METHOD FOR USING CHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS TO BUFFER THE VOLTAGE OF ELECTRIC CIRCUITS AND POWER SYSTEMS

• US 20170149237A1
• Filed: 11/19/2015
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shepherd Hydricity Inc.
• Original Assignee: Shepherd Hydricity Inc.
• Inventors: Shepherd, Stephen H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,859,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/005 avoiding undesired transient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/12 for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

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.

Claims

1. A method for buffering the voltage of an electric circuit (EC) system that undergoes transient voltage changes during use as a result of variances in loads on, or power to, the system, comprising:

placing a new load upon the EC system by electrically connecting at least one electrochemical device to the EC system by a direct current (DC) circuit whose voltage varies in proportion to the voltage of the EC system with a factor of proportionality selected to control the electrical current flows from the EC system to the electrochemical device during transient voltage changes;

utilizing a voltage control system in communication with the at least one electrochemical device, thereby resulting in at least one electrochemical reaction to occur within the at least one electrochemical device;

varying the new load placed upon the EC system via the voltage control system as transient voltage changes occur in the EC system; and

changing the electrical current from the EC system to the electrochemical device via the voltage control system in a manner that maintains a constant EC voltage by retarding transient voltage changes in the EC system that would occur in the absence of the steps of placing, utilizing, and varying.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of utilizing involves electrochemical reactions includes using electrolysis to produce a product that is a fuel;

and further includes producing alternating current (AC) electric power from an AC-power generator powered by the fuel, and delivering the AC electrical power to the EC system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the fuel produced from the electrolysis produces DC-electric power from a hydrogen fuel cell powered by the fuel, and further including the step of inverting the DC produced by the DC-power fuel cell into AC electrical power, and delivering the AC electrical power to the EC system.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the EC system transmits direct current (DC) electric power, and further including the step of transforming the AC electrical power produced by the AC-power generator into DC at a voltage appropriate for delivery to the EC system, and delivering the DC electrical power to the EC system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the EC system transmits direct current (DC) electric power, and further including the step of transforming the DC produced by the DC-power fuel cell into high voltage DC, and delivering it to the EC system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrochemical device is sized to allow an amount of EC voltage control by reducing the magnitude of transient voltage changes, and the amount of EC voltage control enables adjustment to the EC system that results in a zero derivative of EC current with respect to EC voltage before the voltage transient exceeds the limits of a desired control range.

7. The method of claim 1, further including the step of connecting one or more voltage support units to the EC to provide electric power to the EC and wherein the at least one electrochemical device applies chemical thermodynamics and the one or more voltage support units provides electric power to retard increasing and decreasing EC voltage transients to cause the transient EC voltage to remain within a pre-specified voltage range.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrochemical device has a voltage buffer capacity that is higher than a buffer capacity required to buffer voltage rises from loss of all loads in the EC system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the EC system includes neutral circuitry and the at least one electrochemical device is constructed with a buffer capacity to buffer the voltage of the EC system neutral circuitry to protect the EC system from overvoltage conditions caused by geomagnetically-induced voltage transient events.

10. The method of claim 1, further including the step of providing one or more ancillary services to the EC system that are chosen from the group consisting of supplemental reserve capacity, voltage regulation, reactive power, and black-start capability as defined by the U. S. Federal Electric Regulatory Commission.

11. A method for passively controlling the voltage of an 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, comprising:

placing a new load upon the EPTD system by electrically connecting at least one electrochemical device to the EPTD system so that electrical current flows from the EPTD system to the electrochemical device;

utilizing a voltage control system in communication with the at least one electrochemical device, thereby resulting in at least one electrochemical reaction to occur within the at least one electrochemical device;

varying the new load placed upon the EPTD system via the voltage control system as transient voltage changes in the EPTD occur;

using the rate of the at least one electrochemical reaction to control, via the voltage control system, the voltage of the EPTD system through chemical thermodynamically-induced changes in the at least one electrochemical reaction rate; and

as a result of the using, changing the electrical current from the EPTD system to the electrochemical device via the voltage control system in a manner that maintains a constant EC voltage by retarding transient voltage changes in the EPTD system that would occur in the absence of the steps of placing, utilizing, and varying.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of utilizing involves electrochemical reactions includes using electrolysis to produce a product that is a fuel;

and

further includes producing alternating current (AC) electric power from an AC-power generator powered by the fuel, and delivering the AC electrical power to the EPTD system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fuel produced from the electrolysis produces direct current (DC) electric power from a hydrogen fuel cell powered by the fuel, and further including the step of inverting the DC produced by the DC-power fuel cell into AC electrical power, and delivering the AC electrical power to the EPTD system.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the EPTD system transmits direct current (DC) electric power, and further including the step of transforming the AC electrical power produced by the AC-power generator into DC at a voltage appropriate for delivery to the EPTD system, and delivering the DC electrical power to the EPTD system.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one electrochemical device is sized to allow an amount of EC voltage control by reducing the magnitude of transient voltage changes, and the amount of EC voltage control enables adjustment to the EC system that results in a zero derivative of EC current with respect to EC voltage before the voltage transient exceeds the limits of a desired control range.

17. The method of claim 11, further including the step of connecting one or more voltage support units to the EPTD to provide electric power to the EPTD and wherein the at least one electrochemical device applies chemical thermodynamics and the one or more voltage support units provides electric power to retard increasing and decreasing EPTD voltage transients to cause the transient EPTD voltage to remain within a pre-specified voltage range.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one electrochemical device has a voltage buffer capacity that is higher than a buffer capacity required to buffer voltage rises from loss of all loads in the EPTD system.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the EPTD system includes neutral circuitry and the at least one electrochemical device is constructed with a buffer capacity to buffer the voltage of the EPTD system neutral circuitry to protect the EPTD system from overvoltage conditions caused by geomagnetically-induced voltage transient events.

20. The method of claim 11, further including the step of providing one or more ancillary services to the EPTD system that are chosen from the group consisting of supplemental reserve capacity, voltage regulation, reactive power, and black-start capability as defined by the U. S. Federal Electric Regulatory Commission.

15. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. A method for buffering the voltage of an electric circuit (EC) system having a desired design or operational voltage delivery range that undergoes transient voltage changes during use as a result of variances in system physical or operational configurations that change the loads placed upon, or the power supplied to the system, with the method comprising:

placing a new, normally energized load upon the EC system by electrically connecting at least one electrochemical device to the EC system by a direct current (DC) circuit whose voltage varies in proportion to the voltage of the EC system with a factor of proportionality selected for;

utilizing a voltage control system in communication with the at least one electrochemical device, thereby resulting in at least one electrochemical reaction to occur within the at least one electrochemical device with at least one electrochemical reaction rate occurring at a rate that, when the EC system is at its nominal, desired voltage, is within the operational electrochemical reaction rate capacity range of the electrochemical device and such capacity range of the one or more electrochemical devices is sized sufficiently to provide an operational reaction rate range;

varying the new load placed upon the EC system as transient voltage changes occur in the EC system via the voltage control system so that upon an EC system voltage transient event, the reaction rate can vary according to chemical thermodynamics increasing or decreasing in ion transfer across the electrochemical device; and

changing the electrical current from the EC system to the electrochemical device via the voltage control system in a manner that forces the derivative of the EC system current with respect to EC system voltage following a voltage transient event to become zero and thereby constrain the EC system voltage within a desired design or operating voltage range of the EC system without requiring either operator monitoring and intervention or an active electro-mechanical monitoring and control device that otherwise revise the configuration of the EC system loads or power supplies to obtain that zero derivative as would occur in the absence of the method'"'"'s steps of placing, utilizing, and varying transient voltage changes; and

retarding, via the voltage control system, transient voltage changes in the EC system that would occur in the absence of the steps of placing, utilizing, and varying.