Method and apparatus for storing energy

• US 8,456,028 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Deane, Geoffrey F., Gross, William, Hyde, Roderick A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Kare, Jordin T., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Fyke, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US13/366,774
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R
• US Class Current: 290/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 1/00 Spring motors spring-driven toys A63H; springs in general F16F; precision time mechanisms, e.g. for clocks or watches, G04B
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 15/007 involving storage in the form of mechanical energy, e.g. fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/02 with armatures moved one way by energisation of a single coil system and returned by mechanical force, e.g. by springs
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/003 Couplings; Details of shafts means for mounting rotors on shafts H02K1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1008 structurally associated with the machine rotor H02K7/1012 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/18 Structural association of electric generators with mechanical driving motors, e.g. with turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1892 Generators with parts oscillating or vibrating about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/10 Control effected upon generator excitation circuit to reduce harmful effects of overloads or transients, e.g. sudden application of load, sudden removal of load, sudden change of load

Abstract

An energy storage apparatus for storing energy transmitted by a power transmission line includes an elastically deformable component and an actuator-generator. The actuator-generator is coupled to the elastically deformable component such that electrical actuation of the actuator-generator generates tension in the elastically deformable component. The actuator-generator is further coupled to the elastically deformable component such that mechanical actuation of the actuator-generator via a release of tension in the elastically deformable component causes a generation of electrical energy by the actuator-generator.

Claims

1. An energy storage apparatus for storing energy transmitted by a power transmission line, the energy storage apparatus comprising:

an elastically deformable component, wherein the elastically deformable component is a cable; and

an actuator-generator configured for coupling to the power transmission line, the actuator-generator coupled to the elastically deformable component such that electrical actuation of the actuator-generator generates tension in the elastically deformable component and such that mechanical actuation of the actuator-generator via a release of tension in the elastically deformable component causes a generation of electrical energy by the actuator-generator.

2. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator includes at least one of an electro-hydraulic component, an electromechanical component, an electromagnetic component, or an electro-fluidic component.

3. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrical power source coupled to the actuator-generator.

4. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable has a resonance frequency corresponding to a harmonic of the primary frequency.

5. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is coupled to a damper.

6. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator is coupled to at least one end of the cable.

7. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein actuator-generator is coupled to the cable at a point on the cable disposed between a first end of the cable and a second end of the cable.

8. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator is coupled to two ends of the cable.

9. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is configured in a linear orientation.

10. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a force bearing support coupled to the cable.

11. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator is coupled to the elastically deformable component, such that electrical actuation of the actuator-generator generates torsional tension in the elastically deformable component.

12. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator is coupled to the elastically deformable component, such that electrical actuation of the actuator-generator generates linear tension in the elastically deformable component.

13. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing in which at least a portion of the elastically deformable component and the actuator-generator are disposed.

14. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator includes a rotary motor.

15. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator includes a linear motor.

16. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator is further configured to maintain the tension in the elastically deformable component.

17. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator includes at least one of a brake, a releasable ratchet, or a movable pin actuatable to maintain the tension in the elastically deformable component.

18. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to at least one of the elastically deformable component or the actuator-generator, the at least one sensor configured to measure a force applied by the actuator-generator to generate the tension in the elastically deformable component.

19. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to at least one of the elastically deformable component or the actuator-generator, the at least one sensor configured to measure a torque applied by the actuator-generator to induce the tension in the elastically deformable component.

20. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to at least one of the elastically deformable component or the actuator-generator, the at least one sensor configured to measure the tension in the elastically deformable component.

21. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to at least one of the elastically deformable component or the actuator-generator, the at least one sensor configured to measure stress in the elastically deformable component.

22. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a strain gauge coupled to the elastically deformable component for measuring strain in the elastically deformable component.

23. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to at least one of the elastically deformable component or the actuator-generator, the at least one sensor configured to measure an energy storage quantity.

24. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to at least one of the elastically deformable component or the actuator-generator, the at least one sensor configured to measure cumulative energy storage.

25. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to at least one of the elastically deformable component or the actuator-generator, the at least one sensor configured to measure an energy efficiency of the energy storage apparatus.

26. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator is coupled to the elastically deformable component such that electrically actuating the actuator-generator causes application of a transverse force to the elastically deformable component.

27. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator comprises an actuator and a generator that are separated from one another.

28. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power-sink coupled to the actuator-generator.

29. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is a non-rotating cable.

30. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is a monolithic cable.

31. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is a stranded cable.

32. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is a straight stranded cable.

33. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is a twisted stranded cable.

34. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable has a circular cross-section.

35. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable has a rectangular cross-section.

36. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable has a ribbon-like cross section.

37. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is a hanging cable.

38. The energy storage apparatus of claim 37, further comprising weights coupled to the hanging cable.

39. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is pre-tensioned.

40. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is composed of steel.

41. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is composed of an organic polymer.

42. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is composed of a synthetic polymer.

43. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is composed of Kevlar.

44. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is composed of Zylon.

45. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is composed of carbon fiber.

46. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a force bearing support coupled to the cable.

47. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a torsion bearing support coupled to the cable.

48. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a moment bearing support coupled to the cable.

49. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the actuator-generator, the controller configured to modulate electrical energy consumption and generation of the actuator-generator.

50. The energy storage apparatus of claim 49 wherein the controller is configured to modulate electrical energy consumption and generation at rates greater than or equal to 10 Hz.

51. The energy storage apparatus of claim 49 wherein the controller is configured to modulate electrical energy consumption and generation at rates greater than or equal to 1 Hz.

52. The energy storage apparatus of claim 49 wherein the controller is configured to modulate electrical energy consumption and generation at rates greater than or equal to a primary frequency of the power transmission line.

53. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable is configured in a plurality of folds.

54. The energy storage apparatus of claim 53, further comprising a plurality of bearings on which the cable configured in a plurality of folds is disposed.

55. An energy storage apparatus for storing energy transmitted by a power transmission line, the energy storage apparatus comprising:

an elastically deformable component; and

an actuator-generator configured for coupling to the power transmission line, the actuator-generator coupled to the elastically deformable component such that electrical actuation of the actuator-generator generates linear tension in the elastically deformable component and such that mechanical actuation of the actuator-generator via a release of tension in the elastically deformable component causes a generation of electrical energy by the actuator-generator.

56. An energy storage apparatus for storing energy transmitted by a power transmission line, the energy storage apparatus comprising:

an elastically deformable component; and

an actuator-generator configured for coupling to the power transmission line, the actuator-generator coupled to the elastically deformable component such that electrical actuation of the actuator-generator generates tension in the elastically deformable component and such that mechanical actuation of the actuator-generator via a release of tension in the elastically deformable component causes a generation of electrical energy by the actuator-generator, wherein the actuator generator includes a linear motor.

57. An energy storage apparatus for storing energy transmitted by a power transmission line, the energy storage apparatus comprising:

an elastically deformable component; and

an actuator-generator configured for coupling to the power transmission line, the actuator-generator coupled to the elastically deformable component such that electrical actuation of the actuator-generator causes application of a transverse force to the elastically deformable component and generates tension in the elastically deformable component and such that mechanical actuation of the actuator-generator via a release of tension in the elastically deformable component causes a generation of electrical energy by the actuator-generator.