GB2425901A

GB2425901A - An electrical energy storage system

Info

Publication number: GB2425901A
Application number: GB0509274A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ahmed Fadel Hajhasson
Original assignee: AHMED F HAJHASSON
Current assignee: AHMED F HAJHASSON
Priority date: 2005-05-06
Filing date: 2005-05-06
Publication date: 2006-11-08
Also published as: GB0509274D0

Abstract

An electrical energy storage system in which some or all of the energy of the mains may be stored in a battery or batteries at a time when the energy is cheap or when there is low consumption in the grid. One or more timing devices 2 controls current from the mains 1 to an uninterrupted power supply system (UPS) 3 passing through metering 6 and house fuses 5. The load 4 is permanently connected to the system. The timer will allow the system to feed power from the mains at the period of cheapest electricity charge rates. The rest of the day the timer will disconnect the UPS from the mains. Such a system may also be linked to other power sources such as a diesel/ petrol generator, a wind turbine or a solar power system.

Description

ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM

This is an invention or a system in which we can store electrical energy of the mains at certain times. This could be done when the price of the energy is at lowest or when the electricity company decides it is a good time to store energy.

All or part of the stored energy can be used in the form of electricity during the peek hours or at any other time that we choose. We will be referring to this as Electrical Energy Storage System as EESS.

The advantages of this system are similar to the advantages of the electric heat storage system (radiators) with the added benefits of using the stored energy in the form of electricity, which is the most versatile form of energy. The added benefit of this system is the possibility for the electricity producing company to manage their production and supply on the national or international level.

This system will save the user a lot of money because he is using the electricity at its cheapest rates and will allow the electricity producing companies to better manage their power production so that there could almost be a constant level of energy production and consumption, which will lead to the reduction of the necessary power generating plants and the reduction of the capacity of the distribution network and also will save a lot of the fuel used to produce the power we need.

DESCRIPTiON OF THE SYSTEM

The main feature of this invention or the EESS system is the use of one or many timing devices that can send signal or signals at certain times to start and stop the process of charging the batteries of a UPS system or systems (Uninterrupted Power Supply system or systems), and or any equivalent battery charging system or systems which store the energy of the mains in batteries to be used by the user (or load) in form of AC or DC current. Alternatively the UPS system or systems (and or any equivalent battery charging system or systems) can be controlled remotely (for example by a modem and a special program) by the electricity company by sending the signal when to start and stop the battery charging process at certain times as needed (maybe when the energy consumption is at a certain low level). The control of the EESS can be also a combination of both controlling methods mentioned before. In all these mentioned cases, if required, the control can be also done on the consumption of the load or part of the load of this stored energy.

The load or part of the load can be fed directly by the UPS system or by a combination of the UPS system and the mains. Bypasses can be used so that the mains can feed directly the load in case of any problem with the UPS system.

If there is another power source or sources with the mains, this or these power sources can be continuously connected to charge the UPS (or the battery charging system) or if desired the operation of any or of all these power sources can also be timed. Examples of these: power sources are diesel generator, wind turbine, solar power system, gas generator, petrol generator, etc. The UPS system can supply the load or part of the load in parallel with the mains, any other powers sources or any combination of power sources, including or excluding the mains. The UPS system can be the only power source to the load or part of the load, all the other powers sources have to go through it. Also the load or part of the load can draw their power from the UPS operating in parallel with other power source or sources including or excluding the mains. Also the connection could be a combination of the two mentioned possibilities.

The UPS system can be made to feed the load continuously or at certain times if necessary.

The load or part of the load, that this UPS power system should supply (for example the house, or office, or factory etc.) can be connected continuously to this UPS or it could be timed to draw part or all the power needed at certain fixed times or at desired times.

This system can work in conjunction with other energy storage system or systems that store the electrical energy of the mains in form or forms other than in-batteries with the possibility of using part or all of this stored energy in the form of electricity. The EESS can also be a system that stores the energy of the mains in other energy forms than inbatteries (thus storing without using batteries). An example of this system could be storing the energy of the mains in electrical storage heaters. All or part of this stored energy can then be converted to electricity, for example by using a sterling engine powered generator or generators. The electric storage heater can be insulated and all the stored energy converted to electricity. Alternatively, the storage heater could be an ordinary heater where the heat can be used alongside the electricity. The EESS can also store energy in mechanical, chemical or in any other form. Combining various methods can also be used.

Examples

In most our examples, we assume that the supply from the inverter or the UPS is synchronized with the mains. If unsynchronized inverters or UPS systems are used, then synchronizing devices can be used if necessary. We haven't specified the connections of the relays and sensors between the components of the system since here we are only interested in demonstrating the main functions.

Figurel.

This is a simple example of an E+ESS where one (or several in parallel) timer-switches 2 is controlling the current that goes from the mains I to the UPS 3 passing through metering 6 and the house fuses 5. The load 4 is permanently connected to the continuous UPS system 3. The timer 2 will allow the UPS system 3 to feed from the mains I at the cheapest electricity rates period (for example between 24:00 hours and 7:00 A.M.) The rest of the day, the timer will disconnect the UPS from the mains. The load will always feed from the batteries of the UPS system. During the day, if there is need for more energy than stored in the batteries of the UPS, the timer-switch can be switched on manually. A sound alarm can give the warning in such a case.

Figure 2 This is like example I, but in this case, the load 4 is connected to the UPS system 3 and to the mains 1 in parallel. There are 2 extra timer-switches 16 and 17 between the UPS system and the load, and between the fuses 5 and the load. As in the first example, the timer 2 will allow the UPS system 3 to feed from the mains I at the cheapest electricity rates period (for example between 24:00 hours and 7:00 A.M.). At this time, timer-switch 16 will be off and timer-switch 17 will be on to allow the flow of the electricity directly from the mains to the load. The rest of the day, timer-switch 2 and 17 will be off and timer-switch 16 will be on. At this time, if there is need for more energy than stored in the batteries, the load 4 can be fed directly from the mains by turning on either timer- switch 17 or timer-switch 2, or both of them. Another option is to turn on timer-switch 17 and turn off timer-switch 16. In this example, timer- switches can be turned on or off manually when needed. An alarm of low battery level can be provided by the UPS system.

Figure 3 The same as figure 2, but where timer-switches 16 and 17 are replaced by a transfer panel (contactors) 7. This transfer panel can get the signal to switch between the UPS and the mains through a timer integrated in the UPS or through a relay in case of low stored energy in the batteries. In the cheap rates period, timer-switch 2 will be on and contactor 7 will connect the mains directly to the load 4 (through a signal from a timer in the UPS).

During the rest of the day, timer-switch 2 will be off and the load will be connected to the UPS through transfer panel 7. During this time, if there is not enough energy in the batteries, a relay in the UPS can send a signal to the contactor 7 to switch to the mains.

Figure 4 The same as figure 3 except that timer-switch 2 is replaced by a motorized circuit breaker 8. In this example, the timer and the relays in the UPS will send signals to the circuit breaker 8 and the transfer panel 7 to do the same functions as in example 3 (to store the energy during the cheap rates period, and to use this stored energy during the rest of the day. In case of insufficient energy in the batteries, the transfer panel will switch to the mains).

Figure 5 The same as figure 4 (example 4) but in addition, the system is controlled by the computers of the electricity company via modem. The electricity company can override the timers and the UPS control system and can send signals directly or through the UPS system to both the circuit breaker 8 and the transfer panel 7 to switch on and off or from one source of power to the other according to the availability of surplus energy in the grid. In other words, the charging of the batteries and the usage of the stored energy, or the switching to the mains can all be controlled remotely by the electricity company through the modem as needed. The timers of the UPS system 3 can be overridden or reset as required. The system can be controlled locally by the UPS system 3 or remotely by the electricity company, or a combination of both. Signals from the UPS system can be sent to the electricity company about the stored energy level or the usage of the load at certain times so that accurate management of the EESS can be made by the computers of the electricity company.

Figure 6 This is an example of a simple system where the load is permanently connected to a continuous UPS system 3. The control panel 15 has a timer or timers that send the signal to the motorized circuit breaker 8 to start and stop the charging of the batteries during the times as mentioned in the previous examples. The system is also controlled by the electricity company through a modem 10 which can override the control panel 15 when required, as also mentioned in the previous example.

Figure 7 This example is the same as in example I but with the use, in parallel, of a hybrid solar and wind battery charging system. The UPS and the inverter 14 are synchronized to feed in parallel load 4. Charging the batteries of the UPS at the cheap rates period can be controlled by timer 2. In this figure, we did not show the metering and the fuses for simplicity (the UPS system and the inverter are synchronized).A timerswitch or a motorized circuit breaker can be placed between the UPS system 3 and the load 4 to switch on and off when needed (as in the previous examples). If there is not enough energy in the batteries of the UPS or the batteries of the solar system 13, the timer-switch 2 can be switched on to feed the load from the mains if required.

Figure 8 It is the same as figure 7 but where motorized circuit breaker 8 replaces timer 2. Also in this example, the electricity company can remotely control the management of the UPS system 3 through a modem 10 as mentioned in the previous examples. In this example also, a timer switch or a motorized circuit breaker can be placed between the UPS system and the load. If there is not enough energy in the batteries of the UPS or the batteries of the solar system 13, the motorized circuit breaker can be switched on to feed the load from the mains if required.

Figure 9

S

This is a hybrid battery charging system in which the batteries 13 are fed by the mains, the solar panels 12 and the wind turbine 9 through the hybrid charger controller ii. The system is controlled by the inverter 14 which has timers and relays to switch on or off the motorized circuit breaker 8 when needed as mentioned before. This inverter 14 can be controlled by the electricity company through the modem 10 as also mentioned before.

In all the examples so far mentioned, many devices in the house like alarm systems, lights, washing machines, etc can be controlled or made to be switched on and off at certain times by the EESS. This could be done through the inverter, the UPS system, or a control panel. This will give us, not only a money saving system, but also a completely automated house management system. Signals through the modem can be sent to the EESS to control these devices by the owner through a telephone or a laptop, etc. 1-lere we mentioned a house, but in all our examples the load could be a house, an office, a factory, etc. The load could be DC or AC or a combination of these. It also can be single phase or 3 phase or a combination of both. Also in all the examples above, we put the UPS (or the batteries) between the fuses and the load, but its position (or their position) could be anywhere between the mains and the load.

All the examples above can be used in conjunction with any other energy storage system that stores the energy of the mains in forms of energy other than electricity, for example an Economy Seven heat storage system.

Claims

1. An electrical energy storage system which is controlled by one or more timing devices or remotely controlled by the electricity company or companies that provide the mains or by a combination of these control methods This system stores some or all the electrical energy of the mains at certain time or times in a battery or batteries.

This stored electrical energy can be used at certain time or times or can be used continuously and this can be controlled by any or all the control methods or equipments mentioned before. The operation of this system could be manual, semi- manual or automatic.

2. An energy storage system as claimed in claim I where the energy of the mains is not stored in battery or batteries but in any other form or forms of energy and where all or part of this stored energy can be converted to electrical energy.

3. An energy storage system as claimed in claim 2 where it has at least one battery to store the energy of the mains in combination with other energy storing devices. All or part of the energy stored in this system can be used in the form of electricity.

4. An electrical energy storage system as claimed in any of the previous claims where the electrical energy of the mains is stored between the hours of the night when the price of the electricity is the cheapest (Economy Seven) and where the mains is not used outside these hours except in emergency.

5. An electrical energy storage system as claimed in claim 1, 2, and 3 where the electrical energy of the mains is stored at anytime found suitable by the electricity company or companies that provide the mains. These times could be when the level of the energy usage of the grid is low. The storage process can be started and stopped remotely as many times as needed. If there is a timer or timers in the system, these can be overridden by the control system of the electricity company.

6. An electrical energy storage system as claimed in any of the previous claims where the system has at least one UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply System). The UPS system or systems will be used to store the electrical energy of the mains to be used by the load at the desired times.

7. An electrical energy storage system as claimed in any of the previous claims where it has a battery storage system that is charged by a renewable energy source or sources like wind turbines, solar panels, water turbines etc. This battery storage system can also be connected directly to the mains to store the mains energy. The supply from this storage system can be continuous. In case of emergency the mains can supply the load directly either automatically or manually.

8. An electrical energy storage system as claimed in any of the previous claims where it has a standby generator that can support the load in case of the mains failure and in case the stored energy is not enough.

9. An electrical energy storage system as claimed in any of the claims mentioned before where it has at least one timer switch between the mains and the storage battery or batteries to allow the mains to feed the system at the required time or times.

10. An electrical energy storage system as claimed in any of the claims mentioned before where it has at least one motorized circuit breaker. This or these circuit breakers can be used to connect the mains to the batteries, or the batteries to the load at the desired time or times.

11. An electrical energy storage system as claimed in any of the claims mentioned before where it has at least one transfer panel, either manual or automatic, or contactors or a changeover switch or a combination of any type of these. They can be used to switch from the storage system to the mains or the emergency generator, etc.

12. An energy storage system as mentioned in any of the above claims, where it can be used in conjunction with other energy storage system or systems that store the electrical energy of the mains in form or forms other than in-batteries with the possibility of using part or all of this stored energy in the form of electricity.

13. An electrical energy storage system substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings or examples.