ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM AND MODULAR COMMUNICATION

• US 20150349531A1
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enrichment Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Enrichment Technology Company Limited
• Inventors: SCHFER, Christoph, TREPPMANN, Christoph, VOR DEM ESCHE, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 9,859,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/30 using dynamo-electric machines coupled to flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids

Abstract

An energy storage system is provided that is adapted to simultaneously carry out control and system tasks in non-local and local power supply grids and to a method for operating such an energy supply system. The energy storage system has a modular structure and comprises more than one energy storage modules that are connected to each other via data lines. One of the energy storage modules is provided as master module and the others are provided as slave modules and the master module is configured for the overall control of all energy storage modules connected to the data line. At least the master module comprises at least one interface for receiving external control commands regarding the localized and non-localized control and system tasks to be carried out and a master control unit for storing and carrying out the external control commands.

Claims

1. An energy storage system having a system storage capacity and/or system output and having more than one energy storage modules each having a module storage capacity and a module output, said energy storage modules featuring one or more power connections at least for connection to a non-local power supply grid for carrying out non-localized control and system tasks in the non-local power supply grid and/or for connection to one or more local power supply grids for carrying out localized control and system tasks in the local supply network(s) by absorbing energy from and releasing energy to the connected power supply grid(s) and said energy storage modules being connected to each other via one or more data lines, preferably via a data bus system, wherein one of the energy storage modules is provided as master module and the other energy storage modules are provided as slave modules and the master module is designed for the overall control of all energy storage modules connected to the data line and at least the master module comprises at least one interface for receiving external control commands regarding the localized and non-localized control and system tasks to be carried out and a master control unit for storing and carrying out the external control commands, wherein, in order to carry out the external control commands (ESB), the master control unit is provided to have the module storage capacities and module outputs of all of the energy storage modules connected to it and to carry out the non-localized control and system tasks only within the scope of those portions of the system storage capacities and/or the system output that are not required for the localized control and system tasks.

2. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that the power connections of the master module and the slave modules have a common connection point for connection to the power supply grid(s).

3. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the master control unit comprises a priority management unit for carrying out the individual external control commands, wherein carrying out the external control commands regarding localized control and system tasks in the local power supply grid(s) has priority over carrying out the external control commands regarding non-localized control and system tasks (NORS) in the non-local power supply grid (5).

4. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the event of disturbed reception of the external control commands, the master control unit is provided to have the module storage capacities and module outputs of all of the energy storage modules connected to it only available for carrying out the control commands regarding the localized control and systems tasks to be carried out in the connected local power supply grid(s) until the reception of external control commands has been restored.

5. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that the master module comprises a first test unit which is provided to check the received external control commands for plausibility and origin and to transmit to the master control unit a positive or negative first test result before the master control unit stores the received external control commands.

6. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that the slave modules each comprise slave control units which are designed to monitor and control operating states of the respective slave module and to transmit to the master module operating data of the slave module via the data line, said operating data comprising the module storage capacity and module output not required for the localized control and system tasks.

7. The energy storage system according to claim 6, characterized in that that the master module comprises a second test unit which is provided to check the operating data transmitted by the slave modules for plausibility and origin and to transmit to the master control unit a positive or negative second test result before the master control unit stores the transmitted operating data.

8. The energy storage system according to claim 7, characterized in that the master control unit is provided to switch a specific slave module into a safe operating state if the second test result for the transmitted operating data of that slave module is negative, to disconnect the power connections of this slave module from the connected power supply grids, and to send out an alarm signal to the energy storage system and/or to the outside.

9. The energy storage system according to claim 6, characterized in that the slave module also comprises an interface for receiving external control commands regarding the localized and non-localized control and system tasks to be carried out and, in the event of a failure of the present master module or the present master control unit, the slave control unit is configured to store the external control commands and to control the other slave modules as new master control unit.

10. The energy storage system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the master control unit (7M) is provided to establish a hierarchy (HF) according to which the slave control units (7S) assume the task of controlling (AO, ANO) the other slave modules (2S) in the event of a failure of the present master module (2M) or the present master control unit (7M) and to transmit said hierarchy (HF) to the slave modules (2S).

11. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the master control unit periodically checks the data line running to the slave modules for their functional efficiency by means of a so-called handshake signal that is sent to the slave modules, and the slave modules are provided to transmit to the master control unit on the basis of the received handshake signal a return signal that is characteristic of the respective slave module, and the master control unit is provided to ascertain the functional efficiency of the data line running to the respective slave modules based on the received return signal.

12. The energy storage system according to claim 11, characterized in that the master module is provided to disconnect at least the power connections of the master module from the respective power supply grids in case the data line running to all slave modules lacks functional efficiency.

13. The energy storage system according to claim 11, characterized in that the slave module is provided to disconnect the power connections of the slave module from the respective power supply grids in case the handshake signal (HS) fails to be received.

14. A master module that is adapted to be used in an energy storage system according to claim 1, having a system storage capacity and/or system output, wherein the master module has a module storage capacity and a module output and is configured with one or more power connections at least for connection to a non-local power supply grid (5) for carrying out non-localized control and system tasks in the non-local power supply grid and/or for connection to one or more local power supply grids for carrying out localized control and system tasks in the local supply network(s) by absorbing energy from and releasing energy to the connected power supply grid(s), said master module comprising an interface for receiving external control commands regarding the localized and non-localized control and system tasks to be carried out and being provided to be connected to other energy storage modules via one or more data lines, preferably a data bus system, and said master module comprising a master control unit for storing and carrying out the external control commands, wherein, in order to carry out the external control commands, said master control unit is provided to have the module storage capacities and module outputs of all of the energy storage modules connected to it and to carry out the non-localized control and system tasks only within the scope of those portions of the system storage capacities and/or system output that are not required for the localized control and system tasks.

15. A method for operating an energy storage system according to claim 1, having a system storage capacity and/or system output and having more than one energy storage modules that are connected via one or more data lines, preferably a data bus system, said energy storage modules each having a module storage capacity and a module output and each featuring one or more power connections for connection to one or more power supply grids, comprising the following steps:

connecting the respective energy storage modules comprising a master module and one or more slave modules to a non-local power supply grid for carrying out non-localized control and system tasks in the non-local power supply grid and/or to one or more local power supply grids for carrying out localized control and system tasks in the local power supply grid(s) by absorbing energy from and releasing energy to the connected power supply grid(s);

receiving external control commands regarding the localized and non-localized control and system tasks to be carried out by means of an appropriately configured interface of the master module;

storing and carrying out the external control commands by means of a master control unit of the master module, wherein, in order to carry out the external control commands, the master control unit has the module storage capacities and module outputs of all of the energy storage modules connected to it;

carrying out the non-localized control and system tasks only within the scope of those portions of the system storage capacities and/or system output that are not required for the localized control and system tasks.