DE102018104016A1 - System for controlling energy flows - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (10) for controlling energy flows, comprising at least one voltage source (12, 16) based on a regenerative power generation, having at least one energy store (14) for storing electrical energy, having at least one electrical load (32, 34) 36) and at least one controller (20) for controlling the energy flows between voltage sources (12; 16), energy storage (14) and consumers (32; 34; 36). To minimize the total energy consumption in the system (10), it is provided according to the invention that at least one consumer (32; 34) is set up to store thermal energy and the controller (20) depends on the current state of charge of the electrical energy store (14) from the storage state the thermal memory in the consumers (32; 34) and the current voltage supply of the voltage sources (12; 16) controls the energy flows to minimize the required size of the electrical energy store (14) and increase the self-consumption of the generated regenerative energy in the system.

Description

The invention relates to a system for controlling energy flows according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

A generic system is from the US 9,819,219 B2 known. In this case, a controller ensures optimized balancing of energy flows between a photovoltaic module, a memory and a plurality of electrical consumers.

The object of the invention is to increase the efficiency of such a system.

This object is achieved by a system having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

According to the invention, the system is characterized in that at least one consumer is also set up to store thermal energy and the controller, depending on the current load state of the electrical energy storage, the storage state of the thermal storage in the consumers and the current voltage supply of the voltage sources, the energy flows to minimize of the total energy consumption in the system. For this purpose, the thermal storage capacities of consumers in conjunction with the capacity of one or more electrical energy storage are additionally used to increase the overall degree of self-use regenerative energy. By the simultaneous use of thermal storage, the size of the required electrical energy storage can be reduced. This leads to a significant reduction in the total storage costs of the system according to the invention.

The control is preferably in bidirectional data connection with the at least one voltage source and / or the at least one electrical energy store and / or the thermal store in the consumers and / or the other consumers.

Due to the fact that consumers are connected to the controller before the first use according to an advantageous development of the invention via a handshaking protocol and thereby a unique identifier of the consumer is stored in the controller, it is ensured that the controller all belonging to the respective consumer parameters (such as electrical power, set temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, thermal storage capacity, normal consumption times and consumption levels of electrical and / or thermal energy) are transmitted correctly. In the case of an exchange for a new component of a consumer or the integration of a new consumer, its parameters are automatically integrated into the control of the system.

Advantageously, it is furthermore provided that the consumers have a switch which prepares or interrupts the operational readiness of the respective consumer and which can be actuated as a function of a unique identifier of the control transmitted by the control. Due to the fact that the controller can also be uniquely identified on the basis of a unique identifier, on the one hand it is virtually impossible for the consumer to be activated by an unauthorized intervention by a third party, for example a hacker. This must first log in to the well-secured control.

The fact that each consumer is associated with a unique identifier that is only addressable by the handshaking protocol in conjunction with the identifier of a particular controller of this, can prevent leased or leased consumer based outside the control of a special controller are operable. An illegal sale of such equipment or operation after a theft of such devices is made meaningless and thus largely impossible.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that upon reaching a calculated by the controller partial state of charge or the maximum state of charge of the at least one electrical energy storage and a current energy supply of the voltage sources, which exceeds the current or planned energy demand of the consumer, the overshooting part of electrical energy is used in at least one of the consumers for storing thermal energy. As electrical energy storage are particularly preferred so-called hybrid memory with at least one lead-acid battery and at least one Lithiumakkumulator usable with a priority charge of the lead-acid battery and a subordinate charge of the lithium battery and a reverse discharge strategy.

It is furthermore advantageous if the controller is provided with a time measuring device and has at least one data memory for storing daytime and / or seasonal brightness, solar intensity and / or temperature profiles of the current operating location of the system. In addition, there are advantageously further memories which indicate the daytime and / or seasonal behavior of the users of the system with regard to their consumption Record electrical and / or thermal energy and make available to a program stored in the controller for optimizing the energy management.

• 1 eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Systems zur Steuerung von Energieströmen mit einer Photovoltaik-Anlage zur Erzeugung von elektrischer Energie, mit einem Batteriespeicher zur Speicherung von elektrischer Energie, mit einem Kältespeicher und mit einem Wärmespeicher zur Speicherung von thermischer Energie.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that at least one consumer is provided for storing thermal energy with a phase change medium. Such a phase change medium, which is particularly useful in the storage of refrigeration energy, ensures a high energy density in the storage medium, thereby reducing installation space and costs for the storage medium and the respective consumer. Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. It shows:

• 1 a schematic perspective view of a system according to the invention for controlling energy flows with a photovoltaic system for generating electrical energy, with a battery storage for storing electrical energy, with a cold storage and with a heat storage for storing thermal energy.

In 1 is a system 10 shown that in the left part of the drawing several sources of energy 12 . 14 and 16 shows. As examples of regenerative energy sources there are a photovoltaic module 12 and a wind turbine 16 with a generator 18 shown. In addition, at least one electrical energy store is used to store electrical energy 14 intended. The energy sources 12 . 14 and 16 are with a controller 20 connected so that on the one hand there is a bidirectional data connection with the controller and on the other lines for a power transmission of electrical energy are provided. Bidirectional data connection and power transmission lines are simplified by a double-headed arrow.

On the right side of the controller 20 are several electrical consumers 32 . 34 and 36 shown schematically. At the consumer 32 it is, for example, a refrigerator, which is additionally equipped with a cold storage in which under the influence of electrical energy, a phase transition medium can be converted, for example, from a liquid to a solid phase. Preference is given to phase transfer media having a high specific energy for effecting the phase transition.

The consumer 34 is formed for example by a hot water generator, which is additionally equipped with a thermal storage for storing the warm water.

The consumer 36 is another consumer without memory function, such as a lighting fixture or a consumer electronics device.

The control 20 has a clock 22 and at least one data memory 24 on, on the one hand, a software for controlling the energy management between all to the controller 20 connected energy sources 12 . 14 and 16 and consumers 32 . 34 and 36 is stored. On the other hand, in the data memory 24 further memory areas are provided for recording unique identifiers of all connected devices as well as daytime and / or seasonal for the system 10 typical consumption levels of electrical and / or thermal energy as well as for the respective location of typical energy production quantities of regenerative energy sources 12 or. 14 , In the data store 24 For example, additional storage may be provided for storing weather forecast data, such as the expected average daily solar radiation and the expected average wind strength for the coming week.

Via the bidirectional data connection between the controller 20 , the energy sources 12 . 14 and 16 and consumers 32 . 34 and 36 the respective system states can be exchanged and in their dependence the consumers 32 . 34 and 36 be regulated in their performance. This regulation is not possible with the current state of the art in solar home systems (SHS) with electric storage.

The inventive technique equips a solar home system (SHS) 10 with a communication system that allows information to be shared between the controller 20 and the connected consumers 32 . 34 and 36 exchange. The information exchange can be unidirectional or bi-directional in a wired or wireless manner. With this information it is possible the connected consumers 32 . 34 and 36 to control or regulate so that they change their power consumption. In this respect the connected consumers 32 . 34 allow storage of thermal energy, this property can be influenced by this and energy stored as thermal energy.

From the information gathered, for example, results in a so-called energy status of the system 10 , which is the battery capacity of the electrical energy storage 14 and its state of charge, from the current charging current (preferably the photovoltaic modules 12 or other renewable, non-continuously available sources, such as the wind turbine 16 or with an unstable power supply network 19 with a high failure rate) and the load current of the consumer 32 . 34 and 36 put together.

By this determination of the overall energy status of the system 10 It becomes possible with good energy availability of regenerative energy sources 12 . 16 the thermal stores in consumers 32 or. 34 charge. This is done, for example, initially preferably in a refrigerator 32 in which a Phase Change Material (PCM) with a melting point around 6 ° C is incorporated. The target temperature is inside the fridge 32 during high energy availability (eg with connected photovoltaic modules 12 during the day in strong sunlight), by the controller 20 lowered to about 2 ° C. As a result, the phase change material freezes with a phase transition at about 6 ° C. With low energy availability (eg with connected photovoltaic modules 12 during the night) melts this phase transfer material and keeps the temperature in the refrigerator 32 low. As a result, after-cooling during the night with electrical energy is not necessary or only to a very small extent.

The principle described above is similar for one with an electric hot water generator 34 connected hot water heat storage applicable. Here, however, it is possible to dispense with the use of phase transition material, since the water itself already provides a sufficiently high storage capacity. The hot water generator 34 is preferably operated at a lower priority than the refrigerator 32 and only with a correspondingly high surplus of renewable energy sources 12 . 16 provided electrical energy activated.

The measures described above ensure that the generated regenerative energy does not only have to be stored in electrical form, but also much more favorably in the form of thermal energy. This will be the one for the system 10 required electrical energy storage 14 smaller and the system 10 thus overall more cost effective.

Furthermore, the bidirectional communication between the controller allows 20 and consumers 32 . 34 and 36 the optional coupling of consume 32 . 34 and 36 to a particular system with a well-defined controller 20 (using a handshaking protocol). The consumer 32 . 34 and 36 So it has to be on the controller 20 with a unique ID or serial number log in and unlocked. If this activation step does not take place, the connected consumer functions 32 . 34 and 36 not or only very limited. This can be prevented that, consumers which to a particular control 20 can be operated with a different controller or source of energy. The system 10 can through the handshaking process and the binding of consumers to a defined controller 20 a specific smart home system (SHS) prevents theft and misuse of consumers. This is especially true with PAYG ("pay-as-you-go") or other rental models.

• Der Kühlschrank 32 ändert seine innere Temperatur („Target Temperature“) in Abhängigkeit vom Energiestatus des gesamten Systems 10. Bei guter Verfügbarkeit von elektrischer Energie seitens der regenerativen Energiequellen 12 bzw. 16 wird die Zieltemperatur („Target Temperature“) beispielsweise auf 2°C gesetzt und dadurch das Phasenübergangsmaterial (PCM) eingefroren. Bei geringem Energiestatus des Gesamtsystems 10 wird die Zieltemperatur im Kühlschrank 32 durch die Steuerung 20 auf 8°C gesetzt und das Phasenübergangsmaterial taut auf. Bei mittlerem Energiestatus wird die Zieltemperatur im Kühlschrank 32 beispielsweise auf 5°C gesetzt; es erfolgt wenig Interaktion mit dem Phasenübergangsmaterial.

Example fridge 32 :

• The refrigerator 32 changes its internal temperature ("target temperature") depending on the energy status of the entire system 10 , With good availability of electrical energy from renewable energy sources 12 or. 16 For example, the target temperature is set to 2 ° C, thereby freezing the phase change material (PCM). At low energy status of the whole system 10 the target temperature is in the fridge 32 through the controller 20 set to 8 ° C and the phase change material thaws. At medium energy status, the target temperature will be in the refrigerator 32 for example, set at 5 ° C; there is little interaction with the phase change material.

As electrical energy storage 14 Particularly preferred are so-called hybrid memories with at least one lead-acid battery and at least one lithium accumulator. The total hybrid heater's "state of charge" (SOC) is internally calculated from a combination of the SOC of the lithium battery and the lead-acid SOC. The battery size of the lead-acid battery and the lithium battery and their respective current SOC then preferably go into the charge and discharge management of the controller 20 of the system 10 on. The loading and unloading management of the controller 20 can also distinguish the partial storage capacities of the lithium battery and the lead acid battery and control their prioritized charge or discharge. Load and charging current can be controlled by the controller 20 but also simplified as a total load or charging current (without distinguishing the partial storage capacities and the SOC's of the lithium battery and the lead acid battery) are treated.

A typical course of the day with this example may look something like this: During the day, the fridge is being used 32 about the controller 20 Energy from the photovoltaic module 12 fed. The temperature in the fridge 32 is low. At night, no electrical energy is supplied, the temperature in the refrigerator 32 is maintained at about 8 ° C by thawing the phase change material.

The aim of the invention is the electrical storage 14 through optimized power distribution to minimize and thereby reduce the overall system costs. The system according to the invention 10 is also subsequently easily with other equipped with thermal storage consumers 32 . 34 can be retrofitted without the electrical energy storage 14 to enlarge or exchange.

The system 10 also allows the temperature of a hot water generator 34 or a fridge 32 To be regulated so that always a minimum supply is guaranteed.

The system according to the invention 10 can work completely self-sufficiently - that means without an integration into a public power supply network; However, it is also possible as an additional input to the controller 20 such a public power grid 19 from where necessary, taken from the electrical energy and in the corresponding excess energy in the system 10 also electrical energy can be fed. The removal takes place preferably at times when the loads on the public power grid 19 are low (typically at night), where those from the public power grid 19 in the system 10 fed energy preferred for charging the electrical energy storage 14 and / or to charge the thermal storage in the consumers 32 . 34 is used. Feeding into the public power grid 19 takes place preferably at times when in the system 10 due to high generation of electrical energy by the regenerative energy producers 12 and 16 and a low load by consumers 32 . 34 and 36 a corresponding surplus arises (typically during the day).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

System (for controlling energy flows)

12

Photovoltaic module

14

(electrical) energy storage

16

wind turbine

18

generator

19

Power supply network

20

Control (SHS = Smart Home System)

22

Timing device

24

data storage

32

Refrigerator (with PCM = Phase Change Material)

34

Hot water generator (with thermal storage)

36

Consumer (without memory function)

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 9819219 B2 [0002]

Claims (10)

A system (10) for controlling energy flows comprising at least one voltage source (12, 16) based on a regenerative power generation, at least one energy store (14) for storing electrical energy, at least one electrical load (32, 34, 36) and with at least one controller (20) for controlling the energy flows between voltage sources (12; 16), energy stores (14) and consumers (32; 34; 36), characterized in that at least one consumer (32; 34) stores thermal energy in accordance with the current state of charge of the electrical energy store (14), the storage state of the thermal store in the consumers (32; 34) and the currently provided voltage supply of the voltage sources (12; 16), the thermal and electrical energy flows and / or memory conditions in the system. System (10) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the controller (20) in bidirectional data connection with the voltage source (12; 16) and / or the electrical energy store (14) and / or the thermal storage in the consumers (32; 34) and / or the other electrical Consumers (36) stands. System (10) after Claim 2 , characterized in that the consumers (32; 34; 36) are connected to the controller (20) via a handshaking protocol. System (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the consumers (32; 34; 36), the electrical energy store (14) and / or the controller (20) have a unique identifier, which when integrated into the system (10) is stored in the controller (20). System (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the consumers (32; 34; 36) have a readiness for operation of the respective consumer (32; 34; 36) producing or interrupting switch, which depends on a unique, from the controller (20) transmitted identifier of the controller (20) is operable. System (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at a current energy supply of the voltage sources (12; 16), which exceeds the energy requirement of the consumer (32; 34; 36), the overshooting portion of the electrical energy in at least one of Consumers (32; 34) is used to store thermal energy. System (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (20) is provided with a timing device (22). System (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (20) with at least one data memory (24) for storing daytime and / or seasonal temperature gradients and / or brightness gradients and / or sun intensity profiles of the current location of use of the system (10). having. System (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one consumer (32; 34) for storing thermal energy is provided with a phase change medium. System (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (20) controls the removal from or the supply of electrical energy in a power supply network (19).

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