Method and apparatus for storing energy

• US 8,829,697 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2013
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Deane, Geoffrey F., Fyke, Aaron, Gross, William, Hyde, Roderick A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Kare, Jordin T., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US13/889,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 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;

an 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; and

a central connection interface configured for coupling to the power transmission line and coupled to the actuator-generator to receive electrical energy from the power transmission line and to transmit electrical energy generated by actuator-generator to the power transmission line.

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, wherein the actuator-generator includes a piezoelectric component.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

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

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

10. 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.

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

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

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

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

15. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

21. 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.

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

23. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator is coupled to the elastically deformable component at allocation between a first extremity and a second extremity of the elastically deformable component, and wherein the first extremity is coupled to a first stationary structure and the second extremity is coupled to a second stationary structure.

24. 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.

25. The energy storage apparatus of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to modulate electrical energy consumption and generation at rates greater than or equal to 10 Hz.

26. The energy storage apparatus of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to modulate electrical energy consumption and generation at rates greater than or equal to 1 Hz.

27. The energy storage apparatus of claim 24 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.

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

29. The energy storage apparatus of claim 28, wherein the electrical power source is a power transmission line.

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

31. The energy storage apparatus of claim 30, wherein the power-sink is the power transmission line.

32. The energy storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator-generator is coupled to a first extremity of the elastically deformable component and a second extremity of the elastically deformable component is coupled to a stationary structure.

33. The energy storage device of claim 32, wherein the elastically deformable component is arranged in a plurality of folds by a plurality of bearings.

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

an elastically deformable component;

an actuator configured for coupling to the power transmission line, the actuator coupled to the elastically deformable component, such that electrically actuating the actuator generates tension in the elastically deformable component;

a generator configured for coupling to the power transmission line, the generator coupled to the elastically deformable member 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 generator; and

a controller coupled to at least one of the actuator or the generator, the controller configured to modulate electrical energy consumption of the actuator and electrical energy generation of the generator.

35. The energy storage apparatus of claim 34, wherein the controller is configured to modulate electrical energy consumption and generation at rates greater than or equal to 10 Hz.

36. The energy storage apparatus of claim 34, wherein the controller is configured to modulate electrical energy consumption and generation at rates greater than or equal to 1 Hz.

37. The energy storage apparatus of claim 34, wherein the actuator includes at least one of an electro-hydraulic component, an electromechanical component, an electromagnetic component, or an electro-fluidic component.

38. The energy storage apparatus of claim 34, wherein the actuator-generator includes a piezoelectric component.

39. The energy storage apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one actuator is further configured to maintain the tension induced in the elastically deformable component.

40. The energy storage apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one actuator includes at least one of a brake, a releasable ratchet, or a movable pin to maintain the tension induced in the elastically deformable component.

41. The energy storage apparatus of claim 34, further comprising at least one of a clamp, a hook, or a pin releasably engageable with the elastically deformable component.

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

an elastically deformable component;

a power transducer coupled to the elastically deformable component, the power transducers configured to

generate, from electrical energy received from the power transmission line, elastic energy in the elastically deformable component by tensile deformation of the elastically deformable component, and

generate electrical energy, from elastic energy received from the elastically deformable component; and

a controller coupled to the power transducer, the controller configured to modulate electrical energy generation of the power transducer.

43. The energy storage apparatus of claim 42, wherein the controller is configured to modulate electrical energy generation at rates greater than or equal to 10 Hz.