ENERGY WAREHOUSE WITH ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

An energy warehouse comprising a plurality of energy storage units and switches, and connected to at least one microgrid and at least one bulk power system may be used in connection with an energy management system for the effectuation of power storage and power wheeling. Pursuant to a plurality of inputs transmitted from the energy storage units, microgrid(s), and bulk power system(s) to the energy management system, economical and sustainable power management between the energy warehouse, microgrid(s), and bulk power system(s) may be governed according to applicable operating scenarios as determined by an optimization procedure performed by said energy management system.

Claims

1. An energy warehouse for providing reliable and sustainable power, said energy warehouse comprising: an energy reservoir comprising a plurality of modules, said modules each comprising at least one energy storage system, at least one power converter, and at least one control system; said energy reservoir further comprising at least two switches; said energy reservoir in power and data transfer relation with at least one microgrid and at least one bulk power system through said at least two switches; and an energy management system in input-output relation with said at least one control system in said plurality of modules, said energy management system disposed to: a) collect information from said at least one control system in said plurality of modules; b) process said information according to an optimization procedure; and c) manage and control said plurality of modules.

2. The energy warehouse of claim 1, wherein said information collected by said energy management system comprises at least the ilities of said plurality of modules.

3. The energy warehouse of claim 1, wherein said energy management system is further connected in input-output relation with said at least one switch, such that said energy management system is configured to collect information from the at least one microgrid and the at least one bulk power system through said at least one switch.

4. The energy warehouse of claim 3, wherein said information collected by said energy management system comprises at least the power forecasts of the at least one microgrid and the at least one bulk power system.

5. The energy warehouse of claim 4, further comprising said energy management system processing said information according to at least an optimization procedure to determine an operating scenario.

6. The energy warehouse of claim 5, wherein said energy management system transmits a report to at least one operator after processing said information and determining an operating scenario.

7. The energy warehouse of claim 1, wherein said plurality of modules comprises an at least partially heterogeneous array of modules, each module comprising at least one energy storage system disposed to store energy according to at least one of a plurality of large-scale energy storage techniques.

8. The energy warehouse of claim 1, wherein said energy management system manages and controls said plurality of modules by regulating at least the power quality management controls of said plurality of modules.

9. An energy warehouse for facilitating power wheeling, said energy warehouse comprising: an energy reservoir comprising a plurality of modules, said plurality of modules each comprising at least one energy storage system, at least one power converter, and at least one control system; said energy reservoir further comprising at least one switch; said energy reservoir in power and data transfer connection with at least one microgrid and at least one bulk power system through said at least one switch; and an energy management system in input-output relation with said at least one switch and said at least one control system in said plurality of modules, said energy management system structured and disposed to: a) collect information from the at least one microgrid and the at least one bulk power system through said at least one switch; b) process said information according to an optimization procedure to determine an operating scenario; and c) transmit a report to an operator.

10. The energy warehouse of claim 9, wherein said information collected by said energy management system comprises at least the power forecasts of the at least one microgrid and the at least one bulk power system.

11. The energy warehouse of claim 9, wherein said report comprises at least instructions to purchase or sell energy to the at least one microgrid and the at least one bulk power system.

12. The energy warehouse of claim 9, wherein said information collected by said energy management system comprises at least the ilities and power quality management controls of said plurality of modules.

13. The energy warehouse of claim 12, wherein said energy management system is configured to manage and control said plurality of modules by regulating at least said power quality management controls of said plurality of modules.

14. The energy warehouse of claim 12, wherein said plurality of modules comprises an at least partially heterogeneous array of modules, each module comprising at least one energy storage system disposed to store energy according to at least one of a plurality of large-scale energy storage techniques.

15. The energy warehouse of claim 9, wherein said optimization procedure comprises forecasting tasks, optimization tasks, and decision-making tasks.

16. A method for managing power wheeling between an energy warehouse and a plurality of microgrids and a plurality of bulk power systems, performed by an energy management system, said method comprising: collecting information with an energy management system from a plurality of modules and at least one switch, the plurality of modules and at least one switch disposed within an energy reservoir; collecting information with the energy management system from at least one microgrid and at least one bulk power system, the at least one microgrid and the at least one bulk power system connected to the energy reservoir through the at least one switch; selecting an operating scenario according to an optimization procedure; generating a report according to the operating scenario; transmitting the report to an operator; communicating the desired function to the plurality of modules and at least two switches; and controlling the operation of the plurality of modules for effectuating power wheeling.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the energy management system is collecting information comprising at least the ilities and power quality management controls of the plurality of modules, and the power forecasts of the at least one microgrid and the at least one bulk power system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the report comprises the power to sell and purchase energy and the associated schedule and costs thereof.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the energy management system manages and controls the plurality of modules by regulating the power quality management controls of the plurality of modules.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of modules comprises a heterogenous array of modules, each module comprising at least one energy storage system disposed to store energy according to at least one of a plurality of large-scale energy storage techniques.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 depicts a systematic diagram of an embodiment of the disclosure pertaining to the interconnections between the energy warehouse, microgrids, and bulk power systems.

[0035] FIG. 2 depicts a systematic diagram of an embodiment of the disclosure pertaining to the interconnections between the energy management system, the plurality of modules, and the switches.

[0036] FIG. 3 depicts a further embodiment of the present invention directed to an energy warehouse and interconnected energy management system.

[0037] FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary flow diagram of a process, according to at least one embodiment, to be used by the energy management system, for controlling the functionality of the energy warehouse and the transmission of energy to and/or from the microgrids and bulk power systems.

[0038] FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary flow diagram for the determination of several operating scenarios of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary flow diagram for the determination of several operating scenarios of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0040] Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some, but not all, embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

[0041] With reference to FIG. 1, depicted therein is at least one embodiment of an energy warehouse as disclosed herein. As can be seen, the energy warehouse 100 (EW) may be interconnected with a plurality of microgrids (MG) 300 and bulk power systems (BPS) 400. Further, as may be appreciated, the energy warehouse 100 may be interconnected with a plurality of microgrids 300 and only one bulk power system 400, or vice versa.

[0042] Further, depicted in FIG. 2 is at least one embodiment of the disclosure. As depicted therein, the energy warehouse 100 may comprise a plurality of modules 110 and two switches 120. Further, the energy warehouse 100 may comprise an energy management system 200 (EMSEw) disposed in connection with the modules 110 and switches 120 for data transmission and operability control. The energy management system 200 may perform a variety of functions, including at least forecasting, dependent upon the power generation and demand of any microgrids 300 and bulk power systems 400 connected to the energy warehouse 100, and the supervision, control, and optimization of the modules 110 and switches 120 of energy warehouse 100.

[0043] With reference to FIG. 3, depicted therein is a further embodiment of the disclosure. As can be seen, the energy warehouse 100 may comprise an energy reservoir 114, such as a physical space containing a plurality of modules 110 and two switches 120. The switches 120 may be connected to a plurality of microgrids 300 and a plurality of bulk power systems 400 for the transmission of both power and data. Accordingly, the switches 120 are used to route power in a manner ensuring reliability of connection and power transfer both to and from the plurality of microgrids 300 and the plurality of bulk power systems 400.

[0044] Further, as can be seen, the plurality of modules 110 may each comprise an energy storage system 111, a power converter 112, such as a rectifier for conversion of an alternating current into a direct current, and a control system 113. The control system 113 may be used, for example, for the monitoring, control, and analysis of the energy storage system 111 disposed within a given module 110, and may assess a variety of factors indicative of the energy storage system's 111 functional status. For example, the control system 113 may monitor the operability status, or ilities, of the energy storage system 111, which include, without limitation, the state of charge, operating limits, security constraints, and reliability constraints thereof. Likewise, the control system 113 may also monitor and exercise control over the power quality management controls of the energy storage system 111, including, without limitation, the voltage, stability, power quality, incoming and outgoing power, and storage efficiency of the energy storage system 111. Accordingly, the control system 113 may oversee the short and long-term operation of the energy storage system 111, thus ensuring an efficient and lengthy life cycle of the module 110.

[0045] Further depicted in FIG. 3, it can be seen that an energy management system 200 may be interconnected with both the plurality of modules 110 and the switches 120. The energy management system 200 may receive inputs 210, such as information, from the control systems 113 of the plurality of modules 110, including, without limitation, the ilities and power management controls of the energy storage system 111. Further, the energy management system 200 may, through the switches 120, receive inputs, such as information, from the plurality of microgrids 300 and the plurality of bulk power systems 400, including, without limitation, the power forecasts for each of the microgrids 300 and bulk power systems 400. The power forecasts may comprise, for example, the current power status, the power generation, power demand, and energy price schedule of each of the microgrids 300 and bulk power systems 400.

[0046] With reference to FIG. 4, depicted therein is an embodiment of an exemplary process through which the energy management system 200 may operate. As can be seen, and as previously stated, the energy management system 200 may collect inputs 210, such as information, from the plurality of modules 110, microgrids, 300, and bulk power systems 400. After collecting said information 210, the energy management system 200 may then select the correct operating scenario 220 under which it will operate. Selection of the correct operating scenario 220 will accordingly define the optimal unit commitment and economic dispatch of the available energy disposed within the plurality of modules 110, commensurate with the relevant objectives and conditions stipulated by the given energy warehouse 100.

[0047] To determine the correct operating scenario 220, the energy management system may perform a multi-stage optimization according to the collected information 210. Performance of the multi-stage optimization may require implementation of a variety of tools such as forecasting, optimization, and decision-making, as previously discussed.

[0048] Further, the energy management system 200 must account for a cost function associated with the given energy warehouse 100, through the selection of a specific operating scenario 220, in order to determine the optimal operation of the energy warehouse 100. An exemplary cost function for determining the operating scenario 220 of an energy warehouse will be discussed herein.

[0049] First, because the energy warehouse may be comprised of a plurality modules 110, and because said plurality of modules 110 may comprise a heterogenous array of modules wherein each energy storage system 111 may utilize a different energy storage technology or technique for storing energy, each module 110 may be considered as a large and independent battery or battery equivalent. Accordingly, the complex power of each module, or battery as denoted by subscript B, may be written as:

S.sub.B(t)=P.sub.B(t)+jQ.sub.B(t) (1)

[0050] Where:

[0051] S.sub.B is the complex power at time t;

[0052] P.sub.B is the real power at time t, such that P.sub.B is positive when the energy storage system 111 is charging and is negative when the energy storage system 111 is discharging; and

[0053] Q.sub.B is the reactive power at time t.

[0054] Accordingly, the cost of operating a device at a given time instant t can be formulated as follows:

min C.sub.B(P.sub.B(t))=.sub.BP.sub.B(t).sup.2+.sub.B (2)

[0055] Subject to:

E.sub.B(t+t)=E.sub.B(t)+P.sub.B(t)t (3)

P.sub.B(t).sup.2+Q.sub.B(t).sup.2S.sub.B.sup.2 (4)

P.sub.B.sup.minP.sub.B(t)P.sub.B.sup.max (5)

E.sub.B.sup.minE.sub.B(t)E.sub.B.sup.max (6)

[0056] Where:

[0057] P.sub.B.sup.min, P.sub.B.sup.max are the minimum and maximum charging rates;

[0058] E.sub.B.sup.min, E.sub.B.sup.max are the minimum and maximum allowed energy stored in the energy storage system;

[0059] C.sub.B(P.sub.B(t)) is the cost function; and

[0060] .sub.B,.sub.B are constant parameters.

[0061] Further, the composite cost function for the energy warehouse 100 will accordingly be a linear combination of the storage device cost functions. Thus, the overall cost function to optimize the energy warehouse 100 will be:

min .sub.T(C.sub.EWP.sub.EW(t)+C.sub.BPSP.sub.BPS(t)+C.sub.MGP.sub.MG(t)) (7)

[0062] Where C.sub.EW, C.sub.BPS, and C.sub.MG are the costs of power associated with the energy warehouse 100, bulk power system(s) 400, and microgrid(s) 300. In the case of the bulk power system(s) 400 and the microgrid(s) 300, the costs C.sub.BPS and C.sub.MG may be either positive or negative dependent on whether the energy warehouse 100 is buying or selling according to the operating scenarios hereinafter described.

[0063] At least one embodiment of the disclosure may utilize the aforementioned cost function with the following rules to determine the operating scenario 220 of the energy warehouse 100, as shown in FIG. 5, depicting operating scenarios 1 (231) and 2 (232) therein, and FIG. 6, depicting scenarios 3 (233), 4 (234), 5 (235) and 6 (236) therein. Although the energy warehouse 100 may be connected to a plurality of microgrids 300 and bulk power systems 400, the operating scenarios described herein are exemplary of an embodiment wherein the energy warehouse 100 is connected to only one microgrid 300 and one bulk power system 400. Each operating scenario will now be briefly discussed below, where:

[0064] P.sub.MG.sup.G is the power generation of the microgrid(s) 300;

[0065] P.sub.MG.sup.D is the power demand of the microgrid(s) 300;

[0066] P.sub.EW.sup.max is the maximum allowable power of the energy warehouse 100;

[0067] P.sub.EW.sup.min is the minimum allowable power of the energy warehouse 100;

[0068] P.sub.EW is the power available at the energy warehouse 100 at a given instant in time;

[0069] P.sub.BPS.sup.G is the power generation of the bulk power system(s) 400; and

[0070] P.sub.MG.sup.D is the power demand of the bulk power system(s) 400.

Operating Scenario 1 (231):

[0071] In operating scenario 1 (231), as depicted in FIG. 5, the energy warehouse 100 will sell power to the microgrid 300 if:

P.sub.EW.sup.min<P.sub.EW<P.sub.EW.sup.max and (P.sub.MG.sup.DP.sub.MG.sup.G)<(P.sub.EWP.sub.EW.sup.min)

[0072] In such a case, the energy warehouse 100 will sell P.sub.MG.sup.DP.sub.MG.sup.G to the microgrid 300.

Operating Scenario 2 (232):

[0073] In operating scenario 2 (232), as depicted in FIG. 5, the energy warehouse 100 cannot buy power from the bulk power system 400. Accordingly, the energy warehouse 100 will sell power to the microgrid 300 and the microgrid 300 will shed a load, subject to a penalty fee payable by the energy warehouse 100. Operating scenario 2 (232) will occur where:

P.sub.EW.sup.min<P.sub.EW<P.sub.EW.sup.max and (P.sub.MG.sup.DP.sub.MG.sup.G)>(P.sub.EWP.sub.EW.sup.min)

[0074] In such a case, the energy warehouse 100 will sell P.sub.EWP.sub.EW.sup.min to the microgrid 300 and the microgrid 300 will subsequently shed a load equivalent to (P.sub.MG.sup.DP.sub.MG.sup.G)(P.sub.EWP.sub.EW.sup.min), subject to said penalty fee.

Operating Scenario 3 (233):

[0075] In operating scenario 3 (233), as depicted in FIG. 6, the energy warehouse will purchase power from the microgrid 300 if:

P.sub.EW.sup.min<P.sub.EW<P.sub.EW.sup.max and (P.sub.MG.sup.GP.sub.MG.sup.D)<(P.sub.EW.sup.maxP.sub.EW)

[0076] In such a case, the energy warehouse 100 will purchase P.sub.MG.sup.GP.sub.MG.sup.D from the microgrid 300.

Operating Scenario 4 (234):

[0077] In operating scenario 4 (234), as depicted in FIG. 6, the energy warehouse 100 will purchase power from the microgrid 300 and return power to the bulk power system 400, subject to a restocking fee payable by the energy warehouse 100 if:

P.sub.EW.sup.min<P.sub.EW<P.sub.EW.sup.max and (P.sub.MG.sup.GP.sub.MG.sup.D)>(P.sub.EW.sup.maxP.sub.EW)

[0078] In such a case, then the energy warehouse 100 will purchase P.sub.EW.sup.maxP.sub.EW from the microgrid 300 and return (P.sub.MG.sup.GP.sub.MG.sup.D)(P.sub.EW.sup.maxP.sub.EW) to the bulk power system 400, subject to said restocking fee.

Operating Scenario 5 (235):

[0079] In operating scenario 5 (235), depicted in FIG. 6, the power available at the energy warehouse 100 at a given instant in time is greater than the maximum power capacity of the energy warehouse 100. Accordingly, the energy warehouse 100 will return the excess energy P.sub.EWP.sub.EW.sup.max to the bulk power system 400, in some cases invoking a restocking fee payable by the energy warehouse 100.

Operating Scenario 6 (236):

[0080] In operating scenario 6 (236), depicted in FIG. 6, the power available at the energy warehouse 100 at a given instant in time is less than the minimum power requirement at the energy warehouse 100. Accordingly, the energy warehouse 100 will purchase the necessary energy P.sub.EW.sup.minP.sub.EW from the bulk power system 400.

[0081] Accordingly, as can be seen from the aforementioned operating scenarios, the responsibilities between the energy warehouse 100 and microgrid(s) 300 and the responsibilities between the energy warehouse 100 and the bulk power system(s) 400 are different in order to maintain an economical and sustainable operation of the energy warehouse 100.

[0082] Returning to FIG. 4, it can be seen that after the selection of an operating scenario 220, the energy management system 200 will generate a report 240. The report 240 may comprise a plurality of outputs, including without limitation, information regarding the amount of power to purchase or sell, the associated schedules and timelines, and the appropriate prices and fees. Further, the report may then be transmitted 250 to an operator, such as an energy market arbiter, with instructions to enter the bidding contest according to the details of the report 240.

[0083] Subsequent to the aforementioned process, the energy management system 200 may output 260 to the modules 110 and the switches 120 instructions in accordance with the report 240. Such instructions may comprise, for example, instructions to direct power either to or from the microgrids 300 and bulk power systems 400.

[0084] Finally, both subsequent to and throughout the aforementioned process, it should be noted the energy management system 200 may control the operation 270 of the modules 110. Such control may relate to short term power quality management controls, such as the voltage, stability, and power quality of the energy storage systems 111 and the incoming or outgoing power at the switches 120. Additionally, said control may relate to the long term power quality management controls, such as the storage efficiency and life cycle of the energy storage systems 111.

[0085] Accordingly, it can be seen that the energy warehouse and energy management system as herein disclosed may effectively solve at least some, if not all, of the previously mentioned problems. Solutions to said problems may include, without limitation, the integration of more renewable energy and subsequent decrease in emissions, a reduction in transmission and distribution losses, enhanced stability in the face of electrical outages, and a reduction in the need for installation of new power generation infrastructure.

[0086] It can be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but may encompass any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.