US 7,444,189 B1 · Method and apparatus for simultaneous optimization of distributed generation and hydrogen production

Abstract

An energy optimization method and control apparatus may be used in a single building or a group of buildings to optimize utility-supplied and renewable sources in order to minimize the total energy cost. Simultaneously, it may also produce and store hydrogen gas that can be used to fuel hydrogen powered vehicles, provide a means for independent production of electricity and thermal energy, or both. Various factors, such as the production of thermal energy and electricity from the renewable sources, the current store of hydrogen, the current and expected thermal and electricity requirements of the building (based on a profile), the current and expected electricity loads of the equipment used to process hydrogen, the expected thermal and electricity generating capacity of the renewable sources and other factors can be used to determine the mix of renewable-based and utility-based energy that minimizes the total energy cost.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method for optimizing the use of utility-supplied energy sources and renewable energy sources, the method comprising:

optimizing a stored volume of hydrogen, wherein the stored volume of hydrogen is created from utility-provided energy sources or renewable energy sources, and wherein the stored volume of hydrogen is optimized using a first formula that includes parameters accounting for energy requirements of a building, energy requirements of at least one hydrogen powered vehicle, and user-configurable optimization criteria;
and
optimizing respective amounts of power obtained from the utility-provided energy sources, produced by the renewable energy sources, and produced by converting hydrogen in the stored volume of hydrogen to energy, wherein the respective amounts of power are optimized according to a second formula that is dependent on the first formula.

A method for an energy management system to optimize energy costs associated with providing energy from different sources for use within a building, the method comprising:

determining an energy requirement for a building and a hydrogen fuel requirement for at least one hydrogen-powered vehicle;
determining at least one user-defined scenario governing production of hydrogen from utility-supplied energy sources and renewable energy sources;
optimizing an amount of stored hydrogen according to the energy requirement for the building, the hydrogen fuel requirement for the hydrogen-powered vehicle, and the user-defined scenario;
and
optimizing respective amounts of energy consumed from the utility-supplied energy sources and the renewable energy sources according to the energy requirement for the building, the fuel requirement for the hydrogen-powered vehicle and the user-defined scenario;
and
wherein optimizing an amount of stored hydrogen comprises optimizing the amount of stored hydrogen according to an independent formula that includes as parameters:
an output capability of a natural gas reformer an electrolysis capability that renewable energy sources provide to producing hydrogen, a direct renewables to hydrogen capability that renewable energy sources provide to producing hydrogen and an electrolysis capability that a utility-supplied electric grid provides to producing hydrogen.

5 more elements

A method for optimizing energy production and usage in a group of networked buildings, the method comprising:

determining electric and thermal energy requirements for each building in the group of networked buildings;
determining an energy requirement for at least one hydrogen powered vehicle;
optimizing a stored volume of hydrogen, wherein the stored volume of hydrogen is created from utility-provided energy sources or renewable energy sources, and wherein the stored volume of hydrogen is optimized based on the electric and thermal energy requirements for each building in the group of networked buildings and also based on the energy requirements for the at least one hydrogen powered vehicle;
and
optimizing respective amounts of power obtained from the utility-provided energy sources, produced by the renewable energy sources, and produced by converting hydrogen in the stored volume of hydrogen to energy.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for simultaneous optimization of distributed generation and hydrogen production

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for simultaneous optimization of distributed generation and hydrogen production

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30