Vanadium redox battery energy storage and power generation system incorporating and optimizing diesel engine generators

• US 7,353,083 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VRB Enery Inc.
• Original Assignee: VRB Power Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Hennessy, Timothy David John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta; Kidest
• Application Number:
  US11/035,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 700/159, 700/291, 700/286, 700/36, 136/251, 136/291, 209/44, 209/55
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 17/00 Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/40 Combination of fuel cells with other energy production systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/407 Combination of fuel cells with mechanical energy generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04604 Power, energy, capacity or load
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04865 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04925 Power, energy, capacity or load
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/188 by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/20 Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible H01M8/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/10 The dispersed energy generation being of fossil origin, e.g. diesel generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/50 Controlling the sharing of the out-of-phase component
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 : Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

A power generation system includes a vanadium redox battery that interfaces with a control system to optimize performance and efficiency. The power generation system may include one or more wind turbine generators and one or more diesel fuel generators. The control system manages the vanadium redox battery'"'"'s absorption and power generation to control system stability and system frequency. The control system further manages the operation of the wind turbine generators and diesel fuel generators to control system stability and voltage.

Claims

1. A power generation system to generate and store power, comprising:

a vanadium redox battery to absorb power and generate battery power;

a wind turbine generator to generate wind power responsive to wind currents;

a fuel generator to generate fuel power responsive to consumed fuel; and

a control system in electrical communication with the vanadium redox battery to control power absorption and generation, in electrical communication with the wind turbine generator, and in electrical communication with the fuel generator to control fuel power generation, the control system including,

a processor, and

a memory in electrical communication with the processor and having a control program, the control program performing the method of,

monitoring a system load,

monitoring generated wind power,

determining a system stability, and

based on the monitored system load and generated wind power, improving fuel usage and maintaining the system stability by

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively absorb at least a portion of the fuel power from the fuel generator,

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively absorb at least a portion of the wind power from the wind turbine generator,

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively generate the battery power, and

instructing the fuel generator to selectively generate the fuel power.

2. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes instructing the vanadium redox battery to generate battery power to maintain a substantially constant system frequency.

3. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein determining a state of the system stability includes calculating a torque angle, and wherein instructing the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generator to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain the system stability includes instructing the vanadium redox battery and fuel generator to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a torque angle at less than 90 degrees.

4. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power and wind power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage.

5. The power generation system of claim 1, further comprising a second fuel generator, and wherein the method performed by the control program further includes balancing a percentage of the system load between the fuel generators to achieve an optimal load for each fuel generator.

6. The power generation system of claim 5, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes powering down the second fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the first fuel generator.

7. The power generation system of claim 5, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes powering up the second fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the first fuel generator.

8. A control system for electrically communicating with a vanadium redox battery to control power absorption and generation, for electrically communicating with a wind turbine generator, and for electrically communicating with a fuel generator to control fuel power generation, the control system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in electrical communication with the processor and having a control program, the control program performing the method of,

monitoring a system load

monitoring generated wind power,

determining a system stability, and

based on the monitored system load and generated wind power, improving fuel usage and maintaining the system stability by

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively absorb at least a portion of the fuel power from the fuel generator,

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively absorb at least a portion of the wind power from the wind turbine generator,

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively generate the battery power, and

instructing the fuel generator to selectively generate the fuel power.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes instructing the vanadium redox battery to generate battery power to maintain a substantially constant system frequency.

10. The control system of claim 8, wherein determining the system stability includes calculating a torque angle, and wherein instructing the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generator to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain the system stability includes instructing the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generator to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a torque angle at less than 90 degrees.

11. The control system of claim 8, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power and wind power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage.

12. The control system of claim 8, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes balancing a percentage of the system load between the first fuel generator and a second fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for each fuel generator.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes powering down the second fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the first fuel generator.

14. The control system of claim 12, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes powering up the second fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the first fuel generator.

15. A method for operating a power generation system including a vanadium redox battery, a wind turbine, and a fuel generator, comprising:

monitoring a system load;

monitoring generated wind power;

determining a system stability; and

based on the monitored system load and generated wind power, improving fuel usage and maintaining the system stability by

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively absorb at least a portion of the fuel power from the fuel generator,

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively absorb at least a portion of the wind power from the wind turbine generator,

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively generate the battery power, and

instructing the fuel generator to selectively generate the fuel power.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising operating the vanadium redox battery to generate battery power to maintain a substantially constant system frequency.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the system stability includes calculating a torque angle, and wherein operating the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generator to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain the system stability includes operating the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generator to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a torque angle at less than 90 degrees.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power and wind power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising balancing a percentage of the system load between the first fuel generator and a second fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for each fuel generator.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising powering down the second fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the first fuel generator.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising powering up the second fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the first fuel generator.

22. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing a method for operating a power generation system including a vanadium redox battery, a wind turbine, and a fuel generator, the method comprising:

monitoring a system load;

monitoring generated wind power;

determining a system stability; and

based on the monitored system load and generated wind power, improving fuel usage and maintaining the system stability by

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively absorb at least a portion of the fuel power from the fuel generator,

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively absorb at least a portion of the wind power from the wind turbine generator,

instructing the vanadium redox battery to selectively generate the battery power, and

instructing the fuel generator to selectively generate the fuel power.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises operating the vanadium redox battery to generate battery power to maintain a substantially constant system frequency.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein determining the system stability includes calculating a torque angle, and wherein operating the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generator to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain the system stability includes operating the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generator to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a torque angle at less than 90 degrees.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power and wind power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises balancing a percentage of the system load between the first fuel generator and a second fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for each fuel generator.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises powering down the second fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the first fuel generator.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises powering up the second fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the first fuel generator.

29. A power generation system to generate and store power, comprising:

a vanadium redox battery to absorb power and generate battery power;

a plurality of fuel generators to generate fuel power responsive to consumed fuel; and

a control system in electrical communication with the vanadium redox battery to control power absorption and generation, and in electrical communication with the fuel generators to control fuel power generation, the control system including,

a processor, and

a memory in electrical communication with the processor and having a control program, the control program performing the method of,

monitoring a system load,

determining a system stability,

instructing the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a system stability, and

instructing the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage.

30. The power generation system of claim 29, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes instructing the vanadium redox battery to generate battery power to maintain a substantially constant system frequency.

31. The power generation system of claim 29, wherein determining a state of the system stability includes calculating a torque angle, and wherein instructing the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain the system stability includes instructing the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a torque angle at less than 90 degrees.

32. The power generation system of claim 29, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power to maintain a system stability.

33. The power generation system of claim 29, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage.

34. The power generation system of claim 29, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes balancing a percentage of the system load between the fuel generators to achieve an optimal load for each fuel generator.

35. The power generation system of claim 34, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes powering down a fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the operating fuel generators.

36. The power generation system of claim 34, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes powering up a fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the operating fuel generators.

37. A control system for electrically communicating with a vanadium redox battery to control power absorption and generation, and for electrically communicating with a plurality of fuel generators to control fuel power generation, the control system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in electrical communication with the processor and having a control program, the control program performing the method of,

monitoring a system load

determining a system stability by calculating a torgue angle,

instructing the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a system stability including instructing the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a torgue angle at less than 90 degrees, and

instructing the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage.

38. The control system of claim 37, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes instructing the vanadium redox battery to generate battery power to maintain a substantially constant system frequency.

39. The control system of claim 37, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power to maintain the system stability.

40. The control system of claim 37, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage.

41. The control system of claim 37, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes balancing a percentage of the system load between the fuel generators to achieve an optimal load for each fuel generator.

42. The control system of claim 41, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes powering down a fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the operating fuel generators.

43. The control system of claim 41, wherein the method performed by the control program further includes powering up a fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the operating fuel generators.

44. A method for operating a power generation system including a vanadium redox battery and a plurality of fuel generators, comprising:

monitoring a system load;

determining a system stability by calculating a torque angle;

operating the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a system stability including operating the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a torgue angle at less than 90 degrees; and

operating the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising operating the vanadium redox battery to generate battery power to maintain a substantially constant system frequency.

46. The method of claim 44, further comprising instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power to maintain the system stability.

47. The method of claim 44, further comprising instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage.

48. The method of claim 44, further comprising balancing a percentage of the system load between the fuel generators to achieve an optimal load for each fuel generator.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising powering down a fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the operating fuel generators.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising powering up a fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the operating fuel generators.

51. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing a method for operating a power generation system including a vanadium redox battery and a plurality of fuel generators, the method comprising:

monitoring a system load;

determining a system stability;

operating the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a system stability; and

operating the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage

wherein determining the system stability includes calculating a torque angle, and wherein operating the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain the system stability includes operating the vanadium redox battery and the fuel generators to generate battery power and fuel power to maintain a torque angle at less than 90 degrees.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 51, wherein the method further comprises operating the vanadium redox battery to generate battery power to maintain a substantially constant system frequency.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 51, wherein the method further comprises instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power to maintain the system stability.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 51, wherein the method further comprises instructing the vanadium redox battery to absorb fuel power to maintain a substantially constant system voltage.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 51, wherein the method further comprises balancing a percentage of the system load between the fuel generators to achieve an optimal load for each fuel generator.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 55, wherein the method further comprises powering down a fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the operating fuel generators.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 55, wherein the method further comprises powering up a fuel generator to achieve an optimal load for the operating fuel generators.