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US 9,429,018 B2Granted
Synergistic energy ecosystem
AssigneeElectroMotion Energy Corporation
InventorsJai Zachary, James Andrew Leskosek, Greg John Montie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Synergistic Energy Ecosystem using a co-generation system and method wherein waste energy from waste heat producers within an enclosure including an electric generator is reclaimed to supply heat to the cold end of a heat pump within the enclosure for optimized use in space heating a habitat and to the management of the distribution of electricity from the generator so as to supply electricity to the habitat and to neighboring habitats when efficient, cost-effective or required to do so by distribution policies managing the energy eco-system.
Claims33
A method for cogeneration and distribution of heat and electricity, the method comprising:
- a) Providing a cogeneration system which includes:
- (i) an insulated hollow enclosure, wherein said enclosure is adapted to stand adjacent a habitat requiring space heating and electricity,
- (ii) a fuel-burning electrical generator mounted in said enclosure, a first ambient air intake and corresponding first ambient air intake conduit for communicating ambient air from outside of said enclosure, said first ambient air intake in fluid communication with an air intake on said generator, an exhaust conduit communicating exhaust from said generator to the ambient air outside said enclosure, and wherein said enclosure is sized so as to provide a warm-air space at least above and adjacent to said generator, wherein said generator is adapted to supply supplied electricity to at least said habitat,
- (iii) a second ambient air intake into said enclosure providing ambient air into an airflow flowing in a downstream direction through said enclosure,
- (iv) a fan mounted in said airflow, said fan urging said airflow in said downstream direction and through said warm-air space, a heat pump having a hot and a cold end, said heat pump mounted in said enclosure in said airflow and downstream of said warm-air space and arranged so that when said heating of said habitat is required, pre-warmed air from said warm-air space flows to said cold end of said heat pump and so that air warmed by said generator impinges said cold end of said heat pump and exits said heat pump in said airflow flowing in said downstream direction from said heat pump,
- (v) an airflow redirector mounted at a downstream side of said enclosure, a heat pump conduit mounted to said airflow redirector for communicating said airflow into said habitat when said airflow redirector is in an airflow venting position,
- (vi) a recirculating passageway within said enclosure in fluid communication from a downstream end of said airflow to an upstream end of said airflow, said recirculating passageway extending over said warm-air space, wherein said airflow redirector redirects said airflow into said recirculating passageway when said airflow redirector is in an airflow Begin redirecting position,
- (vii) a thermal battery mounted in said enclosure, at least one heat exchanger capturing heat from said airflow, and said exhaust conduit, and transferring said heat to said thermal battery when said generator is running, and selectively transferring stored said heat from said battery to said airflow when said generator is not running and said heat pump and said fan are running,
- (viii) an onsite energy ecosystem (OEE) controller controlling operation of said generator, said heat pump and said at least one heat exchanger,
- b) operating, during a peak energy demand period, said OEE controller and controlling said cogeneration system so as to generate electricity from said generator:
- (i) to supply said electricity to habitat,
- (ii) once the energy demand of said habitat is met then to supply excess electricity to other habitats having need of electricity from said cogeneration system,
- c) discontinuing operation of said generator during an off-peak energy demand period, unless there has been a power failure wherein mains utility grid power is not available to the habitat, in which case said cogeneration continues as during said peak energy demand period,
- d) using heat from said battery instead of heat from said generator to warm said airflow when operation of said generator is said discontinued,
- further comprising a thermal storage device, wherein said thermal storage device includes an air duct journalled through said battery and wherein said heat pump cold end includes at least one condenser and said at least one condenser is mounted in said air duct, and wherein said fan motivates said airflow to flow over said generator and through said air duct,
- wherein said thermal storage device further includes a water jacket sandwiched between said air duct and said battery.
13 more elements
A system for cogeneration and distribution of heat and electricity comprising:
- (i) an insulated Begin hollow enclosure, wherein said enclosure is adapted to stand adjacent a habitat requiring space heating and electricity,
- (ii) a fuel-burning electrical generator mounted in said enclosure, a first ambient air intake and corresponding first ambient air intake conduit for communicating ambient air from outside of said enclosure, said first ambient air intake in fluid communication with an air intake on said generator, an exhaust conduit communicating exhaust from said generator to the ambient air outside said enclosure, and wherein said enclosure is sized so as to provide a warm-air space at least above and adjacent to said generator, wherein said generator is adapted to supply supplied electricity to at least said habitat,
- (iii) a second ambient air intake into said enclosure providing ambient air into an airflow flowing in a downstream direction through said enclosure,
- (iv) a fan mounted in said airflow, said fan urging said airflow in said downstream direction and through said warm-air space, a heat pump having a hot and a cold end, said heat pump mounted in said enclosure in said airflow and downstream of said warm-air space and arranged so that when said heating of said habitat is required, pre-warmed air from said warm-air space flows to said cold end of said heat pump and so that air warmed by said generator impinges said cold end of said heat pump and exits said heat pump in said airflow flowing in said downstream direction from said heat pump,
- (v) an airflow redirector mounted at a downstream side of said enclosure, a heat pump conduit mounted to said airflow redirector for communicating said airflow into said habitat when said airflow redirector is in an airflow venting position,
- (vi) a recirculating passageway within said enclosure in fluid communication from a downstream end of said airflow to an upstream end of said airflow, said recirculating passageway extending over said warm-air space, wherein said airflow redirector redirects said airflow into said recirculating passageway when said airflow redirector is in an airflow redirect position,
- (vii) a thermal battery mounted in said enclosure, at least one heat exchanger capturing heat from said airflow, and said exhaust conduit, and transferring said heat to said thermal battery when said generator is running, and selectively transferring stored said heat from said battery to said airflow when said generator is not running and said heat pump and said fan are running,
- (viii) an onsite energy ecosystem (OEE) controller controlling operation of said generator, said heat pump and said at least one heat exchanger,
- wherein said OEE controller is adapted to:
- operate during a peak energy demand period to control said cogeneration system so as to generate electricity from said generator:
- (i) to supply said electricity to habitat,
- (ii) once the energy demand of said habitat is met then to supply excess electricity to other habitats having need of electricity from said cogeneration system,
- and to discontinue operation of said generator during an off-peak energy demand period, unless there has been a power failure wherein mains utility grid power is not available to the habitat, in which case said cogeneration continues as during said peak energy demand period,
- and wherein said system is adapted to use heat from said battery instead of heat from said generator to warm said airflow when operation of said generator is said discontinued,
- further comprising a thermal storage device mounted downstream of said generator, wherein said thermal storage device includes an air duct journalled through said battery and wherein said heat pump cold end includes at least one condenser and said at least one condenser is mounted in said air duct, and wherein said fan motivates said airflow to flow through said air duct,
- wherein said thermal storage device further includes a water jacket between said air duct and said battery.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.