Systems and methods for providing backup energy to a load

• US 20040148934A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P10 Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Active Power Incorporated
• Inventors: Perkins, David E., Beatty, David, Pinkerton, Joseph F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/646
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/16 for storing compressed air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0085 Systems using a compressed air circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/08 requiring starting of a prime-mover
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids

Abstract

Backup energy systems utilizing compressed air storage (CAS) systems and bridging energy systems to supply backup power to a load are provided. During a power failure, the bridging energy system provides backup power to the load at least until the CAS system begins supplying adequate power. In various embodiments, backup power capability is enhanced through the use of one or more exhaustless heaters, which are used to heat compressed air. The compressed air, in turn, drives a turbine which is used to power an electrical generator. In various embodiments, ambient air heat exchangers or other types of heat exchangers are used to heat compressed air prior to the compressed air being routed to the turbine, thereby increasing system efficiency. Backup power and backup HVAC are also provided by utilizing turbine exhaust, heat exchangers and various resistive heating elements.

Claims

1. A backup energy system that provides backup power to a critical load in the event of a disturbance in the supply of power from a primary power source, said system comprising:

a source of compressed air;

a turbine coupled to said source of compressed air to receive said compressed air, said received compressed air driving said turbine;

an electrical generator powered by said turbine when said turbine is driven by said compressed air, said generator providing said backup power when powered by said turbine; and

a bridging energy system that, in the event of a disturbance in the supply of power from a primary power source, provides said backup power to said critical load during said disturbance at least until said electrical generator begins providing said backup power.

2. The backup energy system of claim 1, wherein said source of compressed air comprises:

a compressor that compresses air; and

an air reservoir that collects said compressed air.

3. The backup energy system of claim 2, wherein said air reservoir is a pressure tank.

4. The backup energy system of claim 2, wherein said air reservoir is an underground salt dome.

5. The backup energy system of claim 1, wherein said source of compressed air comprises at least one pressure tank, and wherein said turbine produces a turbine exhaust that is routed across said pressure tank.

6. The backup energy system of claim 1, wherein said bridging energy system comprises a flywheel energy storage system.

7. The backup energy system of claim 1, wherein said bridging energy system comprises at least one chemical battery.

8. The backup energy system of claim 1, wherein said bridging energy system comprises a capacitor.

9. The backup energy system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one exhaustless heater coupled between said source of compressed air and said turbine to heat said compressed air, said exhaustless heater providing heated compressed air to said turbine.

10. The backup energy system of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said compressed air bypasses said exhaustless heater.

11. The backup energy system of claim 9, wherein said exhaustless heater is a thermal storage unit.

12. The backup energy system of claim 9, wherein said exhaustless heater is an ambient air heat exchanger.

13. The backup energy system of claim 9, wherein said exhaustless heater is a turbine exhaust heat exchanger.

14. The backup energy system of claim 9, wherein said exhaustless heater is a waste energy heat exchanger.

15. The backup energy system of claim 9, wherein said exhaustless heater is a solar energy heat exchanger.

16. The backup energy system of claim 9, wherein said exhaustless heater is a compression process heat exchanger.

17. The backup energy system of claim 9, further comprising:

switching circuitry that switches the source of power to said critical load between said primary power source and a source of backup power, said source of backup power comprising said electrical generator and said bridging energy system; and

uninterruptible power supply (UPS) control electronics that controls at least said switching circuitry and said turbine based on the quality of power from said primary power source.

18. The backup energy system of claim 17, wherein said switching circuit switches the source of power to said critical load from said primary power source to said source of backup power during degradation of the power coming from said primary power source.

19. The backup energy system of claim 17, wherein said switching circuit switches the source of power to said critical load from said primary power source to said source of backup power during a loss of power from said primary power source.

20. The backup energy system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one fuel-combustion system coupled between said source of compressed air and said turbine to heat said compressed air, said fuel-combustion system providing heated compressed air to said turbine.

21. The backup energy system of claim 20, further comprising:

switching circuitry that switches the source of power to said critical load between said primary power source and a source of backup power, said source of backup power comprising said electrical generator and said bridging energy system; and

uninterruptible power supply (UPS) control electronics that controls at least said switching circuitry and said turbine based on the quality of power from said primary power source.

22. The backup energy system of claim 21, wherein said switching circuit switches the source of power to said critical load from said primary power source to said source of backup power during degradation of the power coming from said primary power source.

23. The backup energy system of claim 21, wherein said switching circuit switches said source of power to said critical load from said primary power source to said source of backup power during a loss of power from said primary power source.

24. An integrated HVAC system, said system comprising:

a housing;

a source of compressed air;

a valve coupled to said source of compressed air;

a temperature measurement device located in said housing; and

a controller that opens said valve to permit at least a portion of said compressed air to be released into said housing to cool at least a portion of the contents in said housing depending on the temperature measured inside said housing by said temperature measurement device.

25. An integrated backup power and HVAC system, said system comprising:

at least one pressure tank that stores compressed air;

a turbine coupled to said at least one pressure tank to receive said compressed air, said received compressed air driving said turbine which causes said turbine to release turbine exhaust;

an electrical generator powered by said turbine when said turbine is driven by said compressed air, said generator providing backup power to a critical load when powered by said turbine; and

a temperature measurement device for measuring the temperature of ambient air and producing a control signal depending on said measurement.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

at least one variable speed fan that blows air onto said at least one pressure tank, said fan being run at a speed dependent on said control signal.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

at least one ambient air heat exchanger coupled between said at least one pressure tank and said turbine to heat said compressed air, said ambient air heat exchanger being controlled by said control signal to provide heated compressed air to said turbine.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a valve coupled to said at least one pressure tank that releases at least a portion of said compressed air in response to said control signal.

29. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

at least one thermal storage unit coupled between said at least one pressure tank and said turbine to heat said compressed air, wherein said thermal storage unit provides heated compressed air to said turbine; and

a bypass valve that permits at least a portion of said compressed air to bypass said thermal storage unit depending on said control signal, said bypassed compressed air being supplied to said turbine.

30. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a tank heat exchanger;

a turbine exhaust heat exchanger; and

a pump that pumps liquid from said tank heat exchanger through said turbine exhaust heat exchanger, said pump being controlled by said control signal.

31. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

at least one resistive circuit electrically coupled to said electrical generator that selectively dissipates electrical power from said electrical generator based on said control signal.

32. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a bridging energy system that, in the event of a disturbance in the supply of power from a primary power source, provides backup power to said critical load during said disturbance at least until said electrical generator begins providing backup power.

33. An integrated uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system that provides backup power to a critical load in the event of a disturbance in the supply of power from a primary power source, said system comprising:

a source of compressed air;

a turbine coupled to said source of compressed air to receive said compressed air, said received compressed air driving said turbine;

an electrical generator powered by said turbine when said turbine is driven by said compressed air, said generator providing said backup power when powered by said turbine;

a bridging energy system that, in the event of a disturbance in the supply of power from a primary power source, provides said backup power to a critical load during said disturbance at least until said electrical generator begins providing said backup power;

switching circuitry that switches the source of power to said critical load between said primary power source and a source of backup power, said source of backup power comprising said electrical generator and said flywheel energy storage system; and

uninterruptible power supply (UPS) control electronics that controls at least said switching circuitry and said turbine based on the quality of power from said primary power source.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said bridging energy system comprises a flywheel energy storage system.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein each of said turbine, said electrical generator, said bridging energy system and said switching circuitry are located within a single housing.

36. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

at least one exhaustless heater coupled between said source of compressed air and said turbine to heat said compressed air, said exhaustless heater providing heated compressed air to said turbine.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein said turbine, said electrical generator, said bridging energy system and said switching circuitry share at least one fan.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein said turbine, said electrical generator, said bridging energy system and said switching circuitry share at least one power supply.

39. A method for providing backup power to a critical load in the event of a disturbance in the supply of power from a primary power source, said method comprising:

providing compressed air;

driving a turbine using said compressed air;

powering an electrical generator with said turbine to provide said backup power during said disturbance; and

supplying bridging energy to said critical load during said disturbance at least until said electrical generator begins supplying said backup power.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

using at least one exhaustless heater to heat said compressed air prior to said compressed air driving said turbine.

41. A method for maintaining a desired temperature level within a housing, said method comprising:

providing a source of compressed air;

measuring the temperature within said housing by using a temperature measurement device; and

releasing at least a portion of said compressed air into said housing depending on said measured temperature.