Distributed energy source system

• US 9,348,384 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WISE Power Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kevin J. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US13/836,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20140136008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 700/295
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/12 Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing energy within an inhabitable environment are provided. An energy storage system includes storing and managing energy. The storage of energy may be based on user preferences. The management of energy includes directing energy within the inhabitable environment according to user preferences and mapping data. Mapping data includes matching an electrical outlet to a location and/or device within the inhabitable environment. Instructions are provided by the computing device to the electrical components based on the mapping to control the electrical components and electrical devices.

Claims

1. An energy management system for an inhabitable environment, configured to direct a flow of energy according to mapping data, the system comprising:

a system controller having a computing device including a processor coupled to a computer readable storage medium including computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor perform a method comprising;

receiving mapping data, the mapping data comprising a matching between at least one electrical outlet and at least one device, wherein the at least one electrical outlet and the at least one device are each associated with an inhabitable environment, the inhabitable environment comprising at least one of;

a heating system, a cooling system, and the at least one electrical outlet;

receiving an energy management instruction; and

directing a flow of energy from an energy source to the at least one energy outlet, the direction of the flow of energy being based on the mapping data and energy management instruction, wherein the energy source comprises a combination of a peak surge “

start-up energy source” and

a steady power “

operational energy source”

.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein mapping further comprises matching the at least one energy outlet to a location within the inhabitable environment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy source is a utility provider.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy source comprises at least one of:

a battery bank and capacitor bank, the battery bank and capacitor bank each being associated with the inhabitable environment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy management instruction comprises at least one of:

an instruction to direct the flow of energy to a device, an instruction to the location within the inhabitable environment to direct the flow of energy, an instruction of a time of day to direct the flow of energy, and an instruction of an amount of energy to direct to an electrical outlet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy management instruction is received from a user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy management instruction is received from a smart meter.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the peak surge “

start-up energy source”

is a bank of ultra-capacitors that holds electricity that discharges quickly and with a burst of power that is designed to power devices that require 3-7 times more energy than average for start-up surge.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the smoother “

operational energy source”

is a bank of lithium ion batteries, wherein this bank of lithium batteries is used in conjunction with the “

start-up energy source”

to deliver smoother more constant energy to electrical components/devices.

10. A system for personal energy management, the system comprising:

a battery bank providing at least an operational energy source;

a capacitor bank providing at least a start-up energy source; and

a computing device having a processor coupled to a memory, the computing device operable with a set of modules, the set of modules configured to manage a flow of energy from the battery bank and the capacitor bank to one or more electrical components,

wherein the one or more electrical components are associated with an inhabitable environment, the one or more electrical components comprising at least one of;

a heating system, a cooling system and an electrical outlet.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computing device is further configured to manage the storage of energy within the battery bank and the capacitor bank, the management of the storage of energy comprising at least one of:

the amount of energy to store and time of day to store energy.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the management of the storage of energy is based on user preferences.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the battery bank comprises at least one lithium ion battery.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the computing device is further configured to gather historical energy usage data from at least one of:

the heating system, the cooling system, and electrical outlet.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the computing device is further configured to comprise mapping data, the mapping data comprising a matching between at least one energy outlet and at least one of:

a device and a location within the inhabitable environment.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the computing device is configured to manage the flow of energy based on both (1) mapping data and (2) energy management instructions.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the energy management instruction comprises at least one of:

an instruction to the device to direct the flow of energy, an instruction to the location within the inhabitable environment to direct the flow of energy, an instruction of a time of day to direct the flow of energy, and an instruction of an amount of energy to direct.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising a graphical user interface.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the computing device receives energy management instructions from a user through the graphical user interface.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the computing device is in communication with a smart meter and receives energy management instructions from the smart meter.

21. A method for directing a flow of energy, the method comprising:

receiving mapping data, the mapping data comprising a matching between at least one electrical outlet and at least one device, wherein the at least one electrical outlet and the at least one device are each associated with an inhabitable environment, the inhabitable environment comprising at least one of;

a heating system, a cooling system, and the at least one electrical outlet;

receiving an energy management instruction;

directing a flow of energy from at least one of a battery bank and a capacitor bank to the at least one energy outlet, the directing of the flow of energy being based on the mapping data and energy management instruction, wherein the energy source comprises at least one of;

a battery bank and capacitor bank, and the battery bank and capacitor bank are both contained in a personal energy storage system associated with the inhabitable environment;

directing energy flow from the capacitor bank for start-up and surge energy requirements; and

directing energy flow from the battery bank for operational energy requirements.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein mapping further comprises matching the at least one energy outlet to a location within the inhabitable environment.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the capacitor bank and the battery bank cooperate to provide a substantially continuous electric power delivery system to power electrical devices and supply daily electricity needs for start-up and continual operation.