US 8,914,158 B2Granted

Regulation of contribution of secondary energy sources to power grid

AssigneeThe AES Corporation

InventorsJay Geinzer, J. Christopher Shelton, Steven Meersman

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Abstract

An energy storage medium is combined with a secondary energy source that supplies power to an electricity distribution grid. The charge and discharge behavior of the energy storage medium is controlled so that rapid increases in the output of a secondary source of energy are absorbed by the storage system, whereas rapid decreases in the output of the secondary source are compensated by discharging stored energy onto the grid. The combined contributions of the secondary source and the energy storage system ensures a rate of change that does not exceed a defined level. Maximum and minimum output power levels for the secondary source can be established to define a normal operating range. The charging or discharging of the energy storage system is also performed when the secondary output power level exceeds or falls below the limits of the defined range.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of regulating an output power of a source of electricity that is supplied to an electricity distribution grid, the method comprising:

determining whether:
(a) the output power of the electricity source is outside a predetermined range, and
(b) a rate of change of the output power exceeds a predefined maximum value that is a function of one or more parameters that influence an expected output of the electricity source, wherein the one or more parameters is selected from the list consisting of:
a charging constraint on charging an energy storage medium, wherein the charging constraint limits charging of the energy storage medium based on unused energy storage capacity of the energy storage medium and a maximum power rating of the energy storage medium, and
a discharging constraint on discharging the energy storage medium, wherein the discharging constraint limits discharging of the energy storage medium based on available energy storage capacity of the energy storage medium and the maximum power rating of the energy storage medium;
and
in response to determining that either or both of conditions (a) and (b) is met, regulating the output power supplied to the grid by transferring energy between the energy storage medium and the electricity grid,
wherein the transferring comprises discharging or charging the energy storage medium.

5 more elements

A system for regulating an output power of a source of electricity that is supplied to an electricity distribution grid, comprising:

at least one energy storage medium;
a converter system that, in response to receiving a command to add energy to or absorb energy from the grid, is configured to selectively couple said at least one storage medium to the grid to transfer energy between the at least one storage medium and the grid;
and
a power regulating system configured to:
determine whether:
(a) the output power of the electricity source is outside a predetermined range, and
(b) the rate of change of the output power exceeds a predefined maximum value that is a function of one or more parameters that influence an expected output of the electricity source, wherein the one or more parameters is selected from the list consisting of:
a charging constraint on charging the energy storage medium, wherein the charging constraint limits charging of the energy storage medium based on unused energy storage capacity of the energy storage medium and a maximum power rating of the energy storage medium, and
a discharging constraint on discharging the energy storage medium, wherein the discharging constraint limits discharging of the energy storage medium based on available energy storage capacity of the energy storage medium and the maximum power rating of the energy storage medium;
and
control said converter system by transferring energy between the energy storage medium and the electricity grid in response to determining that either or both of conditions (a) and (b) is met,
wherein the transferring comprises discharging or charging the energy storage medium.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.