Systems, apparatus, and methods of a solar energy grid integrated system with energy storage appliance

• US 8,463,449 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2011
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Budderfly, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sunverge Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Sanders, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTSON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/016,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20120197449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 700286-291, 700295-298, 320/101, 320/138, 320/139, 361/810, 521/733
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for integrating distributed energy sources, energy storage, and balance of system components into a single device with systems and control for monitoring, measuring, and conserving power generated on the premise. A data processing gateway, hybrid inverter/converter and charge controller provide flexibility in the multi-voltages, output capacities, and photovoltaic array sizes coupled to the apparatus and system. The system and apparatus may be used in various commercial and residential applications. A user may store energy provided by one or more alternate energy sources coupled to an energy storage module. The system provides a compact enclosure that fits within a utility workspace and enclosures that can be mechanically coupled together, placed in parallel or in a series. A method, computer implemented apparatus, computer readable medium, computer implemented method and a system for monitoring energy consumption, selling energy back to a utility company and peak shaving are also provided.

Claims

1. An Intelligent Energy Storage Module Management System, comprising:

a tamper resistant energy storage enclosure housed within an intelligent energy storage module management enclosure with security fastening means, wherein the tamper resistant energy storage enclosure includes means for connecting one or more energy storage devices to a hybrid inverter/converter via a solid copper bus bulkhead apparatus which further includes an electrically insulated escutcheon means and associated cover to isolate a high current bus conductor from service personnel;

a housing means for one or more energy storage module management intelligent electronics and telemetry equipment within said intelligent energy storage module management enclosure while simultaneously isolating one or more energy storage disconnecting switches and associated conductors;

a communications connection bulkhead means housed within the intelligent energy storage module management enclosure for allowing the Intelligent Energy Storage Module Management System to communicate to a data processing gateway, hybrid inverter/converter and charge controller;

one or more venting grid ports located on the intelligent energy storage module management enclosure adjacent to one or more energy storage modules, wherein the one or more venting grid ports cross ventilate and convection cool one or more of the one or more energy storage modules;

one or more components of the energy storage module management intelligent electronics and telemetry equipment communicably coupled to a multiprotocol data processing communication gateway device to provide telemetry data to implement one or more processes to integrate with an Energy Area Network (EAN); and

the Energy Area Network (EAN) communicably coupled to one or more appliances and electrical loads to aggregate locally stored control algorithms and remotely received control parameters.

2. The Intelligent Energy Storage Module Management System of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more Controller Area Network Bus (CANBUS) protocols to allow one or more components to communicate with each other without one or more host computers;

one or more Distributed Network Protocol 3.0 (DNP3) platforms to facilitate communication between the one or

more data processing gateways and one or more components;

at least one National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) approved Common Information Model (CIM); and

at least one Zigbee Smart Energy 2.0 (SE2) compliant platform.

3. The Intelligent Energy Storage Module Management System of claim 1 wherein the Energy Storage Module Management System prevents access by unauthorized personnel.

4. The Intelligent Energy Storage Module Management System of claim 1 wherein the Energy Area Network (EAN) is a Home Area Network (HAN) comprising residential appliances and electrical loads.

5. The Intelligent Energy Storage Module Management System of claim 1 wherein the one or more components of the energy storage module management intelligent electronics and telemetry equipment communicably coupled to a multiprotocol data processing communication gateway device further integrates an intelligent charge controller and intelligent inverter/converter to the Energy Area Network (EAN).

6. The Intelligent Energy Storage Module Management System of claim 1 wherein the tamper resistant energy storage enclosure houses one or more energy storage components of the energy storage module management intelligent electronics and telemetry equipment wherein the one or more energy storage modules are electrically connected in series.

7. The Intelligent Energy Storage Module Management System of claim 1 wherein the one or more energy storage devices each contain at least one energy storage module, wherein one or more modules are connected to the tamper resistant energy storage enclosure and wherein the one or more modules comprise a string.