Domestic combined heat and power unit
First Claim
1. A domestic power system to provide the heat and at least a portion of the electrical power requirements in a domestic dwelling, the domestic dwelling having a plurality of electricity consuming devices each of which have an electrical power requirement, the system comprising:
- a micro-cogeneration unit, operable both in the presence and absence of a main power supply, the micro-cogeneration unit comprising a combustible fuel supply, and arranged to produce an electrical power output and a heat output;
a grid connector, for connecting the domestic power system to a main power supply;
a detector, for detecting interruption of the main power supply; and
a system controller arranged to connect the power output from the micro-cogeneration to all of the plurality of electricity consuming devices when the main power supply is present and to connect the power output from the micro-cogeneration to a selected subset of the plurality of electricity consuming devices having a lower electrical power demand than the total domestic power requirement, so as to provide electrical backup power thereto in the absence of main power, when the detector detects interruption of the main power supply.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A domestic combined heat and power (dchp) unit includes a Stirling engine 1 to provide heat for a domestic dwelling along with a source of electrical power. Under normal operation, the dchp is supplied with power from the national grid. When there is an interruption in the mains power from the grid, the dchp switches into a grid independent mode wherein power is generated by the dchp and is supplied to a controller 26 and to a water pump so as to maintain integrity of heat supply to the dwelling; the remaining power after that is supplied to selected domestic electrically powered equipment such as lights or television sets. The invention also discloses methods for black start of the dchp during a mains power loss, and also modification of the operating voltage on start up of electrical equipment during a power loss, to prevent the Stirling engine stalling.
129 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A domestic power system to provide the heat and at least a portion of the electrical power requirements in a domestic dwelling, the domestic dwelling having a plurality of electricity consuming devices each of which have an electrical power requirement, the system comprising:
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a micro-cogeneration unit, operable both in the presence and absence of a main power supply, the micro-cogeneration unit comprising a combustible fuel supply, and arranged to produce an electrical power output and a heat output; a grid connector, for connecting the domestic power system to a main power supply; a detector, for detecting interruption of the main power supply; and a system controller arranged to connect the power output from the micro-cogeneration to all of the plurality of electricity consuming devices when the main power supply is present and to connect the power output from the micro-cogeneration to a selected subset of the plurality of electricity consuming devices having a lower electrical power demand than the total domestic power requirement, so as to provide electrical backup power thereto in the absence of main power, when the detector detects interruption of the main power supply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification