Networks of cogeneration systems

• US 9,388,766 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Concentric Power, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Concentric Power, Inc.
• Inventors: Curtis, Brian Mark, Shipchandler, Riyaz Mohammed
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US13/841,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20140039708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 700/288
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 13/00 General layout or general methods of operation of complete plants
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 13/02 Controlling, e.g. stopping or starting
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/04 for electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 25/00 Controlling two or more co-operating engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 5/00 Profiting from waste heat of combustion engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/06 Several compression cycles arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/00 Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy F25B30/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31334 Database with devices, configuration, of plant
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1815 structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines general aspects of generating sets, e.g. housing, F02B63/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/15 On-site combined power, heat or cool generation or distribution, e.g. combined heat and power [CHP] supply

Abstract

The invention provides systems and methods for a network of cogenerations systems. In some cases, each system includes at least one cogeneration plant and at least one host facility, where the systems in the network are under the control of a common control system that optimizes a result for the network as a whole. In some cases, each cogeneration system in the network has an individual profile that is used by the control system for controlling that individual cogeneration system. In some cases, one or more of the cogeneration plants is assembled from a set of at least two modular transportable units where the modular units contain sensors that are configured to be ready for transmission of inputs to the common control system with little or no modification when the units are assembled into the final cogeneration plant and actuators or actuator systems that are configured to be ready for reception of outputs from the common control system with little or no modification when the units are assembled into the cogeneration plant.

Claims

1. A cogeneration network comprising

(i) a plurality of cogeneration systems, wherein each cogeneration system comprises a cogeneration plant operably connected to a host facility that receives a thermal product and/or mechanical work product and, optionally, electrical power from the cogeneration plant, and wherein at least one of the cogeneration plants comprises a plurality of operably connected modular transportable units, wherein the modular transportable units exist in a first form that is a transportable form and second form that is an assembled form, and wherein the first form and the second form are substantially similar for at least two of the modular transportable units;

and

(ii) a common controller for optimizing the operation of the cogeneration network that is operably connected to the plurality of cogeneration systems wherein the common controller

(a) receives inputs from a plurality of sensors in or near each of the plurality of cogeneration systems;

(b) processes the inputs to determine a plurality of outputs, and

(c) transmits the outputs to a plurality of actuators in the plurality of cogeneration systems, whereby the operation of the network of cogeneration systems is optimized.

2. The network of claim 1 wherein the network comprises at least 2 cogeneration systems wherein at least one of the cogeneration systems comprises a plurality of operably connected modular transportable units.

3. The network of claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise sensors in the cogeneration plants, sensors in the host facilities, sensors for the environment at or near one or more of the cogeneration plants and/or host facilities, or sensors for operable connections between one or more of the cogeneration plants and it host facility, or any combination thereof.

4. The network of claim 1 wherein the common controller further receives input from one or more of the host facilities in one or more of the cogeneration systems, wherein the input comprises an electrical energy demand, a thermal product demand, a thermal product carrier flow rate, an air temperature, a thermal product carrier temperature, a fan rate, a humidity, a set point for an air temperature, a set point for a thermal product carrier temperature, or any combination thereof.

5. The network of claim 1 wherein the common controller further receives inputs from indicators of market conditions.

6. The network of claim 1 wherein the common controller receives inputs from at least 10 sensors, wherein the sensors are located in at least 2 cogeneration systems.

7. The network of claim 1 wherein the common controller further receives input indicating a desired future modulation in a condition of at least 1 host facility wherein the input indicating the desired future modulation is inputted from an interface for interaction between the system and an operator of the host facility.

8. The network of claim 1 wherein the modular transportable units of one of the cogeneration plants comprise at least 2 of a modular transportable unit comprising an electrical generator, a modular transportable unit comprising part or all of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), a modular transportable unit comprising part or all of a thermal product carrier producer, a modular transportable unit comprising part or all of a cooling tower, a modular transportable unit comprising part or all an exhaust stack, or a modular transportable unit comprising part or all a an air intake unit, or any combination thereof.

9. The network of claim 1 where the optimization of the operation of the network optimizes the profit of the network over a desired time period.

10. The network of claim 1 wherein the optimization of the operation of the network optimizes an energy efficiency of the network over a desired time period.

11. The network of claim 1 wherein the actuators in a cogeneration plant of the system comprise an actuator or actuator system for controlling a pre-cooler, an actuator or actuator system for controlling a turbine, an actuator or actuator system for controlling a heat recovery steam generator, an actuator or actuator system for controlling a thermal product carrier producer, an actuator or actuator system for controlling a mechanical work product carrier producer, an actuator or actuator system for controlling a cooling tower, an actuator or actuator system for controlling one or more distribution pumps, or optionally, an actuator or actuator system for controlling a thermal energy storage product producer, or any combination thereof.

12. The network of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to transmit outputs to at least 6 actuators spread over at least 2 cogeneration systems.

13. A cogeneration network comprising

(i) a plurality of cogeneration systems, wherein each cogeneration system comprises a cogeneration plant operably connected to a host facility that receives a thermal product and/or mechanical work product and, optionally, electrical power from the cogeneration plant, and wherein at least one of the cogeneration plants comprises a plurality of operably connected modular transportable units;

and

(ii) a common controller for optimizing the operation of the cogeneration network that is operably connected to the plurality of cogeneration systems wherein the common controller

(a) receives inputs from a plurality of sensors in or near each of the plurality of cogeneration systems;

(b) processes the inputs to determine a plurality of outputs, and

(c) transmits the outputs to a plurality of actuators in the plurality of cogeneration systems, whereby the operation of the network of cogeneration systems is optimized; and

wherein the controller is configured so that the processing of step (ii)(b) comprises a forecast step, and wherein the forecast step forecasts a future value or range of values, or a probability of a future value or range of values, for a fuel price, an electricity export price, an electricity import price, an ambient environmental condition, an emissions limit, an incentive for the cogeneration plant, a price for a demand response action, a price for a thermal product, a price for water, an electrical demand from a host facility, a thermal product demand from a host facility, wherein the future value or range of future values, or probability of a future value or range of future values, is a value or range of values or probability of a value or range of values for at least one of the cogeneration systems; and

wherein the controller is configured so that the processing step of ii(b) may comprise determining a change in one or more set points for one or more the actuators based at least in part on one or more of the forecast values or range of values.

14. The network of claim 13 wherein the common controller further comprises a data storage unit for storing a value for a timing and/or result that occurs after the change in the one or more set points, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the processing step based on one or more of the results of a previous output, such as a result stored in the data storage unit, to improve the function of the network in the future.

15. The network of claim 13 wherein the sensors comprise sensors in the cogeneration plants, sensors in the host facilities, sensors for the environment at or near one or more of the cogeneration plants and/or host facilities, or sensors for operable connections between one or more of the cogeneration plants and it host facility, or any combination thereof.

16. The network of claim 13 wherein the common controller further receives input from one or more of the host facilities in one or more of the cogeneration systems, wherein the input comprises an electrical energy demand, a thermal product demand, a thermal product carrier flow rate, an air temperature, a thermal product carrier temperature, a fan rate, a humidity, a set point for an air temperature, a set point for a thermal product carrier temperature, or any combination thereof.

17. The network of claim 13 wherein the common controller further receives inputs from indicators of market conditions.

18. The network of claim 13 wherein the common controller receives inputs from at least 10 sensors, wherein the sensors are located in at least 2 cogeneration systems.

19. The network of claim 13 wherein the common controller further receives input indicating a desired future modulation in a condition of at least 1 host facility wherein the input indicating the desired future modulation is inputted from an interface for interaction between the system and an operator of the host facility.

20. The network of claim 13 wherein the modular transportable units of one of the cogeneration plants comprise at least 2 of a modular transportable unit comprising an electrical generator, a modular transportable unit comprising part or all of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), a modular transportable unit comprising part or all of a thermal product carrier producer, a modular transportable unit comprising part or all of a cooling tower, a modular transportable unit comprising part or all an exhaust stack, or a modular transportable unit comprising part or all a an air intake unit, or any combination thereof.

21. The network of claim 13 where the optimization of the operation of the network optimizes the profit of the network over a desired time period.

22. The network of claim 13 wherein the optimization of the operation of the network optimizes an energy efficiency of the network over a desired time period.

23. The network of claim 13 wherein the controller is configured to transmit outputs to at least 6 actuators spread over at least 2 cogeneration systems.