Energy storage system for elevators

• US 7,681,694 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Inventors: Korvenranta, Sakari, Jahkonen, Pekka, Aulanko, Esko, Syrman, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US12/165,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20080283341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 187/277, 187/290, 187/293, 187/295, 187/296, 187/297
• US Class Current: 187/290
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/302 for energy saving
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/308 with AC powered elevator drive

Abstract

An elevator system and a method for reducing total power in an elevator system are provided. The elevator system includes at least one elevator without counterweight for moving people and/or goods. The elevator without counterweight comprises a power converter unit, an elevator motor, a traction sheave, a set of hoisting ropes and an elevator car. The elevator system also includes means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage.

Claims

1. An elevator system, said elevator system comprising:

at least one elevator without counterweight for moving people and/or goods, said elevator without counterweight comprising;

a power converter unit,

an elevator motor,

a traction sheave,

a set of hoisting ropes, and

an elevator car; and

means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage, wherein the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage comprises a weighted elevator, said weighted elevator comprising

a weight,

a set of hoisting ropes,

a motor, and

a traction sheave,

wherein the power converter unit of the at least one elevator without counterweight for moving people and/or goods and the weighted elevator are connected to a common direct-voltage intermediate circuit.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage are arranged in the direct-voltage intermediate circuit of the elevator system, to which circuit is also connected a power converter unit arranged to control the elevator motor.

3. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage comprise a flywheel and a motor.

4. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for storing electric energy and discharging a storage of electric energy.

5. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the elevators of the system are arranged as an elevator group, and in which elevator system the elevators and the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage are controllable by group control.

6. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for enabling elevator operation in failure situations occurring in the electricity supply and/or in the power converter unit arranged between electricity network and the direct-voltage intermediate circuit.

7. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for enabling elevator operation in failure situations occurring in the power converter unit arranged to control the elevator motor.

13. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage comprises a flywheel and a motor.

14. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for storing electric energy and discharging a storage of electric energy.

15. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for storing electric energy and discharging a storage of electric energy.

16. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein the elevators of the system are arranged as an elevator group, and in which elevator system the elevators and the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage are controllable by group control.

17. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein the elevators of the system are arranged as an elevator group, and in which elevator system the elevators and the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage are controllable by group control.

18. The elevator system according to claim 4, wherein the elevators of the system are arranged as an elevator group, and in which elevator system the elevators and the means for storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage are controllable by group control.

19. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for enabling elevator operation in failure situations occurring in the electricity supply and/or in the power converter unit arranged between the electricity network and the direct-voltage intermediate circuit.

20. The elevator system according to claim 3, wherein the elevator system further comprises means for enabling elevator operation in failure situations occurring in the electricity supply and/or in the power converter unit arranged between electricity network and the direct-voltage intermediate circuit.

8. A method for reducing the total power in an elevator system, the method comprising:

providing said elevator system comprising at least one elevator without counterweight for transporting people and/or goods, said elevator without counterweight comprising a power converter unit, an elevator motor, a traction sheave, a set of hoisting ropes and an elevator car,

providing a weighted elevator having a power converter unit, and

storing mechanical energy and discharging an energy storage in the elevator system using the weight elevator and the power converter unit of the weight elevator.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising charging the storage of mechanical energy using power obtained from electricity network.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising charging the storage of mechanical energy using power generated by the motor of an elevator comprised in the elevator system.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising reducing the average power in the elevator system using means for storing mechanical energy and discharging the energy storage.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising reducing peak power in the elevator system using means for storing mechanical energy and discharging the energy storage.