage and delivery system; and

communicate the determined information to the output device.

16. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 15, further comprising an input device communicatively coupled with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive information from the input device.

17. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to:

generate a message in response to the source of electric current experiencing a predetermined event; and

communicate the message to the output device.

18. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to:

generate a message in response to the source of electric current experiencing a predetermined event; and

communicate the message to through the communication interface.

19. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising a protective enclosure configured to removably retain one or more cards, and wherein the energy storage module, capacitor management system, controller, and DC-AC inverter are situated on the one or more cards.

20. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 19, further comprising an active power factor correction circuit, a DC-DC conversion circuit, and a rectifier situated on the one or more cards.

21. A power storage and delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the first signal and the third signal comprise the same signal.

22. A method for accepting at least one source of electric current and supplying the entire electric current needs of a structure for multiple days without the assistance of another source of electric current, comprising:

receiving a first electric current from a supply input;

controlling a magnetic capacitor to collect a charge from the first electric current;

controlling the magnetic capacitor to retain the charge;

controlling the magnetic capacitor to release the charge; and

outputting a second electric current derived from the released charge to a mains output.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein receiving the first electric current comprises receiving the first electric current from the at least one source of electric current electrically coupled with the supply input.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein receiving the first electric current comprises rectifying the first electric current.

25. A method according to claim 22, wherein outputting the second electric current comprises outputting the second electric current to an electric current input of the structure coupled with the mains output.

26. A method according to claim 22, wherein outputting the second electric current comprises converting the second electric current to alternating current.

27. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:

retrieving information corresponding to the cost of the source of electric current; and

determining a time period in which to control the magnetic capacitor to charge from the first electric current based on the retrieved information.