Method and apparatus for storing power from irregular and poorly controlled power sources
First Claim
1. The method of storing energy in a electric power grid having a fossil fuel plant and an irregular and poorly controlled electric power source for generating electric power, and users capable of consuming said electric power, and said fossil fuel plant is operable on low grade fossil fuel and high grade fossil fuel, said high grade fossil fuel having more energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel, said fossil fuel plant capable of variable output having high output and low output and consuming variable amounts of fossil fuel in a period, and said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source having periods in which output does not correspond to demand, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. operating said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source to create one or more periods of excess energy in which the variable electric power source produces more power than demand and one or more periods of deficit energy when said variable electric power source does not produce enough power for demand;
b. using said excess energy to power fossil fuel upgrading assembly to process low grade fossil fuel and create a higher grade fossil fuel, and storing said higher grade fossil fuel with greater energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel; and
c. operating said fossil fuel plant on high grade fossil fuel during said period of deficit energy to allow said fossil fuel plant to utilize stored energy from said variable electric power source in said higher grade fossil fuel;
wherein said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source is selected from the group consisting of solar power sources, wind power sources, tidal power sources, wave power sources, geothermal sources and combinations thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention feature storing excess energy from solar, wind, wave, tidal and geothermal energy sources and combinations thereof in the form of upgraded fossil fuels.
51 Citations
29 Claims
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1. The method of storing energy in a electric power grid having a fossil fuel plant and an irregular and poorly controlled electric power source for generating electric power, and users capable of consuming said electric power, and said fossil fuel plant is operable on low grade fossil fuel and high grade fossil fuel, said high grade fossil fuel having more energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel, said fossil fuel plant capable of variable output having high output and low output and consuming variable amounts of fossil fuel in a period, and said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source having periods in which output does not correspond to demand, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. operating said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source to create one or more periods of excess energy in which the variable electric power source produces more power than demand and one or more periods of deficit energy when said variable electric power source does not produce enough power for demand; b. using said excess energy to power fossil fuel upgrading assembly to process low grade fossil fuel and create a higher grade fossil fuel, and storing said higher grade fossil fuel with greater energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel; and c. operating said fossil fuel plant on high grade fossil fuel during said period of deficit energy to allow said fossil fuel plant to utilize stored energy from said variable electric power source in said higher grade fossil fuel; wherein said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source is selected from the group consisting of solar power sources, wind power sources, tidal power sources, wave power sources, geothermal sources and combinations thereof.
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2. The method of storing energy in an electric power grid having a fossil fuel plant and an irregular and poorly controlled electric power source for generating electric power, and users capable of consuming said electric power, and said fossil fuel plant is operable on low grade fossil fuel and high grade fossil fuel, said high grade fossil fuel having more energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel, said fossil fuel plant capable of variable output having high output and low output and consuming variable amounts of fossil fuel in a period, and said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source having periods in which output does not correspond to demand, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. operating said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source to create one or more periods of excess energy in which the variable electric power source produces more power than demand and one or more periods of deficit energy when said variable electric power source does not produce enough power for demand; b. using said excess energy to power fossil fuel upgrading assembly to process low grade fossil fuel and create a higher grade fossil fuel, and storing said higher grade fossil fuel with greater energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel; and c. operating said fossil fuel plant on high grade fossil fuel during said period of deficit energy to allow said fossil fuel plant to utilize stored energy from said variable electric power source in said higher grade fossil fuel; wherein said fossil, fuel plant operates at a substantially efficient level on said stored energy in said higher grade fossil fuel during periods of high demand.
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3. The method of storing energy in an electric power grid having a fossil fuel plant and an irregular and poorly controlled electric power source for generating electric power, and users capable of consuming said electric power, and said fossil fuel plant is operable on low grade fossil fuel and high grade fossil fuel, said high grade fossil fuel having more energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel, said fossil fuel plant capable of variable output haying high output and low output and consuming variable amounts of fossil fuel in a period, and said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source having periods in which output does not correspond to demand, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. operating said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source to create one or more periods of excess energy in which the variable electric power source produces more power than demand and one or more periods of deficit energy when said variable electric power source does not produce enough power for demand; b. using said excess energy to power fossil fuel upgrading assembly to process low grade fossil fuel and create a higher grade fossil fuel, and storing said higher grade fossil fuel with greater energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel; and c. operating said fossil fuel plant on high grade fossil fuel during said period of deficit energy to allow said fossil fuel plant to utilize stored energy from said variable electric power source in said higher grade fossil fuel; wherein said low grade fossil fuel is processed by electromagnetic radiation to produce a higher grade fossil fuel. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. The method of storing energy in an electric power grid having a fossil fuel plant and an irregular and poorly controlled electric power source for generating electric power, and users capable of consuming said electric power, and said fossil fuel plant is operable on low grade fossil fuel and high grade fossil fuel, said high grade fossil fuel having more energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel, said fossil fuel plant capable of variable output having high. output and low output and consuming variable amounts of fossil fuel in a period, and said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source having periods in which output does not correspond to demand, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. operating said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source to create one or more periods of excess energy in which the variable electric power source produces more power than demand and one or more periods of deficit energy when said variable electric power source does not produce enough power for demand; b. using said excess energy to power fossil fuel upgrading assembly to process low grade fossil fuel and create a higher grade fossil fuel, and storing said higher grade fossil fuel with greater energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel; and c. operating said fossil fuel plant on high grade fossil fuel during said period of deficit energy to allow said fossil fuel plant to utilize stored energy from said variable electric power source in said higher grade fossil fuel; wherein said step of storing creates a reserve of higher grade fossil fuel in an amount to allow said fossil fuel plant to substantially continue at an efficient level of operation during said period of deficit power on said higher grade fossil fuel. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. The method of storing energy in an electric power grid having a fossil fuel plant and an irregular and poorly controlled electric power source for generating electric power, and users capable of consuming said electric power, and. said fossil fuel plant is operable on low grade fossil fuel and high grade fossil fuel, said high grade fossil fuel having more energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel, said fossil fuel plant capable of variable output having high. output and low output and consuming variable amounts of fossil fuel in a period, and said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source having periods in which output does not correspond to demand, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. operating said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source to create one or more periods of excess energy in which the variable electric power source produces more power than demand and one or more periods of deficit energy when said variable electric power source does not produce enough power for demand; b. using said excess energy to power fossil fuel upgrading assembly to process low grade fossil fuel and create a higher grade fossil fuel, and storing said higher grade fossil fuel with greater energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel; and c. operating said fossil fuel plant on high grade fossil fuel during said period of deficit energy to allow said fossil fuel plant to utilize stored energy from said variable electric power source in said higher grade fossil fuel; wherein said fossil fuel is upgraded to remove at least 8% of the water content.
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10. The method of storing energy in an electric power grid having a fossil fuel plant and an irregular and poorly controlled electric power source for generating electric power, and users capable of consuming said electric power, and said fossil fuel plant is operable on low grade fossil fuel and high grade fossil fuel, said high grade fossil fuel having more energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel, said fossil fuel plant capable of variable output having high output and low output and consuming variable amounts of fossil fuel in a period, and said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source having periods in which output does not correspond to demand, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. operating said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source to create one or more periods of excess energy in which the variable electric power source produces more power than demand and one or more periods of deficit energy when said variable electric power source does not produce enough power for demand; b. using said excess energy to power fossil fuel upgrading assembly to process low grade fossil fuel and create a higher grade fossil fuel, and storing said higher grade fossil fuel with greater energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel; and c. operating said fossil fuel plant on high grade fossil fuel during said period of deficit energy to allow said fossil fuel plant to utilize stored energy from said variable electric power source in said higher grade fossil fuel; wherein said low grade fossil fuel and said higher grade fossil fuel is selected from one or more of the group consisting of peat, low rank coal, high rank coal, and ranks in between, oil shale, and tar sand.
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11. The method of storing energy in an electric power grid having a fossil fuel plant and an irregular and poorly controlled electric power source for generating electric power, and users capable of consuming said electric power, and. said fossil fuel plant is operable on low grade fossil, fuel and high grade fossil fuel, said high grade fossil fuel having more energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel, said fossil fuel plant capable of variable output having high output and low output and consuming variable amounts of fossil fuel in a period, and said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source having periods in which output does not correspond to demand, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. operating said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source to create one or more periods of excess energy in which the variable electric power source produces more power than demand and one or more periods of deficit energy when said variable electric power source does not produce enough power for demand.; b. using said excess energy to power fossil fuel upgrading assembly to process low grade fossil fuel and create a higher grade fossil fuel, and storing said higher grade fossil fuel with greater energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel; and c. operating said fossil fuel plant on high grade fossil fuel during said period of deficit energy to allow said fossil fuel plant to utilize stored energy from said variable electric power source in said higher grade fossil fuel; wherein said processing to said higher grade fossil fuel removes one or more impurities. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. The method of storing energy in an electric power grid having a fossil fuel plant and an irregular and poorly controlled electric power source for generating electric power, and users capable of consuming said electric power, and said fossil fuel plant is operable on low grade fossil fuel and high grade fossil fuel, said high grade fossil fuel having more energy per unit of mass than said low grade fossil fuel, said fossil fuel plant capable of variable output having high output and low output and consuming variable amounts of fossil fuel in a period, and said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source having periods in which output does not correspond to demand, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. operating said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source to create one or more periods of excess energy in which the variable electric power source produces more power than demand and one or more periods of deficit energy when said variable electric power source does not produce enough power for demand; b. using said excess energy to power fossil fuel upgrading assembly to process low grade fossil fuel and create a higher grade fossil fuel, and storing said higher grade fossil fuel with greater energy per unit of mass than said low grace fossil fuel; and operating said fossil fuel plant on high grade fossil fuel during said period of deficit energy to allow said fossil fuel plant to utilize stored energy from said variable electric power source in said higher grade fossil fuel; wherein said processing comprises drying in hot gases.
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14. An apparatus for generating electrical power for a power grid having periods of low demand and periods of high demand, comprising:
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a. an irregular and poorly controlled electric power source, said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source having periods in which output does not correspond to demand in which said demand exceeds capacity creating deficit periods and periods of capacity exceeding demand creating excess periods, said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source in electrical communication with said power grid and through said power grid or by separate transmission means, with said fossil fuel power source; b. a fossil fuel electric power source for producing electrical power, said fossil fuel power source in electrical communication with said power grid and, through said power grid or by separate transmission means, in electrical communication with said irregular and poorly controlled electrical power source, said fossil fuel electrical power source having a conveying system, a fossil fuel upgrading assembly, a burner, a generator, a source of lower grade fossil fuel, and a reserve, said source of lower grade fossil fuel in communication with a conveying system, said conveying system for receiving said lower grade fossil fuel from said source and at least one higher grade fossil fuel from a reserve or said fossil fuel upgrading assembly and transporting said lower grade fossil fuel and higher grade fossil fuel to said burner, said fossil fuel upgrading system using power and receiving a lower grade fossil fuel from said source and producing a higher grade fossil fuel which upgraded fossil fuel is directed to said reserve or conveying means, a burner in communication with said conveying system for consuming said lower grade fossil fuel and said higher grade fossil fuel, said burner powering said generator, said generator producing power for the power grid; and c. wherein said power from said irregular and poorly controlled electric power source during excess periods is used by the fossil fuel upgrading assembly to store excess power in the form of an upgraded fossil fuel and said upgraded fossil fuel is used during deficit periods to produce power. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification