Building Management and Appliance Control System
First Claim
1. A method for augmenting an electrical grid that distributes electricity to a geographical region, the method comprising:
- deploying one or more energy storage units to the geographical region, each of the one or more energy storage units comprising;
an electrical input for being electrically coupled to the electric grid for receiving electricity from the electric grid;
an energy storage cell electrically coupled to the electrical input for receiving and storing the electricity received from the electric grid by the electrical input;
an electrical output for being electrically coupled between the energy storage cell and the electric grid, the electrical output being configured to receive the at least some of the electricity stored by the storage cell to supply the at least some of the electricity to the electric grid when the electrical outlet is electrically coupled to the electric grid; and
a control unit coupled to the electrical input, the storage cell, and the electrical output of at least one of the one or more energy storage units, the control unit for controlling a first time when the electricity will be received by the electrical input from the electric grid and stored within the storage cell, and for controlling a second time when the at least some of the electricity will be output from the storage cell and supplied to the electric grid via the electrical output;
determining a peak demand time period for electricity demand in the geographical region, and a non-peak demand time period for the electricity demand in the geographical region;
controlling at least one control unit that is connected to of the at least one of the one or more energy storage units, the controlling comprising one or more of;
enabling selected energy storage units of the one of the one or more energy storage units to withdraw electricity from the electric grid during the non-peak demand time period for electricity demand in the region, and store the withdrawn electricity as energy; and
enabling the selected energy storage units to supply the energy to the electric grid as electricity during the peak demand time period for electricity demand within the geographical region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to energy storage and supply management system. The system may include one or more of a control unit, which is in communication with the power grid, and an energy storage unit that stores power for use at a later time. The system may be used with traditional utility provided power as well as locally generated solar, wind, and any other types of power generation technology. In some embodiments, the energy storage unit and the control unit are housed in the same chassis. In other embodiments, the energy storage unit and the control unit are separate. In another embodiment, the energy storage unit is integrated into the chassis of an appliance itself.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for augmenting an electrical grid that distributes electricity to a geographical region, the method comprising:
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deploying one or more energy storage units to the geographical region, each of the one or more energy storage units comprising; an electrical input for being electrically coupled to the electric grid for receiving electricity from the electric grid; an energy storage cell electrically coupled to the electrical input for receiving and storing the electricity received from the electric grid by the electrical input; an electrical output for being electrically coupled between the energy storage cell and the electric grid, the electrical output being configured to receive the at least some of the electricity stored by the storage cell to supply the at least some of the electricity to the electric grid when the electrical outlet is electrically coupled to the electric grid; and a control unit coupled to the electrical input, the storage cell, and the electrical output of at least one of the one or more energy storage units, the control unit for controlling a first time when the electricity will be received by the electrical input from the electric grid and stored within the storage cell, and for controlling a second time when the at least some of the electricity will be output from the storage cell and supplied to the electric grid via the electrical output; determining a peak demand time period for electricity demand in the geographical region, and a non-peak demand time period for the electricity demand in the geographical region; controlling at least one control unit that is connected to of the at least one of the one or more energy storage units, the controlling comprising one or more of; enabling selected energy storage units of the one of the one or more energy storage units to withdraw electricity from the electric grid during the non-peak demand time period for electricity demand in the region, and store the withdrawn electricity as energy; and enabling the selected energy storage units to supply the energy to the electric grid as electricity during the peak demand time period for electricity demand within the geographical region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12)
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9. An energy flow augmenting system for storing and supplying energy to an electric grid, the energy flow augmenting system comprising:
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an electric grid that transmits electricity from an electricity generation source to at least one electricity consumer; an energy storage unit, the energy storage unit comprising; an electrical input for being electrically coupled to the electric grid for receiving electricity from the electric grid; an energy storage cell electrically coupled to the electrical input for receiving and storing the electricity received from the electric grid by the electrical input; an electrical output for being electrically coupled between the energy storage cell and the electric grid, the electrical output being configured to receive the at least some of electricity stored by the storage cell to supply the at least some of the electricity to the electric grid when the electrical outlet is electrically coupled to the electric grid; and a control unit coupled to the electrical input, the storage cell, and the electrical output, the control unit for controlling a first time when the electricity will be received by the electrical input from the electric grid and stored within the storage cell, and for controlling a second time when the at least some of the electricity will be output from the storage cell and supplied to the electric grid via the electrical output; and a remote command center having a communications module configured for sending control commands to the control unit of the energy storage unit via a communications network, the control commands being for augmenting energy flow across the electric grid by commanding the control unit to control the energy storage unit to withdraw energy from the electrical grid based on a storage need, and to control the energy storage unit to release energy to the electrical grid based on a supply need. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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13. An energy storage unit comprising:
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a housing including at least one mounting wall, the mounting wall being configured for retaining one or both of an energy storage cell and a control unit; an energy storage cell coupled to the at least one mounting wall of the housing, the energy storage cell comprising a top bounding member, a bottom bounding member, and an extended body separating the top bounding member from the bottom bounding member, the top bounding member, bottom bounding member, and extended body together bounding a reservoir that contains a chemical medium therein, the chemical medium configured for storing the first amount of electricity as chemical energy, and further configured for converting the chemical energy into a second amount of electricity, the energy storage cell further comprising; a plurality of electrodes to receive the first and second amounts of electricity, the plurality of electrodes contacting the chemical medium and configured for the converting of the first amount of electricity into chemical energy, and further configured for the converting of the chemical energy into the second amount of electricity, the plurality of electrodes having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an extended body between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the proximal portion being coupled to the storage cell, and the extended body and distal portions extending into the reservoir so as to contact the chemical medium contained in the reservoir; an electrical inlet electrically connected to both the source of power generation and the control unit, the electrical inlet being at least partially contained within the housing and configured for receiving the first amount of electricity from the source of power generation, and further configured for transmitting the first amount of electricity to the control unit; a control unit electrically connected to the electrical inlet and the plurality of electrodes, the control unit for controlling receipt of the first amount of electricity from the electrical inlet, controlling the conversion of the first amount of electricity into chemical energy, and controlling the conversion of the chemical energy into the second amount of electricity, and controlling the emitting of the second amount of electricity by the electrical outlet; and an electrical outlet being at least partially contained within the housing and electrically connected to the control unit, the electrical outlet for receiving the second amount of electricity from the control unit and being configured for emitting the second amount of electricity from the energy storage unit upon command of the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An energy storage unit for storing and supplying energy to an electric grid, the energy storage unit comprising:
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an electrical input for being electrically coupled to the electric grid for receiving electricity from the electric grid; an energy storage cell electrically coupled to the electrical input for receiving and storing the electricity received from the electric grid by the electrical input; an electrical output for being electrically coupled between the energy storage cell and the electric grid, the electrical output being configured to receive at least some of the electricity stored by the storage cell to supply the at least some of the electricity to the electric grid when the electrical outlet is electrically coupled to the electric grid; and a control unit coupled to the electrical input, the storage cell, and the electrical output, the control unit for controlling a first time when the electricity will be received by the electrical input from the electric grid and stored within the storage cell, and for controlling a second time when the at least some of the electricity will be output from the storage cell and supplied to the electric grid via the electrical output. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification