US 2011/0030753 A1 · CONTROL OF POWER GENERATION SYSTEM HAVING THERMAL ENERGY AND THERMODYNAMIC ENGINE COMPONENTS

Abstract

A thermal source provides heat to a heat engine and or one or more thermal demands, including space and water heating and heat storage. Additionally the output of the heat engine may be used for local in situ electricity needs, or directed out over the grid. A system controller monitors conditions of the components of the system, and operates that system in modes that maximize a particular benefit, such as a total accrued desired benefit obtained such as reduced electricity cost, reduced fossil fuel use, maximized return on investment and other factors. The controller may use past history of use of the system to optimize the next mode of operation, or both past and future events such as predicted solar insolation.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A system for selective allocation of thermal energy between use to generate electricity or a different use, comprising:

a heat engine coupled to an electrical generation device;
a supply of thermal energy
a thermal storage operatively coupled to said heat engine and said supply of thermal energy;
and
a controller operatively coupled to at least said storage and said heat engine, said controller configured to selectively direct thermal energy from said supply to said storage and/or said heat engine based at least in part on past, present or forecast factors relating to conditions internal and external to the system.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Control of power generation system having thermal energy and thermodynamic engine components

Life of this patent

Control of power generation system having thermal energy and thermodynamic engine components

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22