System and method for transporting energy

• US 8,791,589 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Largo Clean Energy Corporation (Largo Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Premium Power Corporation
• Inventors: Colello, Gary M., Darcy, Dennis M., Stevens, George B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US13/082,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/150
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 2003/043 using shore connectors for electric power supply from shore-borne mains, or other electric energy sources external to the vessel, e.g. for docked, or moored vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/3909 Sodium-sulfur cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/085 Zinc-halogen cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/405 Cogeneration of heat or hot water
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04067 Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/188 by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2455 with liquid, solid or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/249 comprising two or more groupings of fuel cells, e.g. modular assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/10 The dispersed energy generation being of fossil origin, e.g. diesel generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/40 wherein a plurality of decentralised, dispersed or local energy generation technologies are operated simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 : involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 : the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 : Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 : Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 : with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 : Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A method for shifting energy in space and time includes charging an energy store from an energy source at a first location, transporting the energy store to a second location, and discharging the energy store at the second location to deliver energy to an energy consumer. A method for providing energy security to an energy consumer includes charging an energy store from an energy source at a first location, transporting the energy store to a second location, and when a primary energy source at the second location is unavailable, discharging the energy store at the second location to deliver energy to the energy consumer. A vehicle for wirelessly transmitting electric power from a first location to a second location includes a battery, at least one power converter, a controller, and power coupling electrically coupled to the at least one power converter.

Claims

1. A mobile energy storage system, comprising:

a chassis selected from the group consisting of a truck chassis and a trailer chassis;

a table, including;

a supporting structure,

a first leg having opposing first and second ends, the first end of the first leg fastened to the supporting structure,

a second leg having opposing first and second ends, the first end of the second leg fastened to the supporting structure,

a sliding support, including;

a first base fastened to the chassis,

a track affixed to the first base, and

a slide arranged to slide within the track, the slide pivotally connected to the second end of the first leg, and

a pivot foot, including;

a second base fastened to the chassis, and

an inner member pivotally connected to the second base and pivotally connected to the second end of the second leg; and

a battery subsystem including a flowing electrolyte battery disposed on the supporting structure of the table.

2. The mobile energy storage system of claim 1, further comprising:

an AC/DC subsystem disposed on the chassis and for interfacing the mobile energy storage system with an external AC system; and

a DC/DC subsystem disposed on the chassis and electrically coupled to the AC/DC subsystem via a first DC bus, the DC/DC subsystem coupled to the battery subsystem via a second DC bus, the DC/DC subsystem configured and arranged to control charging and discharging of the battery subsystem;

the mobile energy storage system configured and arranged to receive energy in the form of electric power from the external AC system for storage in the battery subsystem; and

the mobile energy storage system configured and arranged to provide energy stored in the battery subsystem to the external AC system in the form of electric power.

3. The mobile energy storage system of claim 2, at least portions of sides of the chassis being formed of a flexible material.

4. The mobile energy storage system of claim 2, the sliding support further including a first pivot pin coupling the slide to the second end of the first leg.

5. The mobile energy storage system of claim 4, the pivot foot further including a second pivot pin coupling the second base to the inner member.

6. The mobile energy storage system of claim 5, the first base and the second base each being fastened to a floor of the chassis.

7. The mobile energy storage system of claim 5, the first base and the second base each being fastened to a top portion of the chassis, such that the table hangs from the top portion of the chassis.

8. The mobile energy storage system of claim 5, the first base and the second base each being fastened to a vertical portion of the chassis, such that the table extends sideways from the vertical portion of the chassis.