Battery system and its control method

• US 8,810,202 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nomura, Youjirou
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/818,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20130154570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 320/128
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A battery system includes a battery, a control section that controls the battery to charge electric power supplied from the electrical grid and to discharge electric power to the electrical grid; and a system controller. The system controller controls the control section such that the battery system operates in a first mode where electric power that is generated by a pre-designated distributed electric power source associated with the electrical grid is supplied preferentially to a user'"'"'s load or in a second mode where electric power that is charged in the battery is supplied preferentially to the user'"'"'s load.

Claims

1. A battery system that is operable in association with an electrical grid, the battery system comprising:

a battery that charges or discharges electric power;

a control section that controls said battery to charge electric power supplied from said electrical grid and to discharge electric power to said electrical grid;

a system controller that controls said control section such that said battery system operates in a first mode where electric power that is generated by a pre-designated distributed electric power source associated with said electrical grid is supplied preferentially to a user'"'"'s load or in a second mode where electric power that is charged in said battery is supplied preferentially to said user'"'"'s load; and

first electric power measurement means that measures electric power supplied to said user'"'"'s load on said electrical grid side rather than an association point of said distributed electric power source,

wherein said system controller controls said control section such that said battery discharges electric power to said electrical grid if electric power measured by said first electric power measurement means is greater than 0 while said battery system is operating in said first mode.

2. The battery system according to claim 1,

wherein said system controller controls said control section such that said battery system operates in a third mode where surplus electric power that is generated by said pre-designated distributed electric power source is sold preferentially or in a fourth mode where surplus electric power that is generated by said distributed electric power source is charged preferentially to said battery while said system controller is operating in said first mode or said second mode.

3. The battery system according to claim 1, further comprising:

second electric power measurement means that measures electric power supplied to said user'"'"'s load on said user'"'"'s load side rather than the association point of said distributed electric power source; and

third electric power measurement means that measures output electric power of said distributed electric power source,

wherein said system controller controls said control section such that said battery discharges electric power to said electrical grid if electric power measured by said second electric power measurement means is greater than electric power measured by said third electric power measurement means while said battery system is operating in said second mode.

4. A control method for a battery system that is operable in association with an electrical grid, the battery system including:

a battery that charges or discharges electric power; and

a control section that controls said battery to charge electric power supplied from said electrical grid and to discharge electric power to said electrical grid,

the control method comprising;

causing a computer to control said control section such that said battery system operates in a first mode where electric power that is generated by a pre-designated distributed electric power source associated with said electrical grid is supplied preferentially to a user'"'"'s load or in a second mode where electric power that is charged in said battery is supplied preferentially to said user'"'"'s load,

wherein said battery system also includes first electric power measurement means that measures electric power supplied to said user'"'"'s load on said electrical grid side rather than an association point of said distributed electric power source,

wherein said control method further comprises;

causing said computer to control said control section such that said battery discharges electric power to said electrical grid if electric power measured by said first electric power measurement means is greater than 0 while said battery system is operating in said first mode.

5. The control method for the battery system according to claim 4, further comprising:

causing said computer to control said control section such that said battery system operates in a third mode where surplus electric power that is generated by said pre-designated distributed electric power source is sold preferentially or in a fourth mode where surplus electric power that is generated by said distributed electric power source is charged preferentially to said battery while said system controller is operating in said first mode or said second mode.

6. The control method for the battery system according to claim 4,

wherein said battery system also includes second electric power measurement means that measures electric power supplied to said user'"'"'s load on said user'"'"'s load side rather than the association point of said distributed electric power source and third electric power measurement means that measures output electric power of said distributed electric power source, and

wherein said control method further comprises:

causing said computer to compare electric power measured by said second electric power measurement means with electric power measured by said third electric power measurement means while said battery system is operating in aid second mode; and

causing said computer to control said control section such that said battery discharges electric power to said electrical grid if electric power measured by said second electric power measurement means is greater than electric power measured by said third electric power measurement means while said battery system is operating in said second mode.