Method for Storing Potential Energy

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage unit (2) for storing energy in the form of potential energy, comprising at least one potential energy storage device (4) for receiving, storing and releasing energy, at least one guide element (6) for guiding the potential energy storage device (4) along a guide path (8), wherein the guide path (8) is arranged within a shaft (10) arranged in the ground vertically with respect to the ground surface, wherein the potential energy storage device (4) obtains the stored potential energy by conversion from kinetic energy and releases it by conversion into kinetic energy, wherein the kinetic energy results from a movement of the potential energy storage device (4) along the guide path (8), and wherein the potential energy storage device (4) is formed in the form of a continuous weight extending beyond the length of the guide path (8).

Claims

1-21. (canceled)

22. A storage unit for storing energy in the form of potential energy, comprising: at least one potential energy storage device for receiving, storing and delivering energy, at least one guide element for guiding the potential energy storage device along a guide path, wherein the guide path is arranged within a shaft located in the ground vertically to the ground surface, wherein the potential energy storage device gains the stored potential energy by conversion from kinetic energy and releases it by conversion to kinetic energy, wherein the kinetic energy results from a movement of the potential energy storage device along the guide path, wherein the potential energy storage device is formed in the form of a continuous weight extending over the length of the guide path.

23. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein the potential energy storage device is formed in the form of at least a rope/or a chain.

24. The storage unit according to claim 22, characterized in that the potential energy storage device is formed in the form of a chain.

25. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein the energy storage device is formed from a metal material.

26. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein a stock is provided for storing the energy storage device.

27. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein the stock is designed in the form of a trench let into the ground.

28. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein the guide element is in the form of at least a chain wheel or a rope drum.

29. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein the potential energy storage device has a beginning and an end.

30. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein the potential energy storage device is arranged in an initial state within the shaft in such a way that movement of the energy storage device along the guide path in a direction opposite to the earth's surface takes place after release without auxiliary power.

31. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein the guide element has a switching element for releasing the energy storage device.

32. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein an emergency brake device is provided for braking and stopping the energy storage device in the event of a hazardous situation or a power failure.

33. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein a plurality of potential energy storage devices are provided.

34. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein a plurality of stocks are provided for storing the energy storage devices.

35. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein a plurality of switching elements are provided.

36. The storage unit according to claim 22, wherein a detection unit is provided for detecting the current memory capacity.

37. A system for balancing network fluctuations of a power supply network, comprising: a storage unit according to claim 22, at least one motor for driving the guide element via energy from the power supply network, at least one generator for converting kinetic energy of the potential energy storage device into electrical energy for delivery to the power supply network, a line system for exchanging electrical energy between the power supply network and the storage unit, the system being designed in such a way that, in times of undersupply of the power supply network , potential energy can be converted into electrical energy by means of the storage unit and can be fed into the power supply network, and, in times of oversupply of the power supply network, electrical energy can be removed from the power supply network and converted into potential energy for storage.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein a frequency converter is provided for converting the current into a form suitable for the motor.

39. The system according to claim 37, wherein a detection unit is provided for detecting a current network load.

40. The system according to claim 37, wherein a processing unit is provided for determining an energy which can be withdrawn from the power supply network or is to be discharged into the power supply network on the basis of the detected current network utilization, and a control unit is provided for controlling an energy transfer between the storage unit and the power supply network on the basis of the determined energy which can be withdrawn from the power supply network or is to be discharged into the power supply network.

41. A method for balancing network fluctuations of a power supply network using a system according claim 37, comprising the steps: detecting a current network load of a power supply network by means of a detection unit, determining an energy to be extracted from or discharged into the power supply network based on the detected current network load by means of a processing unit, controlling an energy transfer between the storage unit and the power supply network on the basis of the determined energy to be extracted or discharged into the power supply network by means of a control unit, wherein in times of an undersupply of an power supply network potential energy is converted into electrical energy by means of the storage unit and fed into the power supply network and in times of an oversupply of the power supply network electrical energy is withdrawn from the power supply network and converted into potential energy for storage.

Description

[0031] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description, in which embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this connection, the features mentioned in the claims and in the description may each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination.

[0032] The figures show:

[0033] FIG. 1a a schematic representation of a storage unit according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment in an initial state,

[0034] FIG. 1b a schematic representation of a storage unit according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment in a final state,

[0035] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a system according to the invention for balancing network fluctuations of a power supply network according to a first embodiment,

[0036] FIG. 3 a schematic representation of the individual steps of a method according to the invention for compensating network fluctuations of an power supply network.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a storage unit 2 according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment example in an initial state. Here, the storage unit 2 for storing energy in the form of potential energy comprises at least one potential energy storage device 4 for receiving, storing and delivering energy, at least one guide element 6 for guiding the potential energy storage device 4 along a guide path 8, wherein the guide path 8 is arranged within a shaft 10 arranged on the ground vertically with respect to the earth surface, wherein the potential energy storage device 4 obtains the stored potential energy by conversion from kinetic energy and releases it by conversion into kinetic energy, wherein the kinetic energy results from a movement of the potential energy storage device 4 along the guide path 8. Here, the potential energy storage device 4 is formed in the form of a continuous weight extending along the length of the guide path 8.

[0038] In this case, the potential energy storage device 4 is in the form of a chain. Alternatively, the potential energy storage device 4 can also be formed in the form of a cable or the like. In the case of an embodiment of the potential energy storage device 4 in the form of a chain, this can be formed in particular in the form of a link chain and/or a roller chain and/or a toothed chain or the like. In an embodiment of the energy storage device 4 in the form of a chain, this can in particular be formed without links in order to prevent possible entanglement of the chain links.

[0039] The potential energy storage device 4 is preferably made of a metal material, advantageously a ferrous material, in particular steel. For the storage of the energy storage device 4, a stock 14 is also provided, which can be arranged close to, preferably directly next to, an insertion opening 12 of the shaft 10. The stock 14 can in this case be formed in particular in the form of a trench or the like let into the ground, which can preferably be lined with a weatherproof material or the like.

[0040] Within the scope of a structurally simple possibility of guiding the energy storage device 4, the guide element 6 can, for example, be in the form of a sprocket wheel and/or a cable drum or the like.

[0041] The potential energy storage device 4 has a beginning 16 and an end 18, the beginning 16 being presently permanently disposed along the guide path 8 within the shaft 10 and the end 18 being permanently disposed within the stock 14 and presently secured within the stock 14.

[0042] The guide element 6 here has a switching element 20, not shown here, for releasing the energy storage device 4, which can be switched off manually and can be designed in particular in the form of a backstop. Furthermore, the store unit 2 comprises an emergency brake device 22 for braking and stopping the energy storage device 4 in a hazardous situation or a power failure. The emergency brake device 22 in question can likewise be arranged on the guide element 6 or the energy storage device 4 and advantageously be closed in an energy-free state, so that it can be actuated without additional energy.

[0043] In addition, the storage unit 2 comprises a detection unit 32 for detecting the current storage capacity, which in the present case is in the form of a rotary encoder. This rotary encoder can determine the number of revolutions of the guide element 6 and, on the basis of the number of revolutions with a known initial supply of potential energy storage 4 within the stock 14, enable a calculation of the current storage of potential energy storage 4 located in the stock 14.

[0044] In the initial state shown in FIG. 1a, the potential energy storage device 4, formed in the form of a chain, is still almost completely arranged within the stock 14.

[0045] FIG. 1b shows a schematic representation of a storage unit 2 according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment in a final state.

[0046] According to the final state shown in FIG. 1 b, the potential energy storage device 4 is now completely located within the shaft 10, in particular at the bottom of the shaft 10, so that no potential energy in the form of position energy is now present in the potential energy storage device 4. In order to “recharge” the energy storage device 4 to its original state, it would have to be conveyed back out of the shaft 10 into the stock 14 via the guide element 6.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a system 1 according to the invention for balancing network fluctuations of a power supply network 30 according to a first embodiment.

[0048] In this case, the system 1 comprises a storage unit 2 described above, at least one motor 26 for driving the guide element 6 of the storage unit 2 using energy from the power supply network 30, at least one generator 28 for converting kinetic energy of the potential energy storage device 4 into electrical energy for delivery to the power supply network 30, and a line system 40 for exchanging electrical energy between the power supply network 30 and the storage unit 2, the system 1 being designed in this case in such a way that, in times of undersupply of the power supply network 30, potential energy cannot be converted into electrical energy by means of the storage unit 2 and can be fed into the power supply network 30, and, in times of oversupply of the power supply network 30, electrical energy can be withdrawn from the power supply network 30 and cannot be converted into potential energy for storage.

[0049] A frequency converter 24 is also provided for converting the current into a form suitable for the motor 26. In addition, the present system 1 comprises a detection unit 34 for detecting a current network load, a processing unit 36 for determining an energy that can be extracted from the power supply network or can be discharged into the power supply network on the basis of the detected current network load, and a control unit 38 for controlling an energy transfer between the storage unit 2 and the power supply network 30 on the basis of the determined energy that can be extracted from or discharged into the power supply network.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the individual steps of a method according to the invention for compensating network fluctuations of a power supply network 30.

[0051] In this case, the method in question comprises the steps of detecting 50 a current network load of an power supply network 30 by means of a detection unit 34, determining 52 an energy which can be extracted from the power supply network 30 or is to be discharged into the power supply network 30 on the basis of the detected current network load by means of a processing unit 36, and controlling 54 an energy transfer between the storage unit 2 and the power supply network 30 on the basis of the determined energy which can be extracted or is to be discharged into the power supply network 30 by means of a control unit 38, wherein in times of an undersupply of an power supply network 30, potential energy is converted into electrical energy by means of the storage unit 2 and fed into the power supply network 30, and in times of an oversupply of the power supply network 30, electrical energy is extracted from the power supply network 30 and converted into potential energy for storage.

[0052] By means of the storage unit according to the invention for storing energy in the form of potential energy or by means of the system according to the invention, comprising such a storage unit, it is possible in particular to ensure a continuous and uninterrupted feed-in and feed-out of energy to and from an power supply network in a structurally simple and cost-effective manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0053] 2 Storage unit

[0054] 4 Potential energy storage device

[0055] 6 Guide element

[0056] 8 Guide path

[0057] 10 Shaft

[0058] 12 Insertion opening

[0059] 14 Stock

[0060] 16 Beginning

[0061] 18 End

[0062] 20 Switching element

[0063] 22 Brake device

[0064] 24 Frequency converter

[0065] 26 Motor

[0066] 27 Gearbox

[0067] 28 Generator

[0068] 30 Power supply network

[0069] 32 Detection unit

[0070] 34 Detection unit

[0071] 36 Processing unit

[0072] 38 Control unit

[0073] 40 Line system

[0074] 50 Detecting a current network load

[0075] 52 Determining an energy to be extracted or discharged

[0076] 54 Controlling an energy transfer