Method and apparatus for controlling energy flow between dissimilar energy storage devices
First Claim
1. A method of controlling an energy storage system, wherein the energy storage system includes a first energy storage device and a second energy storage device and wherein the second energy storage device has a different chemical composition for storing energy than the first energy storage device, the method comprising:
- identifying a change in power demand from the energy storage system with a first regulator, wherein the first regulator is operatively connected between the first energy storage device and a common connection point of the energy storage system;
identifying the change in power demand from the energy storage system with a second regulator, wherein the second regulator is operatively connected between the second energy storage device and the common connection point of the energy storage system;
transferring energy between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the first energy storage device via the first regulator responsive to initially identifying the change in power demand;
preventing energy transfer between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the second energy storage device via the second regulator responsive to initially identifying the change in power demand;
when the change in power demand continues for a first duration, decreasing the energy transferred between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the first energy storage device via the first regulator over a second duration;
when the change in power demand continues for the first duration, increasing the energy transferred between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the second energy storage device via the second regulator over the second duration;
when the change in power demand continues beyond the second duration, preventing energy transfer between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the first energy storage device via the first regulator; and
when the change in power demand continues beyond the second duration, transferring energy between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the second energy storage device via the second regulator.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an energy storage system that utilizes batteries of multiple compositions and provides improved load sharing between the different types of batteries is disclosed. The energy storage system includes at least two batteries, where each battery has a different chemical composition for storing energy. One battery is configured for rapid charging/discharging and the other batter is configured for slower charging/discharging. Each battery is connected to a common connection via an energy regulator. The regulators are initially configured such that the energy regulator connected between the common connection and the battery configured for rapid charging/discharging responds initially to changes in power demand at the common connection. If power demand continues, the first regulator decreases the amount of energy transferred between the first battery and the common connection while the second regulator begins transferring energy between the second battery and the common connection.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of controlling an energy storage system, wherein the energy storage system includes a first energy storage device and a second energy storage device and wherein the second energy storage device has a different chemical composition for storing energy than the first energy storage device, the method comprising:
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identifying a change in power demand from the energy storage system with a first regulator, wherein the first regulator is operatively connected between the first energy storage device and a common connection point of the energy storage system; identifying the change in power demand from the energy storage system with a second regulator, wherein the second regulator is operatively connected between the second energy storage device and the common connection point of the energy storage system; transferring energy between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the first energy storage device via the first regulator responsive to initially identifying the change in power demand; preventing energy transfer between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the second energy storage device via the second regulator responsive to initially identifying the change in power demand; when the change in power demand continues for a first duration, decreasing the energy transferred between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the first energy storage device via the first regulator over a second duration; when the change in power demand continues for the first duration, increasing the energy transferred between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the second energy storage device via the second regulator over the second duration; when the change in power demand continues beyond the second duration, preventing energy transfer between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the first energy storage device via the first regulator; and when the change in power demand continues beyond the second duration, transferring energy between the common connection point of the energy storage system and the second energy storage device via the second regulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An energy storage system for bulk energy storage applications, the energy storage system comprising:
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a first energy storage device having a first chemical composition, wherein the first chemical composition defines at least one energy storage characteristic of the first energy storage device; a second energy storage device having a second chemical composition wherein the second chemical composition defines at least one energy storage characteristic of the second energy storage device, and wherein the second chemical composition is different from the first chemical composition; a first regulator operatively connected between the first energy storage device and a common connection point, wherein the common connection point provides an electrical connection for transferring energy to and from the energy storage system; and a second regulator operatively connected between the second energy storage device and the common connection point, wherein; the first regulator and the second regulator each monitor a power demand at the common connection point, the first regulator initially transfers energy between the first energy storage device and the common connection point in response to a change in the power demand, when the change in power demand continues for a first duration, the energy transfer transitions from the first regulator to the second regulator over a second duration, and when the change in power demand continues beyond the second duration, the second regulator transfers energy between the second energy storage device and the common connection point. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling an energy storage system, wherein the energy storage system includes a first energy storage device and a second energy storage device and wherein the second energy storage device has a different chemical composition for storing energy than the first energy storage device, the method comprising:
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monitoring a common connection point to the energy storage system for a power demand; setting a first level of power demanded equal to the power demand at the common connection point; detecting a change in the power demand at the common connection point; transferring energy between the first energy storage device and the common connection point via a first regulator responsive to the change in power demand at the common connection point; when the power demand remains not equal to the first level of power demanded for a first duration, decreasing the energy transferred between the first energy storage device and the common connection point and increasing energy transferred between the second energy storage device and the common connection point via a second regulator over a second duration; and when the power demand remains not equal to the first level of power demanded beyond the second duration, transferring energy between the second energy storage device and the common connection point. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification