Systems and methods for regulating an alternative energy source that is decoupled from a power grid

• US 9,568,900 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engie Services US Incorporated (ENGIE SA)
• Original Assignee: Opterra Energy Services, Inc. (ENGIE SA)
• Inventors: Potter, David, Alegria, Eduardo Alberto, Mineai, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Kenneth M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Yuhui R
• Application Number:
  US13/836,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20140163754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 700/287
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/20 using renewable energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A method includes: determining a total power load from an electrical power consumption entity configured to receive all or a portion of the total power load from each of (i) an alternative energy source (“AES”), (ii) a power grid, and (iii) a rechargeable energy storage device. The AES and the power grid are connected using a reverse power relay. The method also includes: for a first time period, determining a first power supply from the AES. The first power supply is affected by natural events that are uncontrolled by a user. The method also includes in accordance with a determination that, during the first time period, the power supply from the AES exceeds the power load: storing an excess portion of the power supply in the energy storage device, without releasing electrical power from the AES to the power grid. The excess portion is less than the energy storage device'"'"'s maximum capacity.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs executed by the one or more processors;

determining a total power load from an electrical power consumption entity, wherein the electrical power consumption entity is configured to receive all or a portion of the total power load from each of (i) an alternative energy source, (ii) a power grid, and (iii) a rechargeable energy storage device, and wherein the alternative energy source and the power grid are connected using a reverse power relay for preventing a reverse power flow from the alternative energy source to the power grid;

for a first time period, determining a first power supply from the alternative energy source, wherein the first power supply from the alternative energy source is affected by, at least in part, one or more natural events that are uncontrolled by a user, and determining a second power supply from the power grid;

in accordance with a determination that, during the first time period, the second power supply from the power grid is more than a predetermined kilowatt hour rating, wherein the predetermined kilowatt hour rating is greater than 0, and a determination that the first power supply from the alternative energy source is not at a full power production level, increasing the power supply from the alternative energy source;

in accordance with a determination that, during the first time period, the second power supply from the power grid is less than the predetermined kilowatt hour rating, increasing the second power supply from the power grid; and

in accordance with a determination that, during the first time period, the first power supply from the alternative energy source exceeds the power load from the electrical power consumption entity;

storing an excess portion of the first power supply from the alternative energy source in the rechargeable energy storage device, without releasing electrical power from the alternative energy source to the power grid, when the excess portion of the first power supply from the alternative energy source is less than the rechargeable energy storage device'"'"'s maximum capacity; and

reducing the first power supply from the alternative energy source when the excess portion of the first power supply from the alternative energy source exceeds the rechargeable energy storage device'"'"'s maximum capacity, without releasing electrical power from the alternative energy source to the power grid, wherein the reduced first power supply is greater than 0.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative energy source comprises a plurality of photovoltaic devices and a plurality of photovoltaic inverters;

wherein each respective photovoltaic device in the plurality of photovoltaic devices is coupled to a corresponding inverter in the plurality of photovoltaic inverters; and

wherein the reducing the power supply comprises;

decoupling less than all of the inverters in the plurality of inverters.

3. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising:

reducing the power supply from the alternative energy source when the power supply from the alternative energy source exceeds the power load from the electrical power consumption entity, and the rechargeable energy storage device has reached a kilowatt hour rating associated with the rechargeable energy storage device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is a rechargeable battery.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

for a second time period distinct from the first time period, determining a third power supply from the alternative energy source;

in accordance with a determination that, during the second time period, the power supply from the alternative energy source is less than the power load from the electrical power consumption entity;

supplying at least a portion of the power load from the electrical power consumption entity using the rechargeable energy storage device during the second time period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative energy source includes a renewable energy supply.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative energy source includes one of:

a photovoltaic power source, a fuel cell power source, a hydro-electric power source, a geo-thermal power source, a wind turbine, a diesel generator, and an albedo source.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative energy source includes at least two of:

a photovoltaic power source, a fuel cell power source, a hydro-electric power source, a geo-thermal power source, a wind turbine, a diesel generator, and an albedo source.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the total power load from the electrical power consumption entity remains within a predetermined lower threshold and a predetermined upper threshold during the first time period.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a total amount of power the rechargeable energy storage device is configured to store during the first time period; and

when the power supply from the alternative energy source exceeds the total amount, reducing, without human intervention, supply from the alternative energy source.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative energy source comprises an isolated power system, and further comprising black-starting the isolated power system using electrical power stored in the rechargeable energy storage device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to a predefined change of load from the electrical power consumption entity, storing electrical power in the rechargeable energy storage device or releasing electrical power from the rechargeable energy storage device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the first power supply from the alternative energy source uses a weather report for the first time period.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a first power supply from the alternative energy source uses a historical power supply from the alternative energy source over a first historical period and a historical power supply from the alternative energy source over a second historical period.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first historical period is in the range of between the past day and the past ten days and the second historical period is in the range of between the past ten minutes and the past six hours.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable energy storage device is configured for storing more than 1 megawatt-hour of power.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable energy storage device is a lithium iron phosphate battery.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical power consumption entity is a waste-water treatment plant, a town, a building, a city, a compound, a school, a university campus, a penitentiary, or a jail.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable energy storage device is capable of supporting the total power load from an electrical power consumption entity for more than a portion of a day.

20. A computer system, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

determining a total power load from an electrical power consumption entity, wherein the electrical power consumption entity is configured to receive all or a portion of the total power load from each of (i) an alternative energy source, (ii) a power grid, and (iii) an rechargeable energy storage device, and wherein the alternative energy source and the power grid is connected using a reverse power relay for preventing a reverse power flow from the alternative energy source to the power grid;

for a first time period, determining a first power supply from the alternative energy source, wherein the first power supply from the alternative energy source is affected by, at least in part, one or more natural events that are uncontrolled by a user, and determining a second power supply from the power grid;

in accordance with a determination that, during the first time period, the second power supply from the power grid is more than a predetermined kilowatt hour rating, wherein the predetermined kilowatt hour rating is greater than 0, and a determination that the first power supply from the alternative energy source is not at a full power production level, increasing the power supply from the alternative energy source;

in accordance with a determination that, during the first time period, the second power supply from the power grid is less than the predetermined kilowatt hour rating, increasing the second power supply from the power grid; and

in accordance with a determination that, during the first time period, the first power supply from the alternative energy source exceeds the power load from the electrical power consumption entity;

storing an excess portion of the first power supply from the alternative energy source in the rechargeable energy storage device, without releasing electrical power from the alternative energy source to the power grid, when the excess portion of the first power supply from the alternative energy source is less than the rechargeable energy storage device'"'"'s maximum capacity; and

reducing the first power supply from the alternative energy source when the excess portion of the first power supply from the alternative energy source exceeds the rechargeable energy storage device'"'"'s maximum capacity, without releasing electrical power from the alternative energy source to the power grid, wherein the reduced first power supply is greater than 0.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer system with one or more processors, cause the computer system to:

determine a total power load from an electrical power consumption entity, wherein the electrical power consumption entity is configured to receive all or a portion of the total power load from each of (i) an alternative energy source, (ii) a power grid, and (iii) an rechargeable energy storage device, and wherein the alternative energy source and the power grid is connected using a reverse power relay for preventing a reverse power flow from the alternative energy source to the power grid;

for a first time period, determining a first power supply from the alternative energy source, wherein the first power supply from the alternative energy source is affected by, at least in part, one or more natural events that are uncontrolled by a user, and determining a second power supply from the power grid;

in accordance with a determination that, during the first time period, the second power supply from the power grid is more than a predetermined kilowatt hour rating, wherein the predetermined kilowatt hour rating is greater than 0, and a determination that the first power supply from the alternative energy source is not at a full power production level, increasing the power supply from the alternative energy source;

in accordance with a determination that, during the first time period, the second power supply from the power grid is less than the predetermined kilowatt hour rating, increasing the second power supply from the power grid; and

in accordance with a determination that, during the first time period, the first power supply from the alternative energy source exceeds the power load from the electrical power consumption entity;

storing an excess portion of the first power supply from the alternative energy source in the rechargeable energy storage device, without releasing electrical power from the alternative energy source to the power grid, when the excess portion of the first power supply from the alternative energy source is less than the rechargeable energy storage device'"'"'s maximum capacity; and

reducing the first power supply from the alternative energy source when the excess portion of the first power supply from the alternative energy source exceeds the rechargeable energy storage device'"'"'s maximum capacity, without releasing electrical power from the alternative energy source to the power grid, wherein the reduced first power supply is greater than 0.