Network of energy generating modules for transfer of energy outputs

• US 7,619,319 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F3 & I2 LLC
• Original Assignee: F3 & I2 LLC
• Inventors: Hunter, Jefferey Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US12/205,437
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 290/4.R
• US Class Current: 290/4.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/667 Precipitation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/68 Traffic data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/302 Cooling of charging equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/57 Charging stations without connection to power networks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to networks of energy generating modules. More particularly, embodiments relate generally to transportable energy generating modules that are configured to generate an energy output and to transfer the generated energy output to a vehicle, a power grid, or other energy consuming or transferring device or system. One or more conditions of the energy generating modules are monitored and/or controlled by a network monitoring station. The network monitoring station is configured to evaluate one or more of the monitored conditions to determine target usages of the energy generating modules and to assign usages to the energy generating modules using target usages.

Claims

1. A network of energy generating modules, the network comprising a plurality of energy generating modules positioned over a geographic area and a network monitoring station, wherein:

the energy generating modules comprise energy generating devices, fuel chambers, and energy-transfer receptacles;

the energy generating devices are in fluid communication with the fuel chambers and are configured to generate energy outputs using fuel from the fuel chambers;

the energy-transfer receptacles are configured to transfer the energy outputs to vehicles;

the network monitoring station is configured to communicate with the energy generating modules to monitor one or more conditions of the energy generating modules;

the network monitoring station is configured to evaluate data representing one or more of the monitored conditions of the energy generating modules to determine target usages for the energy generating modules; and

the network monitoring station is configured to assign usages to the energy generating modules using the target usages.

2. The network of energy generating modules of claim 1, wherein:

the energy generating modules are repositionable over the geographic area; and

the target usages define positions over the geographic area appropriate for transfer of the energy outputs to vehicles, power grids, or a combination thereof.

3. The network of energy generating modules of claim 2, wherein the energy generating modules are further configured to transfer the energy outputs to power grids such that the energy generating modules may transfer at least a portion of the energy outputs to vehicles and at least a portion of the energy outputs to power grids.

4. The network of energy generating modules of claim 1, wherein:

the energy generating modules are configured to transfer the energy outputs to power grids; and

the target usages define parameters appropriate for transfer of the energy outputs to power grids.

5. The network of energy generating modules of claim 4, wherein the parameters under which the energy outputs are transferred to power grids comprise time-scheduled transfers to power grids.

6. The network of energy generating modules of claim 5, wherein the time-scheduled transfers correlate with times of elevated demand for the energy outputs by power grids, times of elevated rates for the energy outputs to power grids, times of reduced vehicle demand for the energy outputs, or combinations thereof.

7. The network of energy generating modules of claim 1, wherein:

the conditions monitored by the network monitoring station comprise energy transfer conditions, and

data representing one or more of the energy transfer conditions is evaluated by the network monitoring station to determine target usages of the energy generating modules.

8. The network of energy generating modules of claim 7, wherein the network monitoring station is further configured to evaluate data representing one or more environmental conditions corresponding to positions of the energy generating modules in the geographic area, prospective positions of the energy generating modules in the geographic area, or a combination thereof.

9. The network of energy generating modules of claim 1, wherein the conditions monitored by the network monitoring station comprise module operating conditions.

10. The network of energy generating modules of claim 1, wherein the network monitoring station is further configured to control the energy generating modules.

11. The network of energy generating modules of claim 1, wherein the network is linked with one or more satellite navigation systems so as to provide vehicle operators with navigational assistance to the positions of energy generating modules in the geographic area.

12. The network of energy generating modules of claim 1, wherein the network is expandable and contractible with expansion and contraction of a number of energy generating modules in the network and with assignment of usages of the energy generating modules over the geographic area.

13. The network of energy generating modules of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a plurality of network monitoring stations monitored by one or more command network monitoring stations.

14. The network of energy generating modules of claim 1, wherein the communication between the network monitoring station and the energy generating modules is provided via satellites, wireless systems, land-lines, other transmitters of communication, or combinations thereof.

15. The network of energy generating modules of claim 1, wherein the energy generating modules are configured to transfer fuel from the fuel chambers to vehicles.

16. The network of energy generating modules of claim 1, wherein:

the energy generating modules comprise enclosures for the energy generating devices;

the enclosures comprise boom systems extendable from and retractable to exteriors of the enclosures such that the boom systems may extend and retract between positions in-line with, and conforming to, footprints of the exteriors of the enclosures and positions projecting outward from the exteriors of the enclosures, and

the boom systems deploy a plurality of energy-transfer receptacles when projecting outward from the exteriors of the enclosures.

17. The network of energy generating modules of claim 16, wherein:

the boom systems are pivotable about one or more points of connection with the exteriors of the enclosures such that the boom systems may pivot between retracted positions in-line with, and conforming to, footprints of the exteriors of the enclosures and extended positions projecting outward from the exteriors of the enclosures,

the boom systems are telescopically extendable and retractable with respect to points of connection between the boom systems and the exteriors of the enclosures,

the boom systems are extendable from and retractable to cavities within exteriors of the enclosures, or combinations thereof.

18. A network of energy generating modules positioned over a geographic area, the network comprising a plurality of energy generating modules and a network monitoring station, wherein:

the energy generating modules comprise energy generating devices, enclosures for the energy generating devices, fuel chambers, and energy-transfer receptacles;

the energy generating devices are in fluid communication with the fuel chambers and are configured to generate energy outputs using fuel from the fuel chambers;

the enclosures comprise boom systems extendable and retractable about points of connection with exteriors of the enclosures such that the boom systems may extend and retract between positions in-line with, and conforming to, footprints of the exteriors of the enclosures and positions projecting outward from the exteriors of the enclosures;

the boom systems deploy the energy-transfer receptacles when projecting outward from the exteriors of the enclosures;

the energy-transfer receptacles are configured to transfer the energy outputs to vehicles;

the energy generating modules are supported on transportable chassis such that the energy generating modules are transportable over the geographic area; and

the network monitoring station is configured to communicate with the energy generating modules to monitor one or more conditions of the energy generating modules.

19. An energy generating module comprising an energy generating device, an enclosure for the energy generating device, a fuel chamber, a boom system, an energy-transfer receptacle, a sealable port, and a transportable chassis, wherein:

the energy generating device is in fluid communication with the fuel chamber and is configured to generate an energy output using fuel from the fuel chamber;

the boom system is extendable and retractable about one or more points of connection with an exterior of the enclosure such that the boom system may extend and retract between a position in-line with, and conforming to, a footprint of the exterior of the enclosure and a position projecting outward from the exterior of the enclosure;

the boom system deploys the energy-transfer receptacle when projecting outward from the exterior of the enclosure;

the energy-transfer receptacle is configured to transfer the energy output to vehicles;

the sealable port is configured to permit introduction and withdrawal of fuel in the fuel chamber; and

the transportable chassis supports the energy generating module such that the energy generating module is transportable over a geographic area.