System and method of forming capacitor-based electrical energy storage modules
First Claim
1. A system for creating a capacitor-based electrical energy storage module, comprising:
- at least one capacitor-containing submodule of predetermined electrical energy storage capacity;
at least one enclosure having at least one receptacle for receiving and housing said at least one submodule;
connecting means within said enclosure for placing said at least one submodule in electrical communication with other submodules that are located in said enclosure;
power conversion means for controlling the charging and discharging of said submodules; and
control and communication means for monitoring and controlling the operation of each module;
wherein a plurality of enclosures, each containing one or more of said submodules, may be connected to provide a module of desired power output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for creating capacitor-based electrical energy storage modules and electrical energy storage systems assembled therefrom. Submodules having a plurality of capacitors capable of storing electrical energy are used in different combinations to create electrical energy storage modules. Preferably, a number of submodules are placed into corresponding receptacles within an enclosure or cabinet, wherein the submodules become electrically connected. The number of submodules installed in a cabinet is determined by the power output desired, and the space constraints of the area in which the cabinet will be located. One cabinet of one or more submodules, or a plurality of interconnected cabinets of one or more submodules, may form an electrical energy storage module. The module may be designed to output either DC or AC electric power, and is preferably equipped with a power conversion system and/or communication and control electronics to control the charging and discharging thereof. A plurality of capacitor-based electrical energy storage modules may be connected to form an electrical energy storage system of greater storage capacity.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A system for creating a capacitor-based electrical energy storage module, comprising:
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at least one capacitor-containing submodule of predetermined electrical energy storage capacity;
at least one enclosure having at least one receptacle for receiving and housing said at least one submodule;
connecting means within said enclosure for placing said at least one submodule in electrical communication with other submodules that are located in said enclosure;
power conversion means for controlling the charging and discharging of said submodules; and
control and communication means for monitoring and controlling the operation of each module;
wherein a plurality of enclosures, each containing one or more of said submodules, may be connected to provide a module of desired power output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A modular, capacitor-based electrical energy storage system, comprising:
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at least one capacitor-based electrical energy storage module, said at least one capacitor-based electrical energy storage module further comprising;
a plurality of interchangeable, capacitor-based electrical energy storage submodules, each having a multitude of capacitor cells residing within a container of predetermined size;
at least one enclosure having one or more receptacles for releasably housing said submodules;
a means of electrically interconnecting each of said plurality of submodules installed within an individual enclosure;
a power conversion means located in said at least one enclosure and in electrical communication with said submodules housed therein, said power conversion means capable of converting incoming AC electric power into DC electrical energy for storage in said submodules, and of converting said DC electrical energy stored in said submodules into AC or DC electric power for output from said module; and
a control and communication means for monitoring and controlling the condition of said module and for allowing communication between each module of a multiple-module system;
wherein the power output or longevity of a module can be increased by adding additional submodules thereto, and the power output or longevity of said electrical energy storage system can be increased by employing and connecting a greater number of modules. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of forming capacitor-based electrical energy storage modules, comprising:
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providing one or more interchangeable submodules having multiple capacitor cells located therein, said submodules able to store a predetermined amount of electrical energy;
providing at least one enclosure adapted to receive one or more of said submodules;
providing a means within said at least one enclosure for electrically connecting said submodules upon their installation to said enclosure;
locating a power conversion means within said at least one enclosure for converting incoming AC electrical power into DC electrical energy for storage in said one or more submodules, and for inverting said DC electrical energy stored in said submodules into AC electric power for output to a load;
locating a control and communication means within said at least one enclosure for monitoring and controlling the charging and discharging of said one or more interchangeable submodules, and for allowing communication between modules in multiple-module systems. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification