Method for using chemical thermodynamics to buffer the voltage of electric circuits and power systems
First Claim
1. A method for buffering the voltage of an alternating current (AC) electric circuit (EC) system that undergoes transient voltage changes, above or below a nominal operating voltage of the AC EC system, during use as a result of variances in loads on, or power to, the system, comprising:
- placing a new load upon the AC EC system at its nominal operating voltage by electrically connecting an electrochemical device to the AC EC system by a rectified, direct current (DC) circuit via a voltage transformer;
selecting a step-up or step-down transformer rating for the voltage transformer for causing the new load to have a voltage that varies without regulation in proportion to the voltage of the AC EC system during transient voltage changes;
selecting a capacity, a chemical concentration and an electrode design for the electrochemical device, wherein the selecting steps cause the new load to be powered by the AC EC system at voltage levels that cause at least one electrochemical reaction exhibiting Nernstian behavior of the reaction rate to occur within the at least one electrochemical device;
providing, during a first transient voltage change in the AC EC system, additional voltage from the AC EC system to the electrochemical device to exponentially increase the load on the AC EC system when the AC EC system voltage increases, to retard the first transient voltage change that would occur in the absence of the placing, selecting and providing steps; and
providing, during a second transient voltage change in the AC EC system, reduced voltage from the AC EC system to the electrochemical device to exponentially decrease the load on the AC EC system when the AC EC system voltage decreases, to retard the second transient voltage change that would occur in the absence of the placing, selecting and providing steps.
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Abstract
A method for buffering the voltage of an electric system that undergoes transient voltage changes includes the step of placing a new load upon the electric system by electrically connecting at least one electrochemical device to the electric system so that electrical current flows from the electric system to the electrochemical device. Also included are the steps of causing at least one electrochemical reaction to occur within the at least one electrochemical device; varying the new load placed upon the electric system as transient voltage changes in the electric system occur; and changing the electrical current from the electric system to the electrochemical device in a manner that retards transient voltage changes in the electric system that would occur in the absence of the steps of placing, causing, and varying. The step of causing electrochemical reactions may include using water electrolysis to produce a product that is a fuel, and the method may further include producing electric power and delivering it to the electric system. The electrochemical devices used in the method may apply chemical thermodynamics to retard increasing and decreasing electric system voltage transients and cause the transient electric system voltage to remain within a pre-specified voltage range. The method may also include connecting one or more voltage support units to provide electric power.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for buffering the voltage of an alternating current (AC) electric circuit (EC) system that undergoes transient voltage changes, above or below a nominal operating voltage of the AC EC system, during use as a result of variances in loads on, or power to, the system, comprising:
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placing a new load upon the AC EC system at its nominal operating voltage by electrically connecting an electrochemical device to the AC EC system by a rectified, direct current (DC) circuit via a voltage transformer; selecting a step-up or step-down transformer rating for the voltage transformer for causing the new load to have a voltage that varies without regulation in proportion to the voltage of the AC EC system during transient voltage changes; selecting a capacity, a chemical concentration and an electrode design for the electrochemical device, wherein the selecting steps cause the new load to be powered by the AC EC system at voltage levels that cause at least one electrochemical reaction exhibiting Nernstian behavior of the reaction rate to occur within the at least one electrochemical device; providing, during a first transient voltage change in the AC EC system, additional voltage from the AC EC system to the electrochemical device to exponentially increase the load on the AC EC system when the AC EC system voltage increases, to retard the first transient voltage change that would occur in the absence of the placing, selecting and providing steps; and providing, during a second transient voltage change in the AC EC system, reduced voltage from the AC EC system to the electrochemical device to exponentially decrease the load on the AC EC system when the AC EC system voltage decreases, to retard the second transient voltage change that would occur in the absence of the placing, selecting and providing steps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for passively controlling the voltage of an alternating current (AC) electric power transmission and distribution (EPTD) system that includes a transmission line with transmission-line voltage, experiences varying loads during use as a result of variances in loads on, or power to, the system, and undergoes transient voltage changes above or below a nominal operating voltage of the AC EPTD system, comprising:
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electrically connecting an electrochemical device to the AC EPTD system at its nominal operating voltage so that electrical current flows from the AC EPTD system, through a rectifier and a voltage transformer, to the electrochemical device; selecting a step-up or step-down transformer rating for the voltage transformer; and selecting a capacity, a chemical concentration and an electrode design for the electrochemical device; wherein the selecting steps cause the electrochemical device to be powered by the AC EPTD system at voltage levels which cause at least one electrochemical reaction exhibiting Nernstian behavior of the reaction rate to occur within the at least one electrochemical device; wherein the reaction rate of the at least one electrochemical reaction varies as transient voltage changes on the AC EPTD system occur, exponentially varying a load on the AC EPTD system from the electrochemical device as transient voltage changes on the AC EPTD system occur to retard transient voltage changes in the AC EPTD system that would occur in the absence of the electrically connecting step and selecting steps. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for retarding transient voltage changes occurring on an alternating current (AC) electric circuit (EC) system, above or below a nominal operating voltage of the AC EC system, the system comprising:
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an AC EC system, wherein the AC EC system comprises a high voltage AC transmission line; a DC circuit; a step down transformer connected to the AC EC system to step down a high voltage AC on the high voltage AC transmission line of the AC EC system to provide a low voltage AC whose voltage varies without regulation in proportion to the high voltage AC of the AC EC system during transient voltage changes; a rectifier connected to the step down transformer to convert the low voltage AC to low voltage DC; an electrochemical device electrically connected to the rectifier and electrically connected through the rectifier and the step down transformer to the AC EC system so that electrical current can flow from the AC EC system to the electrochemical device, wherein the step down transformer comprises a voltage transformer rating and the electrochemical device comprises a capacity, a chemical concentration and an electrode design that are selected to cause the electrochemical device to be powered by the AC EC system at voltage levels that cause at least one electrochemical reaction exhibiting Nernstian behavior of the reaction rate to occur within the electrochemical device so that the low voltage AC flowing to the electrochemical device varies with changes in the voltage level on the high voltage AC transmission line causing the load provided by the electrochemical device to exponentially vary to retard transient voltage changes occurring on the AC EC system that occur as a result of variances in loads on or power to the AC EC system; wherein the system provides, during a first transient voltage change in the AC EC system, additional power from the AC EC system to the electrochemical device to exponentially increase the load on the system when the AC EC system voltage increases, to retard the first transient voltage change; and wherein the system provides, during a second transient voltage change in the AC EC system, reduced power from the AC EC system to exponentially decrease the load on the system when the AC EC system voltage decreases, to retard the second transient voltage change. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification