Utility grid power averaging and conditioning

• US 8,788,109 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eestor Inc. (FuelPositive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Eestor Inc. (FuelPositive Corp.)
• Inventors: Weir, Richard D., Nelson, Carl W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US13/401,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20120146418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 700/295, 307/64, 320/166, 361/313
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/302 obtained by injection of metal in cavities formed in a ceramic body
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/43 Electric condenser making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/435 Solid dielectric type

Abstract

A power system can include an input configured to be coupled to a utility grid. The power system can further include an electrical energy storage unit comprising a dielectric layer disposed between first and second electrode layers, the dielectric layer comprising a high permittivity ceramic material. In an embodiment, the power system can include a control computer can control a first switch to deactivate a main electrical energy storage unit that includes the electrical energy storage unit, and to control the second switch to activate a backup energy storage unit. In a further embodiment, the power system can include an output coupled to the utility power grid. In a further embodiment, the power system can include a control computer to control a first switch to deactivate a main electrical energy storage unit, and to control a second switch to activate an electrical energy storage unit buffer.

Claims

1. A power system comprising:

a bridge to convert alternating current to direct current, wherein the bridge has input terminals and output terminals, wherein the inputs are configured to be coupled to a utility grid;

a first capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to an output terminal of the bridge, and the second terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to ground;

a second capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the second capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor and ground, and the second terminal of the second capacitor is coupled to another output terminal of the bridge;

a first switch coupled to first terminal of the first capacitor;

a second switch coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitor;

a main electrical energy storage unit having first and second input terminals and first and second output terminals, wherein;

the first input terminal of the main electrical energy storage unit is coupled to the first switch;

the second input terminal of the main electrical energy storage unit is coupled to the second switch; and

the main electrical energy storage unit includes an electrical energy storage unit comprising a first dielectric layer disposed between first and second electrode layers, the first dielectric layer comprising a high permittivity ceramic material;

a backup electrical energy storage unit having a first output terminal and a second output terminal;

a third switch coupled to first output terminal of the backup electrical energy storage unit;

a fourth switch coupled to the second output terminal of the backup electrical energy storage unit;

an electrical energy storage unit buffer coupled to the first and second output terminals of the main electrical energy storage unit and the third and fourth switches;

an output coupled to the electrical energy storage unit buffer;

a control computer configured to determine that the electrically energy storage unit buffer has a sufficient charge, and in response to determining that the electrically energy storage unit buffer has a sufficient charge, to control the first and second switches to deactivate the main electrical energy storage unit, and to control the third and fourth switches to activate the backup energy storage unit.

2. The power system of claim 1, wherein the backup electrical energy storage unit comprises a portable electrical energy storage unit including a second dielectric layer disposed between third and fourth electrode layers, the second dielectric layer comprising a high permittivity ceramic material.

3. The power system of claim 1, further comprising:

a DC/AC converter unit coupled between the main electrical energy storage unit and the output,

wherein the bridge is a full wave bridge to provide full wave rectification of an AC input voltage received from the utility power grid.

4. The power system of claim 3, further comprising:

an input filter coupled between the full wave bridge and the main electrical energy storage unit;

a mid filter coupled between to the main electrical energy storage unit and the electrical energy storage unit buffer; and

an output filter coupled between the DC/AC converter unit and the output.

5. The power system of claim 4, wherein the main electrical energy storage unit is a capacitive electrical energy storage unit to provide power on demand to the output and to reduce utility grid line AC noise, transients, and short and long term drop outs.

6. The power system of claim 1, further comprising a current limiting unit coupled between the input and the main electrical energy storage unit to the system.

7. The power system of claim 6, wherein the control computer is to control the switches or the current limiting unit to:

adjust the current limiting unit to change the power provided to the main electrical energy storage unit on an as needed basis;

providing a seamless delivery of power without loss of output power or adding switching noise to the output power;

or

any combination thereof.

8. The power system of claim 1, wherein the main electrical energy storage unit is an ultra capacitor configuration fabricated utilizing a composition-modified barium titanate powder coated with aluminum oxide and immersed in a calcium magnesium aluminosilicate glass or polymer matrix.

9. A power system comprising:

a bridge to convert alternating current to direct current, wherein the bridge has input terminals and output terminals, wherein the input terminals are configured to be coupled to a utility grid;

a first capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to an output terminal of the bridge, and the second terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to ground;

a second capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the second capacitor is coupled to ground, and the second terminal of the second capacitor is coupled to another output terminal of the bridge;

a main electrical energy storage unit coupled to the output terminals of the bridge, wherein the main electrical energy storage unit includes an electrical energy storage unit comprising a dielectric layer disposed between first and second electrode layers, the dielectric layer comprising a high permittivity ceramic material;

a first electrical energy storage unit buffer coupled in parallel with the main electrical energy storage unit;

a second electrical energy storage unit buffer coupled to the main electrical energy storage unit and the first electrical energy storage unit buffer;

an output coupled to the second electrical energy storage unit buffer;

switches including a first switch associated with the main electrical energy storage unit and a second switch associated with the first electrical energy storage unit buffer; and

a control computer configured to determine that the second electrically energy storage unit buffer has a sufficient charge, and in response to determining that the second electrically energy storage unit buffer has a sufficient charge, to control the first switch to deactivate the main electrical energy storage unit, and to control the second switch to activate the second electrical energy storage unit buffer.

10. The power system of claim 9, wherein the control computer is to control the switches or to switch delivery of the output power from the main electrical energy storage unit to the first electrical energy storage unit buffer and isolating the main electrical energy storage unit to permit adding, removing, or replacing capacitive electrical energy storage units of the main electrical energy storage unit.

11. The power system of claim 9, wherein the control computer is configured such that after maintenance is performed, the control computer is further configured to control the second switch to deactivate the second electrical energy storage unit buffer, and to control the first switch to activate the main electrical energy storage unit.

12. The power system of claim 9, wherein the control computer is configured to determine that the first electrically energy storage unit buffer has a sufficient charge before deactivating the main electrical energy storage unit and activating the first electrical energy storage unit buffer.

13. The power system of claim 9, wherein the first dielectric layer comprises the high permittivity ceramic material dispersed in a polymer matrix.

14. The power system of claim 13, wherein the high permittivity ceramic material is coated with an aluminum oxide coating.