Integrated power system control method and related apparatus with energy storage element

• US 9,496,748 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Chuah, Christopher James, Wiegman, Herman Lucas Norbert, Whisenhunt, Donald Wayne Jr., Bull, Roger Neil, Bukkasamudram, Kalyan, Brady, Connor, Gotobed, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dhillon, Jagdeep
• Application Number:
  US13/547,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20130099576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64, 307/66, 307/80, 307/82, 307/67, 320/108, 320/109, 320/132, 320/137, 700/11, 700/22, 700/286, 700/297
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 15/00 Systems for storing electric energy mechanical systems therefor F01-F04; in chemical form H01M
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00716 in response to integrated charge or discharge current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/066 characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines H02J9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• 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: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling a hybrid power architecture to provide fuel or energy savings. Recharge time of an energy storage device (ESD) is reduced through the application of a controlled potential and ESD recharge time management over the life of the hybrid system through manipulation of the ESD charge state window of operation. Fuel or energy savings is achieved by controlling the partial-state-of-charge (PSOC) window of the ESD based on a recharge resistance profile of the ESD and by controlling a charging potential applied to the ESD based on a recharge current and/or the estimated recharge resistance profile of the ESD.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an energy storage device configured to store DC electrical power and provide DC electrical power to a DC load;

a regulator operatively connected to the energy storage device and configured to convert AC electrical power, from an AC electrical power source, to DC electrical power and provide the DC electrical power to the energy storage device and/or to the DC load; and

a controller in communication with the energy storage device and the regulator, and operable to;

direct the regulator to apply a first recharge potential to the energy storage device when a determined recharge resistance value of the energy storage device is below a determined resistance threshold value; and

direct the regulator to apply a second recharge potential to the energy storage device, which is less in magnitude than the first recharge potential, when the determined recharge resistance value of the energy storage device is above the determined resistance threshold value.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery power source.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to determine the recharge resistance value of the energy storage device by monitoring potential and recharge current of the energy storage device during operation of the system.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to:

store at least one of a determined profile or map of recharge resistance value versus charge state of the energy storage device, and

determine a charge window of operation of the energy storage device, based on the at least one of the profile or the map, which conserves fuel or energy used by the AC electrical power source.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the controller is further operable to cyclically turn the AC electrical power source on and off based on the charge window of operation.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the controller is further operable to determine the at least one of the profile or map by monitoring potential and recharge current of the energy storage device during operation of the system.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the AC electrical power source comprises an engine and generator set that is configured to generate AC electrical power by consuming fuel.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the AC electrical power source comprises a wind energy system.

9. A system, comprising:

an energy storage device configured to store DC electrical power and provide DC electrical power to a DC load;

a regulator operatively connected to the energy storage device and configured to condition DC electrical power, from a DC electrical power source, and provide the DC electrical power to the energy storage device and/or to the DC load; and

a controller in communication with the battery energy storage device and the regulator, and operable to;

direct the regulator to apply a first recharge potential to the energy storage device when a determined recharge resistance value of the energy storage device is below a determined resistance threshold value; and

direct the regulator to apply a second recharge potential to the energy storage device, which is less in magnitude than the first recharge potential, when the determined recharge resistance value of the energy storage device is above the determined resistance threshold value.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery power source.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further operable to determine the recharge resistance value of the energy storage device by monitoring potential and recharge current of the energy storage device during operation of the system.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further operable to:

store at least one of a determined profile or map of recharge resistance value vs. charge state of the energy storage device, and

determine a charge window of operation of the energy storage device, based on the at least one of the profile or the map, which conserves energy produced and/or stored by the DC electrical power source.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the controller is further operable to cyclically turn the DC electrical power source on and off based on the charge window of operation.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the controller is further operable to determine the at least one of the profile or the map by monitoring potential and recharge current of the energy storage device during operation of the system.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the DC electrical power source comprises a solar energy system.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein the DC electrical power source comprises a fuel cell energy system.