Distributed and Decoupled Charging and Discharging Energy Storage System
20260081429 ยท 2026-03-19
Inventors
Cpc classification
H02J3/004
ELECTRICITY
H02J2103/30
ELECTRICITY
H02J3/28
ELECTRICITY
H02J3/003
ELECTRICITY
International classification
H02J3/38
ELECTRICITY
H02J3/00
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
A system and method for energy distribution with decoupled by time and space domains that integrates energy storage capabilities that feature co-products utilization at the point of energy storage charging, byproduct utilization at the point of energy production, and time and space decoupling of vehicle shuttling energy storage media discharge to accelerate return on investment, reduce system energy consumption, and maximize utilization of existing energy infrastructure. Additionally, the system executes the energy transactions by controlling and integrating distributed energy producers and consumers with minimal grid dependence.
Claims
1. A decoupled and distributed energy system comprised of: an at least first energy production generator producing a primary energy source wherein the at least first energy production generator is comprised of a first seed catalyst methane pyrolysis reactor to transform an organic reactant into an at least one resulting organic product with an at least one byproduct of hydrogen and whereby the primary energy source is available at a first location at a real-time first primary energy peak demand and consumed at the first location; whereby the at least one byproduct of hydrogen is transported to a second location; whereby the hydrogen at the second location is a second location fuel for a primary energy source at the second location; where an at least second energy production generator consumes the second location fuel to produce a primary energy source whereby the primary energy source is available at a second location at a real-time second primary energy peak demand to reduce the real-time second primary energy peak demand; whereby the second location fuel is an at least one energy storage asset at the first location whereby the at least one energy storage asset stores energy produced by the at least first energy production generator producing electricity and whereby the at least one energy storage asset is dispatchable to a second location; an at least one transport vehicle that transports the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset from the first location to the second location whereby the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset is decoupled from the at least one transport vehicle upon arrival at the second location; whereby the at least one transport vehicle has a transport first travel time for transporting the at least one energy storage asset from the first location to the second location at a first scheduled transport time; whereby the first location has the real-time first primary energy peak demand is lower than a first energy peak demand threshold that occurs at a first peak demand time and the second location has a real-time second primary energy peak demand and a second energy peak demand that occurs at a second peak demand time whereby the second peak demand time is after the first peak demand time plus the transport first travel time; the at least one energy storage asset maintains first the real-time first primary energy peak demand less than the first energy peak demand threshold at the first location and then the real-time second primary energy peak demand at the second location less than the second energy peak demand threshold at the second location; the at least one energy storage asset produced at the first location when a real-time energy peak demand is lower than the first energy peak demand and discharges when the real-time energy peak demand is greater than the first energy peak demand at the first location and consumed at the second location; an energy storage asset controller whereby the controller has a memory having at least a portion of the memory being a non-transitory memory and the non-transitory memory operates a program that regulates when the at least one energy storage asset is charging or discharging; a transport vehicle asset controller to configure, schedule, and dispatch the at least one energy storage asset on the at least one transport vehicle to transport the at least one energy storage asset from the first location to the second location at the scheduled transport time; and whereby the controller operates a program stored in the non-transitory memory for an optimization model wherein the dispatching of the charged energy storage media reduces a peak demand and a demand charge of the peak demand of both the first location of the at least two energy consuming locations and the second location of the at least two energy consuming locations within the network of decoupled energy assets.
2. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 1 is further comprised of a next location, whereby the next location is a third location, whereby the next location has an at least third energy production generator producing a primary energy source whereby the primary energy source is available at the third location at a real-time third primary energy peak demand whereby the at least one energy storage asset at the second location also produces hydrogen while at the second location from energy produced by the at least second energy production generator and whereby the at least one energy storage asset is dispatchable next to the third location by the at least one transport vehicle, whereby the at least one energy storage asset is dispatchable to a third location; an at least one transport vehicle that transports the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset from the second location to the third location whereby the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset is decoupled from the at least one transport vehicle upon arrival at the third location; whereby the at least one transport vehicle has a transport second travel time for transporting the at least one energy storage asset from the second location to the third location at a second scheduled transport time; whereby the second location has the real-time second primary energy peak demand is lower than a second energy peak demand threshold that occurs at a second peak demand time and the third location has a real-time third primary energy peak demand and a third energy peak demand that occurs at a third peak demand time whereby the third peak demand time is after the second peak demand time plus the transport second travel time; the at least one energy storage asset maintains first the real-time second primary energy peak demand less than the second energy peak demand threshold at the second location and then the real-time third primary energy peak demand at the third location less than the third energy peak demand threshold at the third location.
3. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 1 is further comprised of a next location, whereby the next location is returning to the first location, whereby the at least one energy storage asset at the second location also produces hydrogen while at the second location from energy produced by the at least second energy production generator and whereby the at least one energy storage asset is dispatchable next again to the first location, whereby the at least one energy storage asset is dispatchable again to the first location; and the at least one transport vehicle that transports the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset from the second location back to the first location whereby the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset is decoupled from the at least one transport vehicle upon arrival at the first location; whereby the at least one transport vehicle has a transport second travel time for transporting the at least one energy storage asset from the second location back to the first location at a second scheduled transport time; whereby the second location has the real-time second primary energy peak demand is lower than the second energy peak demand threshold that occurs at the second peak demand time and the first location has the real-time first primary energy peak demand and the first energy peak demand that occurs at the first peak demand time whereby the first peak demand time is after the second peak demand time plus the transport second travel time; the at least one energy storage asset maintains first the real-time second primary energy peak demand less than the second energy peak demand threshold at the second location and then the real-time first primary energy peak demand at the first location less than the first energy peak demand threshold at the first location.
4. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 1 whereby the at least one energy storage asset produces a co-product when consuming electricity of the at least one energy storage asset at the first location whereby the co-product is utilized at the first location.
5. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 1 further comprised of a charge state controller that determines when the at least one energy storage asset charges or discharges, the first location has a real-time first energy consumption rate and the second location has a projected second energy consumption rate whereby the projected second energy consumption occurs at a time prior to the second peak demand time, whereby the at least one energy storage asset has a charge state level, and whereby the charge state controller charges the at least one energy storage asset at the first location when the real-time first primary energy peak demand is less than the first energy peak demand threshold and the real-time first energy consumption rate is lower than the projected second energy consumption rate.
6. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 4 is further comprised of a co-product inventory tank having a co-product inventory tank capacity and whereby the at least one energy storage asset has a charge state level that is less than fully charged and whereby the co-product inventory tank capacity has an actual co-product inventory tank level and wherein the actual co-product inventory tank level is less than the co-product inventory tank capacity.
7. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 1 whereby the at least one transport vehicle is further comprised of an onboard energy storage asset, wherein the at least one transport vehicle that transports the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset consumes energy from both the onboard energy storage asset and the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset.
8. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 7 whereby the at least one transport vehicle is further comprised of a transport vehicle energy recovery system recovers a transport decelerating energy when the at least one transport vehicle decelerates and wherein the transport decelerating energy is less than a maximum recovered energy level and wherein the maximum recovered energy is higher for the at least one transport vehicle when both the onboard energy storage asset and the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset stores the transport decelerating energy as compared to the at least one transport vehicle storing the transport decelerating energy only into the onboard energy storage asset.
9. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 1 whereby the at least one transport vehicle is an autonomous vehicle further comprising an automated aligning method for an automated unloading of dispatchable at least one energy storage asset from on the at least one transport vehicle to the second location for a subsequent energy discharging from the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset to an at least one energy consumer at the second location.
10. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 4 whereby the first location is further comprising a carbon composite production process that consumes the co-product of carbon nanotubes or graphene.
11. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 1 wherein the at least one transport vehicle has a cargo storing capacity to store a cargo other than the at least one energy storage asset for delivery to an intermediary location whereby the intermediary location is approximately on-route between an direct route between the first location and the second location.
12. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 1 further comprising a three-dimensional geospatial model of the second location, wherein the three-dimensional geospatial model of the second location comprises an at least one parameter selected from the group of a wind speed impact, a wind direction impact, a solar vector impact, or a solar intensity impact accounting for a seasonal variation and a projected weather coverage, and whereby the three-dimensional geospatial model of the second location is utilized with a projected energy consumption model as a function of time for the second location with the at least one parameter in combination with a historic energy consumption model as a function of time for the second location.
13. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 12 whereby the three-dimensional geospatial model of the second location has a co-located parameter that includes impact of solar shading or impact of wind barrier to modify a thermal impact on the projected energy consumption model as a function of time for the second location.
14. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 12 whereby the three-dimensional geospatial model of the second location has a co-located parameter that includes a potential location of 5G communication towers overlaid with an at least parameter of communication demand as a function of time or renewable energy generation as a function of time and the impact on a projected energy consumption model as a function of time for the second location.
15. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 12 whereby the three-dimensional geospatial model of the second location has a co-located parameter that includes a renewable energy generation as a function of time and the impact on a projected energy consumption model as a function of time for the second location.
16. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 12 whereby the three-dimensional geospatial model of the second location has a co-located parameter that includes a historic transport vehicle route as a function of time for the at least one transport vehicle.
17. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 1 whereby the at least one energy storage asset is a metal air battery.
18. A decoupled and distributed energy system comprised of: an at least first energy production generator producing a primary energy source wherein the at least first energy production generator is comprised of a first seed catalyst methane pyrolysis reactor to transform an organic reactant into an at least one resulting organic product with an at least one byproduct of hydrogen and whereby the primary energy source is available at a first location at a real-time first primary energy peak demand and consumed at the first location; whereby the at least first energy production generator produces both electrical energy and thermal energy; whereby at least one of the electrical energy and thermal energy is stored in an at least one energy storage asset at the first location whereby the at least one energy storage asset stores energy produced by the at least first energy production generator; whereby the electrical energy is stored in an at least one electrical energy storage asset and the thermal energy is stored in an at least one thermal energy storage asset; whereby either or both of the at least one thermal energy storage asset or the at least one electrical energy storage asset is transported to a second location; whereby the at least one energy storage asset is dispatchable to a second location; an at least one transport vehicle that transports the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset from the first location to the second location whereby the dispatchable at least one energy storage asset is decoupled from the at least one transport vehicle upon arrival at the second location; whereby the at least one transport vehicle has a transport first travel time for transporting the at least one energy storage asset from the first location to the second location at a first scheduled transport time; whereby the first location has the real-time first primary energy peak demand is lower than a first energy peak demand threshold that occurs at a first peak demand time and the second location has a real-time second primary energy peak demand and a second energy peak demand that occurs at a second peak demand time whereby the second peak demand time is after the first peak demand time plus the transport first travel time; the at least one energy storage asset maintains first the real-time first primary energy peak demand less than the first energy peak demand threshold at the first location and then the real-time second primary energy peak demand at the second location less than the second energy peak demand threshold at the second location; the at least one energy storage asset produced at the first location when a real-time energy peak demand is lower than the first energy peak demand and discharges when the real-time energy peak demand is greater than the first energy peak demand at the first location and consumed at the second location; an energy storage asset controller whereby the controller has a memory having at least a portion of the memory being a non-transitory memory and the non-transitory memory operates a program that regulates when the at least one energy storage asset is charging or discharging; a transport vehicle asset controller to configure, schedule, and dispatch the at least one energy storage asset on the at least one transport vehicle to transport the at least one energy storage asset from the first location to the second location at the scheduled transport time; and whereby the controller operates a program stored in the non-transitory memory for an optimization model wherein the dispatching of the charged energy storage media reduces a peak demand and a demand charge of the peak demand of both the first location of the at least two energy consuming locations and the second location of the at least two energy consuming locations within the network of decoupled energy assets.
19. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 18 further comprised of a charge state controller that determines when the at least one energy storage asset charges or discharges, the first location has a real-time first energy consumption rate and the second location has a projected second energy consumption rate whereby the projected second energy consumption occurs at a time prior to the second peak demand time, whereby the at least one energy storage asset has a charge state level, and whereby the charge state controller charges the at least one energy storage asset at the first location when the real-time first primary energy peak demand is less than the first energy peak demand threshold and the real-time first energy consumption rate is lower than the projected second energy consumption rate.
20. The decoupled and distributed energy system in accordance to claim 18 whereby the first location is further comprising a carbon composite production process that consumes the co-product of carbon nanotubes or graphene.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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DEFINITIONS
[0058] The term energy storage is a material that stores energy, whether it be thermal or electrical, such that the primary production of the stored energy form primary energy is directed into the energy storage via charging and is subsequently at a non-concurrent time discharged for ultimate end-use consumption of the stored energy subsequent. The transferring of the primary energy as stored energy (i.e., charged media) from the energy storage location to another device to decouple the ultimate consumption of the primary energy at a second location occurs at a repowering station hereinafter also abbreviated as RS.
[0059] The term return on investment ROI, as known in the financial art, is deficient for most energy storage technologies as the payback is too long in comparison to many entities payback threshold as energy storage devices and therefore their payback is limited due to the number of charging and discharging cycles required or able to be provided on a daily basis (and even then most utilities only have a 5-day period in which a peak and off-peak differential occurs).
Detailed Description of Invention
[0060] Here, as well as elsewhere in the specification and claims, individual numerical values and/or individual range limits can be combined to form non-disclosed ranges.
[0061] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided, which reference the contained figures. Such embodiments are merely exemplary in nature. Regarding the figures, like reference numerals refer to like parts.
[0062] The invention significantly increases the daily cycles of charge/discharge in order to reduce the time duration required to achieve a financial return not only at the component level but most importantly at the system level.
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[0066] It is recognized that the tank-in-tank embodiment can even be used for scenarios such as clean water dispatch and subsequent dirty water return, even when the dirty water is virtually immediately recycled post an onboard water treatment system. Virtually all mobile equipment has volume constraints therefore mobile (or roaming) wet cleaning processes benefit from the tank-in-tank. Another embodiment is onboard separations where the dirty non-separated liquid portion is within a first tank portion and the second portion is one of the separated liquid portions such that the total volume is the collective individual volumes of the tank-in-tank aggregate.
[0067] Applications that are requiring waste treatment can in this means be resupplied with clean product for subsequent return trip bringing back the non-clean product.
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[0069] Furthermore, the preferred embodiment depicts the non-solid (i.e., liquid) tanks being within the interior portion of the vehicle, though understood within the scope of the invention to not be a requirement. For instances in which the co-product or by-product is not a solid and is returnable in its discharged condition, the vehicle can also be utilized for transport of the co-product or by-product. The key aspect of this feature is that the co-product or by-product of charging is not inherently utilized at the charging location, and vice versa for discharging location. A fundamental advantage of the T2 solution is such that the preferred embodiment of the invention, the provision of charged media is approximately equal (accounting for relatively minimal density variations between the charged and discharged state) to the return of the discharged media.
[0070] Without the use of the T2, the volumetric efficiency of the dispatch vehicle is approximately reduced in half, as either the dispatch vehicle requires an approximately equal volume for the return of discharged media or simply operates with voids in the charged media storage tank (equivalent to the volume already dispatched), or even worst requires a second dispatch vehicle to return the discharged media for subsequent use. A significant benefit of this feature is maximum volumetric efficiency and access effectiveness greater than 5% (and preferably greater than 20%) as compared to any other configuration of liquid and solid component storage within the transport vehicle. Another advantage is the enhanced crash-safety as both the solid components and the structural elements supporting the solid storage components provide energy absorption prior to the liquid storage components being damaged and penetrated. A further feature of this embodiment is placement of valves for discharge or loading of the liquid relatively external of the interior tanks, and more particularly preferred with access on the front or rear of the vehicle such that the valves are removable with the tanks themselves for vehicle reconfiguration.
[0071] In one exemplary, the two-part storage component dynamically varies such that the distribution of exemplary charged electrolyte is approximately equal to the collection of exemplary discharged electrolyte to approximately double the volume efficiency of the vehicle transportation equipment. The optimal configuration of the vehicle transportation equipment is such that the non-solid storage is within the inner portions of the vehicle so as to minimize adverse impact of access on the exterior portions of solid storage. The increased utilization factor of the vehicle transportation equipment significantly reduces the amortization rate of the vehicle transportation equipment for all of its collective missions and not therefore provides economic viability of decoupling the location of charging from discharging so as to optimize the value realized from the co-product(s) of charging and/or discharging.
[0072] Another exemplary, though not shown, is the dynamic configuration of the vehicle as utilized for dispatch for optimal volumetric efficiency and access effectiveness particularly for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles such that a preferable removable liquid containing tank occupies the internal portion of the vehicle while solid (i.e., non-liquid unless the liquid is in on-bulk and within a self-contained solid package) components are in the external-facing portion of the vehicle. It is optimal, and within the scope of the invention, such that upon vehicle arriving at its destination the system determines that additional charged media is dispatched as the uncertainty of charged media consumption (to provide motive energy in moving the vehicle i.e., electric vehicle using compatible flow battery) during the trip from a first location to a second location has been eliminated and now only the uncertainty of the vehicle moving to a next (preferably the closest in terms of routing otherwise reserved for the vehicle to an RS on or with lowest interruption) to the next vehicle destination energy consumption of on-board charged media. The system utilizes a vehicle transport engine 3205 (as shown in
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[0075] A fundamental feature of the invention is to significantly increase the value of each charge/discharge cycle by leveraging a charging co-product or byproduct, notably respectively oxygen during the battery recharging cycle (particularly for a metal air battery) or carbon dioxide CO2 product for sequestration, greenhouse, or fuel growth such as algae at the point of primary energy generation (i.e., power plant from biofuels, or fossil fuels). This is best achieved by decoupling the charging/discharging of the energy storage component (e.g., battery) between at least one of oxygen consumption from battery charging, and/or charging location being different than the discharging location.
[0076] Another decoupling embodiment is from the oxygen consumption and the electrical consumption at the site in which oxygen is being consumed. In particular where the charging location and discharging location are not identical, the availability of autonomous (or semi-autonomous) vehicles as determined by a dispatch system for autonomous vehicles in combination with an electricity consumption projection at a range of potential second location being a discharging location as a function of time f(t).
[0077] Embodiments of the charging/discharging system are executed and coordinated through a controller that in one embodiment utilizes a function of the combination of a) oxygen inventory and oxygen consumption projection as f(t), b) charging of battery electricity consumption projection as f(t), c) rate structure for oxygen consumption (including non-battery produced oxygen), d) battery charged/discharged status including predicted as a f(t), and e) rate structure for electricity consumption and electricity consumption projection as a f(t) at the battery charging location. Additional optional functions include: a) rate structure for electricity consumption and electricity consumption projection as a f(t) at the other non-battery charging location(s). It is understood that the invention anticipates that energy storage can alternatively include ice (i.e., cold thermal storage) or hot thermal storage (preferably short-term, particularly preferred as long-term).
[0078] It is a fundamental feature of the inventive system to overcome the deficiency of traditional flow battery electrolyte management systems where the problem is that the payback for electrical energy storage is too high as the value obtained is largely dominated by peak demand charge reduction and NOT differential in energy costs between peak and off-peak. Therefore, the invention is a decoupled management system that maximizes the financial return on the electrolyte by transporting the electrolyte away from relatively dormant locations to relatively more active locations. A further object of the invention is to maximize the users of the flow battery electrolyte (particularly either higher density electrolyte such that it is easier and more tangible to move the electrolyte decoupled from the balance of the battery system) within a geographic geofence. The offsetting locations are ideally comprised of locations having fundamentally non-overlapping periods of peak demand. It is further an object of the invention to standardize on the flow battery throughout the systems in which it is deployed, such that the system energy density is maximized in combination with financial ROI, and not just the energy density of the battery. One exemplary instance is that a sustainable community having a universal electrolyte has significantly more charging points throughout the geofence which leads to a reduction of range requirements (by at least 10%, preferably at least 25%, particularly preferred at least 50%). The flow battery requirement is essential for electric vehicles as an easily transferable charge that is both rapid and more importantly enables each electrolyte station to reduce its own peak demand charge. Refueling, which is currently gasoline or diesel, is very intermittent. As this refueling transitions from fossil fuel to electricity it is imperative to address the full cost of electricity distribution which is becoming more dominated by peak charges. In this scenario, the demand charges of each refueling/charging station becomes prohibitively high with the only practical method of first charging a first bank of batteries on a relatively continuous basis to then be discharged and rapidly charged to a second set of vehicle on-board batteries. This is not only increasing the capital costs of batteries (within the system) but also significantly increasing the electrical losses due to a second roundtrip of charging/discharging. This is entirely solved by the use of flow batteries. Another feature of the system also leverages flow battery such that the volume of charged flow battery electrolyte is independent of any battery depth of discharge, rate of charge, or rate of discharge.
[0079] The control system manages the dispatch of the charged energy storage for placement into an aggregate sustainable community flow battery electrolyte inventory to maximize the financial displacement of otherwise grid electricity (i.e., peak demand charges).
[0080] The management system utilizes the combination of transport costs to move electrolyte from a first location to a second location (and sometimes considering in fact a third location or beyond in which subsequent recharging and discharging events are anticipated/known), the penalty cost associated with missing the ability to not be utilized within the locations electricity requirements, and the revenue realized through the locations electricity consumption.
[0081] Another embodiment of this invention is its relevance to virtually all forms of energy storage, particularly including long-term thermal storage for both hot and cold operating temperatures which can take place through thermochemical or phase-change (a.k.a. PCM) transformation.
[0082] An essential feature of the system is the vehicle transportation equipment not only transporting at least one of the energy storage product, energy storage co-product of charging, or energy storage waste product of discharging BUT also preferably where the vehicle is entirely compatible with the same energy storage media (i.e., charged) for vehicle motive power as the consumer of the charged media as delivered through the present energy conversion device. The ability to consume at least a portion of the primary energy within the energy storage, or energy storage co-product of either charging or discharging is an important incremental revenue generating component to increase the financial return on investment while maintaining very high utilization factor of a least 50%, preferably at least 80% and particularly preferred of at least 92% of the energy generating equipment, the energy conversion equipment, and the vehicle transport equipment.
[0083] In order to achieve the highest level of utilization for the vehicle, it is an important feature of the invention for the vehicle transportation equipment to be capable of dynamic reconfiguration from a primary transport/logistics function of non-energy applications to a secondary transport/logistics function of distributed energy applications.
[0084] Yet another aspect of the invention is to decouple the amortization of the relatively limited cycle lifetime operation of the power conversion equipment from the long-life electrolyte of a flow battery. This has the benefit of reducing the upfront costs of energy storage to the end-user by separating the upfront acquisition to predominantly the power conversion equipment, which has a relatively higher life-cycle cost burden (at least 5% higher, and particularly at least 25%, and preferably at least 85%) as compared to the electrolyte. The separation of the electrolyte also has the benefit of working within a universal fleet supporting a wide range of charge rates and discharge rates as supported by the multiple power conversion equipment of the flow battery, thus virtually eliminating the systems requirement to track degradation of the fleet asset being the electrolyte. The predominant pricing factor for the electrolyte is the time of deployment and ensuring the return of the electrolyte in a non-diluted and unaltered status, NOT the number of cycles or depth of discharge as that asset is either not relevant or at best is a separate pricing structure for the power conversion equipment.
[0085] Another aspect of the invention is the significant reduction of transport costs by reducing the total volume requirements needing to be moved from a first location (Charged) to a second location (Discharged) while bypassing the utilization of the transmission grid (which is rapidly becoming a pricing mechanism where demand charges are outweighing energy charges).
[0086] The transport costs are further being reduced by the significant reduction of labor costs by the utilization of autonomous vehicles (or semi-autonomous, or dynamic configuration of non-autonomous vehicles within a fleet i.e., shared vehicle resource) that is essential to the practical economics of the inventive system. The transport practicality and/or costs associated with movement of charging co-products (e.g., oxygen or CO2 from co-located power generation) also demands the decoupling of charging location from the discharge location to the largest extent possible. Given that demand charges are outweighing energy charges in most instances (approximately greater than 50%, and in many instances greater than 70%) especially as the intermittency of renewable energy increases where energy pricing can in fact become negative. The system manages the recharging of spent energy storage (e.g., electrolyte, ice, etc.) at non-primary RS locations by recognizing that as long as the peak demand change to date for the respective billing period (or at least peak demand ratchet charge period) the incremental cost of charging doesn't include the amortization of the demand charge BUT does include the less than optimal energy efficiency (starting from the power generation source) to the power conversion component efficiency (smaller systems frequently have lower energy efficiencies per unit of capacity, especially thermodynamic cycles including ice making equipment) AND the likely loss of benefits of co-products and/or byproduct utilization. The latter of benefits of co-products and/or byproduct utilization (e.g., oxygen harvesting, or CO2 sequestration) can be greater than US$50 per ton which can translate into a cost differential of greater than US$0.05, preferably greater than US$0.10 and particularly preferred greater than US$0.15 which in many electricity service areas is significantly higher than the differential between peak and off-peak energy rates.
[0087] The further advantage of mobilizing power consumer assets (which can include energy recharging) particularly when these assets are solely direct current DC assets is the avoidance of backup charges often included in utility rate structure when traditional power generation equipment is placed.
[0088] Mobilized power consumer assets are virtually identical to equipment such as forklifts, backup UPS, etc. and not viewed from a rate structure as co-generation equipment. Therefore, the system issues distributed charging commands by incorporating co-product and/or byproduct cost benefit, logistics costs associated with movement of the energy storage assets from a first to a second location, status of charging at periods in which billable peak demand would not be altered, and projection of energy charges as a f(t) so as to compare current energy prices as compared to projected future energy prices WHILE also being during periods in which billable peak demand would not be altered.
[0089] Yet a distributed, decentralized, and decoupled system having valuable energy storage and power conversion equipment over a wide geography where security can't be precisely controlled within a fenced in environment creates significant security demands. Another inventive feature of the system is the utilization of an at least triple location authentication process for the dispatch vehicle transport to enable transfer of transported item(s).
[0090] The first location (which can be a defined first geofence), which occurs at a known and authorized item loading location (or geofence), of solid components or charged liquid (a.k.a. an RS) with a date-time stamped authorization (with a first expiration date-time) subject to at least two additional authentication points. The second location (which can be a defined second geofence), which must occur prior to the first expiration date-time, occurs at a known and authorized item discharge location (or geofence) and also issues a second date-time stamped authorization (with a second expiration date-time). The third location (which can be a defined third geofence) is a known location of a wireless transceiver which verifies the authentication of the first authorization and the second authorization having occurred prior to their respective expiration date-time prior to issuing and communicating to the vehicle commands to open (and regulate) valve (when liquid, or storage component lock) position to enable transfer of only specific authorized items. Failure of any of the three location authorizations prevents any item transfer, unless the vehicle transport returns to an RS within the logistics network and proceeds to a new set of at least triple location authentication process.
[0091] It is counter to obvious, and therefore novel, that an energy storage device that may have a lower energy density (and even a lower energy conversion efficiency) leads to a superior system solution as measured by parameters including higher net revenue, higher net profits, lower net CO2 emissions, and/or lower net fuel consumption. A system that produces a readily transportable energy storage component, energy storage by- or co-product of the energy storage component enables and achieves a higher system efficiency. It is understood that having a lower energy density or lower energy conversion efficiency is not necessary to realizing the benefits of the decoupled system.
[0092] The following examples are indicative of this benefit as realized by the inventive system: [0093] 1) Large-scale ice storage has a significantly better coefficient of performance as compared to multiple ice makers of lower capacity [0094] 2) Continuously (or at least significantly higher hours of operation) operating power production equipment at peak-efficiency load produces more energy efficiently and is particularly suited to occur at a location in which the majority (greater than 50%, or preferably greater than 80%) of waste heat is repurposed. Producing power at the same location in which a metal oxide battery produces oxygen while being charged enables higher thermodynamic cycle efficiencies to be obtained, while having significantly lower air mass flow requirements due to higher oxygen concentrations in the combustion air which in turn enables smaller waste heat recovery heat exchangers to be used (that accelerates the ROI and often becomes the turning point for financial/economic viability). [0095] 3) A charged electrolyte solution that is produced centrally at an all things equal larger power producer is more efficient, as per above, and enables a portable (i.e., decoupling) decentralized network of energy consumers using a common RS. Having more RS, particularly when the RS enables very rapid repowering/recharging within the decentralized network greatly reduces the range requirement of each transport vehicle within the network. Utilizing a common energy source enables the transport vehicle's inherent energy storage tank (or explicit cargo capable energy storage tank) to become a distributor of the energy source responding quickly to variations of energy requirement from the projected demand thus rapidly moving energy storage inventory to a more optimal location (while increasing the utilization factor for the transport vehicle, thus lowering its annual amortization rate per unit of distance traveled). A large number of RS also greatly reduces the tank energy storage size requirement, and more importantly greatly reduces the mass of the transport vehicle. Furthermore, use of a liquid electrolyte enables the system to dynamically alter the onboard storage requirements to more precisely match the predicted/projected demand thus optimizing and reducing the mass of the transport vehicle. The net result is that the electrolyte (i.e., an energy storage asset) results in a significantly (at least 5%, preferably at least 20%, and particularly preferred at least 50%) higher utilization factor resulting in an accelerated ROI (by at least 5%, preferably at least 20%, and particularly preferred at least 50%).
[0096] The decoupled distributed energy system DDES 695, though depicted in most detail as supporting the distribution of electrolyte (as energy source) from a flow battery, is recognized within the scope of the invention to be operable for virtually any type of battery (e.g., solid or liquid integral electrolyte, thermal hot or cold) such that charging of the energy source is designed to take place at a distinct location from the discharging of that same energy source.
[0097] The DDES can operate within an on-grid or off-grid (i.e., islanding mode) scenario. It is an important feature of the DDES within the on-grid scenario to issue charging commands at the remote stationary energy consumption equipment 1112 location for charging to occur such that the maximum peak demand is at or equal to the location's maximum rate demand (which can be established by the DDES, at the incurred maximum for the current billing period, or overridden by the DDES based on the location's maximum demand parameters). It is further a fundamental feature that the vehicle transportation equipment 690 preferentially utilizes the same energy source as the stationary energy consumption equipment 1112 to empower and move the vehicle transportation equipment 690 from a first location to a second location where an at least one second location is the location of the stationary energy consumption equipment 1112. It is understood, though less than optimal, that the vehicle transportation equipment (also simply referred to as vehicle) 690 can have a distinct energy source and solely be utilized for the transport of the energy source to and from a first location to a second location. In the optimal scenario, the vehicle transports the energy source e.g., electrolyte concurrently on a scheduled trip in which the vehicle has another purpose (i.e., transport of the multipurpose cargo 598) for the same trip as a method to significantly reduce the incremental cost associated with the transport of the energy source. The multipurpose cargo 598 is optimally secured within the solid storage component 520 (and preferentially located within the vehicle's exterior space). A fundamental objective of the DDES is to maximize the load factor of each energy source distribution component, such that any electrical transmission wiring capacity is minimized to primarily operate at a baseload level on a more continuous basis and that the power conversion equipment 1111 at the same location as the stationary energy consumption equipment 1112 utilizes at least one period where the real-time energy consumption is less than the baseload level to locally recharge spent (i.e., discharged) electrolyte into renewed charged electrolyte. It is understood that each fixed location has a common equipment 599 set of components that include at least one charge(d) storage component 510, at least one discharge(d) storage component 505, and each of the aforementioned storage components has either a dedicated (or access to a shared) quality sensor(s) 526 and loading/unloading valve 525 into energy source storage. This scenario as represented by the energy source being an electrolyte, can within the scope of the invention be substituted for thermal energy source (e.g., ice) in an instance in which the real-time energy consumption is less than the baseload level and when the DDES predicts a future demand for cold thermal energy beyond what is currently in charged inventory. The energy source can also be in the form of a standard battery with integral electrolyte, whether that electrolyte be solid or liquid, though this method is not as practical as the electrolyte for a flow battery. However, there are fundamental advantages when the standard battery is a battery that co-produces oxygen when in the charging state. It is understood that all references to electrolyte (thus referring to energy source within flow batteries) can be replaced by any energy source (whether electrical or thermal) in so far as the energy source is capable of being charged at a first location and discharged at a second location, and that the energy source has minimal energy losses as it travels via a vehicle between the first (i.e., charging) and second (i.e., discharging) locations.
[0098] It is understood in this invention, the metal-oxide battery is interchangeable with an electrolyzer as an electrochemical electricity consuming reactor (i.e., consumer of electricity) that transforms organic reactants via an electrochemical reaction such as in any battery, though in this preferred embodiment an organic electrochemical reaction transforming the organic reactants that also produce hydrogen (and preferably also oxygen) as a product including transforming the organic reactants into resulting organic substances (like the metal-oxide battery electrochemically producing oxygen and chemically reduced metal). A particularly preferable electrochemical reaction also concurrently produces oxygen with the hydrogen as a byproduct, in which case the electrochemical reaction consumes less than 30 kWh per resulting kg of hydrogen (and preferred less than 20 kWh per kg of hydrogen, and particularly preferred less than 15 kWh per kg of hydrogen, and specifically preferred less than 12 kWh per kg of hydrogen) as the electrochemical charging rate (i.e., electrochemical electricity consuming rate). Subsequent utilization of the produced hydrogen (i.e., to become the second location fuel source and stored as an energy storage asset at the first location for subsequent transport to the second location for production of power or electricity at the second location) is referred to as the electrochemical discharging rate (i.e., electrochemical energy producing rate). The electrochemical electricity consuming reactor (e.g., electrolyzer) consumes electricity for the resulting organic chemical reaction at the first location (where energy including as electricity is still consumed just like the metal oxide battery for charging) is used to produce an at least partially deoxygenated organic chemical(s) and/or hydrogen analogous to a subsequent discharged electrolyte post energy including energy produced by the resulting hydrogen produced for energy generation producing via hydrogen combustion or direct fuel cell (i.e., in a second electrochemical reaction) at the second location. It is understood that any reference of charged electrolyte can be interchanged with an electrochemically modified organic matter with resulting co-production of oxygen and preferably concurrent production of hydrogen. The preferred embodiment is the electrochemical upgrading of an oxygen rich biofuel into a lower oxygenated biofuel via an electrolyzer consuming electricity (i.e. power) at the electrochemical energy consuming rate and producing oxygen, and preferably also producing hydrogen, as a byproduct in the first location, and subsequent energy (i.e., power or electricity) generation at a second location by utilization of either or both the lower oxygenated biofuel and/or hydrogen capable of producing more (preferably at least 5% more, particularly preferred at least 20% more, and specifically preferred at least 40% more) energy at the second location having an electrochemical energy generation rate relative to the electrochemical energy consuming rate at the first location.
[0099] Another embodiment of the invention is the fundamental interchangeability of hydrogen from the aforementioned electrochemical production using organic feedstock and a thermocatalytic enhanced methane (which is also an organic feedstock) pyrolysis utilizing a preferred seed catalyst for concurrent production of high-value carbon (e.g., preferably carbon nanotubes, but also graphene). Fundamentally the principles required for the inventive deployment of electrochemical production of hydrogen from organic molecules is directly analogous to seed catalyst methane pyrolysis SCMP, including the requirement for a charged input and the creation of a discharged output with respect to the multi-component tank. Additionally, SCMP is inherently scalable and very energy efficient as a decarbonization process thus capable of being coupled with power generation equipment (preferably compact turbomachinery) such that SCMP is paired with power generation equipment and energy storage all being capable of transport via the inventive vehicle including the then stationary (temporary) operations at any given location(s).
[0100] One embodiment of the second location is where the production of power or electricity also produces carbon dioxide CO2 as a byproduct and the second location has the further embodiment of a CO2 sequestering or transformation capability. One exemplary is a greenhouse or micro algae farm where space limitations of the first location are not present at the second location have the further benefit, beyond the peak power reduction, are reducing the net carbon footprint. The first location has the preferred ability to leverage the produced oxygen, including oxyfuel combustion, resulting from the oxygen consumption at the first location such that the CO2 sequestration at the second location yields a more favorable net CO2 footprint by having the first oxygen producing reaction at the first location, and the second carbon dioxide producing reaction at the second location where preferably sequestration and transformation is not space constrained.
[0101] The DDES is a generator and issuer of tank loading and unloading with corresponding vehicle transport logistics routing for all distributed electrolyte assets (charged and discharged). The system also tracks and calculates the logistics pathway for distribution of charged electrolyte and recovery of discharged electrolyte in accordance to at least one optimization method selected from the group of 1) maximize revenue, 2) minimize penalties, 3) maximize electricity fulfillment without demand-side reduction, or 4) maximize transport vehicle reservation fulfillment. As noted earlier, the use of the term charged electrolyte is interchangeable also with an electrochemically upgraded/reacted organic reaction such as a relatively oxygen rich molecule (e.g., biocrude) resulting through the reaction a relatively oxygen depleted molecule (at least relative to the original oxygen rich molecule) and an oxygen resulting byproduct. The use of the term discharged electrolyte is interchangeable also with a subsequent electrical production, whether it be via a direct fuel cell, indirect fuel cell using resulting syngas, or combustion of the resulting relatively oxygen depleted molecule (including as a biodiesel, sustainable aviation fuel) at a second location.
[0102] The invention manages the charge/discharge state of all electrolyte within the network of energy storage charged and discharged media inventory. One exemplary and optimal energy storage media for the decoupled system is an electrolyte of a flow battery having greater than 350 Wh/l, preferably greater than 400 Wh/l, and specifically preferred greater than 1000 Wh/l.
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[0114] Revenue is calculated utilizing the projected as f(t) energy (i.e., electricity) rate structure and demand (i.e., electricity) rate structure. The subsequent process step is to analyze existing location specific energy storage generation reservations 693.1 and location energy storage generation reservation historic records 693.3 in order to generate projected location specific energy storage generation reservations 693.4. These projected generation reservations are utilized by the power transaction engine 3211 to initiate a series of transactions based on energy inflow to outflow ratios on a historic f(t) and projected f(t) basis. Followed by the process step of initiating the RS engine 3202 (i.e., the RS control application) for subsequent control through the power production engine 3203 (responsible for coordination and control of power generating assets at each location within the network) and grid power 3204 (responsible for coordination and ordering of energy units) from the centralized or non-network-controlled power producing assets. Collectively a resulting set of dispatch orders are generated and then monitored, tracked, coordinated, and executed through the energy storage asset engine 3200 application.
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[0120] Successful operations of DDES requires extensive security procedures, but at a minimum the following security steps include: [0121] 1) ensuring that the discharged (particularly when electrolyte) solution is returned non-diluted (and not more than 1 cycle, i.e., not charged elsewhere) [0122] 2) multi-factor authentication for opening valve in which electrolyte (whether charged or discharged) is being taken/returned so as to limit opportunity for dilution or not returning the same electrolyte in which it was received (the preferable electrolyte has a taggant at a specified concentration, which is particularly preferred to be an electrolyte catalyst or an inert fluid, or specifically preferred a known nanoelectricofuel that clearly establishes dilution in addition to the taggant).
[0123] A method to secure the electrolyte asset both in the charged and discharged condition. Both the vehicle transport and off-board charged & discharged electrolyte tanks have their locations authenticated, which enables the fully automated valve system (with embedded security and authentication sensor) to first authorize and then initiate the transfer of electrolyte fluid from/to the vehicle transport on-board tanks to the off-board tanks. The system is further comprised of electrolyte quality sensors to verify and validate the electrolyte status and notably methods to determine any dilution or change of charge state as the electrolyte is being transferred. It is an important feature of the system to have the dilution, charge state, and precise volume within each of the respective charged and discharged tanks to be calibrated where the calibration process requires the at least two-location authentication to precede the recognition of the calibrated parameters. It is anticipated that a three-location authentication method can be implemented where the first location is the current location of vehicle transport, the second location is the current location of the energy storage tanks in which energy storage transfer is taking place, and the third location is the location of a communication node in which the vehicle transport is communicating between. Alternatively, the third location can be a known location of a system or user in which transfers of energy storage are pre-authorized based on confirmation of the first and second location being within a specified geofence location and occurring at a specified date/time range. The system further comprises sensors and control parameters to identify each instance of electrolyte flow to and from the charged electrolyte tank, to and from the discharged electrolyte tank, and to and from the electrolyte charging system. The system further uses this information to establish pricing of the electrolyte fluid in terms of at least: 1) volume of electrolyte recharged, 2) volume stored in the charge tank, and 3) volume stored in the discharge tank such that it is recognized that electrolyte carrying costs is essential to calculate as the electrolyte itself is an expensive asset whether it be in the charged or discharged state and that each sequential charge/discharge cycle has the potential to deteriorate the electrolyte service life by a minimum of one standardized electrolyte cycle (as normalized by the projected lifetime cycles of the specified electrolyte). Throughout the execution of DDES, it is understood that stored energy, particularly electricity, can be directed towards a wide range of purposes but notably in the context of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of DDES and an overarching goal of decarbonization must include at least electricity for: [0124] 1) additional oxygen generation [0125] 2) electrochemical pumping (or compressing) of oxygen for either inventory or oxy-fuel combustion [0126] 3) on-site energy storage for additional oxygen, or just on-site energy storage [0127] 4) additional on-site power generation for off-site power, which could also be from waste heat recovery as a result of oxygen consumption
[0128] A fundamental problem with the transition to a decarbonized future is the requirement for a massive investment into a new all-electric infrastructure and a virtually complete abandonment of the existing energy infrastructure. Another fundamental problem is that a virtually complete ignoring of the largest energy consumers in the world being the industrial sector. Earlier in this disclosure it was already highlighted how a non-decoupled traditional electric vehicle places a massive peak demand (or a double conversion) problem shifted to the electric vehicle charging stations and a demand on the vehicle being stationary.
[0129] The DDES provides a solution to the problem by leveraging existing infrastructure (that also enables a smooth and continuous transition during the shift from fossil fuels, through to biofuels, and then to further growth of intermittent/non-combusting renewables e.g., solar, wind). The DDES also enables the fastest and least expensive decarbonization plan leveraging the existing infrastructure across the domains of 1) electricity production, 2) fossil fuel for transportation industry, and 3) industrial production. The co-locating of energy storage systems, as noted, with co-located oxygen production when combined with homogeneous radiant combustion with integral waste heat recovery reduces energy consumption by at least 10% (preferably greater than 30%) in petroleum refineries, high-temperature furnaces as used in iron/steel, glass, and metal smelting operations, with co-located combined heat and power NOW properly sized for comprehensive heat production and integrated waste heat recovery utilizing advance high-temperature heat pump (as known in the art, such as using CO2 as the refrigerant) as used in the pulp & paper, food & beverage, and chemicals industries. Analogous to the electrochemical device producing oxygen as a byproduct that provides energy efficiency value to the homogenous radiant combustion system, the seed catalyst methane pyrolysis byproduct production of carbon nanotubes (or graphene) at a carbon composite production site (first location 9999.1) eliminates the steps of cooling resulting carbon nanotubes, packaging to prevent both contamination or susceptibility to inhalation, logistics to a second location 9999.2, unpacking to prevent both contamination or susceptibility to inhalation, and then composite preparation. Carbon composite production in this invention includes any dry powder or fluid containing the resulting carbon nanotubes (or graphene) and a second material (e.g., cement, thermoset resin, thermoplastic polymer, metal for post-production alloying such as through as known in the art stir-friction or electrowinning or electroplating, etc.). The majority of carbon composite production facilities require substantially less electricity onsite and therefore the DDES is particularly relevant to sell excess electricity at a second location at retail pricing as compared to the grid at wholesale pricing.
[0130] The inventive system with tight energy flow coupling, but with distinct time and space domains, between industrial, transportation, and manufacturing assets reduces the capital investment per unit of decarbonization by at least 5%, preferably by at least 20%, and particularly preferred by at least 40%. Utilizing existing assets in combination with strategic deployment of the preferred embodiment of: 1) metal-air batteries, 2) high-temperature heat pump such as the transcritical CO2 heat pump, 3) high-energy density flow battery enabling decoupling in both the time and space domain, 4) long-term thermal energy storage media (e.g., ice, phase change materials, thermochemical and polymeric such as azobenzene), and 5) electric or hybrid-electric vehicles, including current assets of petrol transportation and/or asphalt fleet trucks preferably re-configured for autonomous driving as safely enabled INTO the existing network of 1) industrial manufacturing plants particularly those that produce waste heat that can be repurposed, and/or that can increase their operating efficiency by consuming oxygen, and/or that consume a greater amount of heat in comparison to their electrical consumption, 2) points of convergence being existing facilities in which transportation vehicles spend significant amounts of time being stationary, or that have a relatively high density of labor personnel (relative to residential facilities), 3) petroleum stations, and 4) combustion-based power plants producing waste heat ALL leveraging either the aforementioned fleet of vehicles reconfigured for logistics transport of charged/discharged electrolyte and/or thermal energy storage (preferably long-term storage medium, which is defined as having less than 10% thermal losses over a period of at least 2 days relative to traditional thermal energy storage medium as known in the art). The DDES in combination with a fleet of autonomous vehicles is the optimal method of decarbonization WHILE maximizing the utilization of existing assets notably: 1) refineries, 2) petroleum logistic, 3) roads, and 4) buildings. The preferred transaction system further features digital currency or virtually any system that enables peer-to-peer financial transactions. The result is a truly decoupled, distributed, and ultra-high efficiency energy system enabling rapid decarbonization of our planet on a community by community empowering basis. Further, increasing the energy efficiency of petroleum refineries AND integrating the existing petroleum infrastructure INTO the final solution also provides a win-win transition such that the significant increase in biofuels whether it be in the form of gaseous fuels consumed for electricity (or used as syngas for biochemical production), or liquid form for transportation fuels displacing the current fossil fuel fraction, or in solid form for subsequent combustion for electricity production (such as in existing coal, biomass power plants) or for industrial boilers such as pulp & paper, food & beverage industries, etc.
[0131] The DDES further includes dynamic routing and dynamic inventory control to optimize the vehicle and energy storage media efficiency and effectiveness. As noted before, the lighter the vehicle weight the more energy efficient the trip is from a first location to a second location by reducing energy consumption and lowering rolling friction. The vehicle being autonomous is able to continue on to any RS available post the completion of the primary transport purpose, or even interject an RS recharging stop between the first and second locations (with the understanding that an incentive may be necessary in the event that the primary transport purpose is to convey people, or if the delivery of items becomes delayed and therefore subject to a delivery delay penalty). The further autonomous recharging process, particularly with the preferred utilization of charged/discharged electrolyte of a flow battery, converges high-people density locations into the new RS of the future (which would be impossible to achieve such high throughput, whether because of high peak demand charges or simply the relatively slower recharging times). The significant ease and increase in RS locations OVERCOMES virtually all of the otherwise deficiencies of current relatively lower energy density of flow battery electrolyte versus otherwise solid or liquid electrolyte within traditional non-flow battery energy storage devices.
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[0134] The optimal embodiment of the invention is such that virtually all of the energy assets, whether producers or consumers or energy storage, are decoupled and distributed from non-dispatchable assets. Dispatchable assets, particularly energy generation assets are relatively immediately able to respond to requests for power output by active on/off control and further preferentially able to adjust their power output in response to the system (in other words, not nature driven solar or wind assets). The particularly preferred dispatchable asset utilizes renewable biofuels and is co-located at a location that leverages both co-products from metal-air energy storage asset in industrial processes and byproducts (e.g., waste heat) within the same industrial processes to significantly increase thermodynamic exergy efficiency at that location and concurrently at the aggregate across the entire DDES network. The imbalance of primary energy (e.g., electricity) consumption at the most energy intensive industrial processes, notably refineries and processes with high-temperature furnaces, uniquely leverage oxygen co-product and further translate their on-site waste heat into higher-value mobile energy storage in the form of flow battery electrolyte (bypassing the grid in its entirety) to further leverage dispatchable autonomous transport vehicles. The result is that a highly integrated decoupled and distributed system that COMBINES and optimizes residential, commercial, and industrial energy processes is vastly more efficient in terms of system exergy, asset utilization, and revenue generation bypassing the significantly expensive and long payback period of otherwise standalone energy storage systems. Current visions of a fleet of mobile energy storage systems (i.e., electric vehicles), non-flow battery type, are marginally more cost-effective but sacrifice vehicle utilization and mobility to serve that function and have no practical method to serve its primary function without varying the destination of the electric vehicle without sacrificing either the passenger convenience or the effectiveness of mobile energy storage at its point of energy consumption.
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[0136] The power production engine 3203 coordinates the operations of the onsite electricity generation 71.1 based on real-time requirements the status of energy storage production equipment 645 (i.e., is the energy storage fully charged or still have capacity to be charged, or due to expensive electricity rate structure projected as f(t) and/or high electricity demand rate projected as f(t))) so as to maintain the location 9999.1 peak demand below a critical threshold to reduce monthly or annual peak demand charges. The operation of the onsite electricity generation 71.1 virtually always yields the co-product of waste heat and carbon dioxide, all which can be valorized (to increase value) respectively for additional electricity production or process heating, or carbon dioxide to greenhouse or microalgae in which carbon dioxide increases their respective yields. The availability of energy storage co-product storage managed or produced directly by operations of onsite electricity generation 71.1 or indirectly by the charging of metal-air batteries that produce high-value oxygen (that can be used for increasing energy efficiency of high-temperature furnaces as one example). In many instances the value of the oxygen from charging of metal-air batteries is more valuable to the onsite operations of stationary energy consumption equipment 1112 than wholesale selling of electricity to the grid (i.e., net-metering to the offsite electricity generation 71.2) and therefore explicitly the power production engine 3203 when the energy storage co-product inventory is not at full capacity would elect to produce an excess amount of electricity when both the co-product inventory and 625 and energy storage inventory 645 (e.g., metal-air battery) are not at full capacity, especially when the electricity energy and demand rates of the offsite electricity generation 71.2 are less than favorable. It is understood that energy storage co-product production equipment 620 may be needed to make the co-product more readily useful for onsite or offsite co-product consumption. Excess electricity produced (or available even from the grid when electricity and/or demand rates are particularly favorable) to either stationary energy storage 645 or mobile/dispatchable energy storage (a.k.a. charge storage component 510) that would be transported to a second location.
[0137] The power consumption engine 3201 utilized the electricity demand rate projections as f(t) in combination with the electricity rate structure projections as f(t) further in combination with the electricity consumption projections as f(t) with demand consumption projections also as f(t) of the stationary energy consumption equipment 1112. The projections are further a function of the historic rate electric (energy) structure, the historic rate demand, electricity consumption, and demand of consumption all as a f(t).
[0138] The power production engine 3203 controls the onsite electricity generation 71.1 equipment that has accumulated a historic performance that includes electricity production (often as a function of temperature, fuel, etc.) yielding both energy efficiency and demand production (e.g., capacity). These parameters, all of which are f(t), serve to create projections of f(t) for demand production and also electricity production. The invented decoupled distributed energy system 695 operates the onsite electricity generation uniquely taking advantage of additional co-production assets and dispatchable energy storage assets, particularly when the dispatchable energy storage assets create a co-product specifically useful at the same location in which the onsite electricity generation is operating. It is further understood that modular size onsite electricity generation equipment can be dispatched to a second location particularly when the second location has a need for the co-product in additional to the dispatchable stored electricity within the charge storage component 510 (dispatchable battery of charged electrolyte).
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[0140] The projected electricity demand rate f(t) establishes the financial value associated with operating decisions made by the system based on projected demand production f(t) having improved accuracy leveraging also the 3D model overlaid on the historic demand production f(t) so as to provide a projected electricity production f(t) which itself is also overlaid on the historic electricity production f(t). It is understood that all historic data tightly integrates the then current weather data (i.e., wind, rain, cloud coverage, solar vector, etc.) even retroactively and further integrated with 3D model data also retroactively. A fundamental flaw associated with machine learning is both the requirement for very large data sets and even then, often fails to lead to good predictive models. The most common reason for failed predictive accuracy is simply insufficient data to establish modes of operating to properly segment data. One instance that is improved by the 3D model is a tree or adjoining building that blocks the sun during the winter and thus reducing free heat from the sun, or the same tree blocking the wind during the winter and therefore reducing the heating losses from the building at the location of interest. Without this important knowledge even entirely accurate predictive weather data will fail to provide a good projected energy consumption f(t) and projected demand consumption f(t) as well as projected demand production f(t) for any local wind generation capacity.
[0141] Another critical feature of the inventive system is the dispatch scheduling of energy generating assets (both electrical and thermal) by accounting for both the electricity consumption f(t) and electricity demand consumption f(t) of the first location and the same parameters f(t) of the second location, plus the inclusion of energy consumption associated with the dispatch and transportation of roaming (i.e., non-stationary) energy storage assets 510 as they are transported from the first location to the second location. The system also allocates excess energy generation between the roaming energy storage assets 510 and non-roaming energy storage assets through at least in part the energy storage production equipment 645 that optimally also produces concurrently an energy storage co-product into a storage vessel for non-real-time inventory 625. The energy consumption during such transport is a function of the weight of the energy storage, the physical footprint of the energy storage that influences the size of the transport vehicle, and of course the distance and route associated with the transporting from the first location to the second location. The transport energy consumption, which is draws upon either or both energy stored in the transported energy storage assets (as well as from integral energy storage asset of the transport vehicle when such vehicle is an electric vehicle), is projected accurately by taking into account the historic distance and route of (i.e., being the roaming storage RS(s) between each available first location and second location pairing) the RS(s) as a f(t). The system uniquely uses the period of time between the first location peak demand occurrence and the second location peak demand occurrence while accounting for transport time and transport energy consumption as drawn from the transported roaming storage to coordinate the precise time in which the RS should stop being charged at the first location, the precise time in which the RS should begin being transported from the first location to the second location after evaluating and down-selecting in fact which is the optimal second location for the RS to be transported to. Contrary to prior art, the decision of transporting energy storage assets to a second location is not based only on projected energy consumption at the second location BUT in fact on the timing of peak demand at the second location relative to the first location's peak demand and the rate differential between the first locations peak demand rate structure and the second locations peak demand rate structure while accounting for transport time between the first and second location.
[0142] The vehicle transport engine 3205 coordinates the transport of RS assets from a first location to a second location, while also providing the overarching system with vehicle specific information as well as routing specific information for first determining what is the appropriate second location to transport the RS asset(s) from the first location to the second location and selecting when more than one vehicle is available the appropriate transport vehicle 690.1. The combination of available transport vehicles 690.1, their respective total capacity and available capacity, with the demand for an appropriately sized RS asset required at the second location (and potentially even considering the next location(s) being the third location and fourth location, etc.) and then while transporting the RS asset(s) optimally leveraging the RS asset to improve the energy recovery of the vehicle transport moving the RS asset from the first location to the second location. The selection of the transport vehicle 690.1 is based on vehicle transport historic rate structure f(t) that is then utilized by the vehicle transport engine 3205 to select an appropriate transport vehicle based at the minimum on vehicle transport cargo historic utilization f(t) and vehicle transport historic route f(t) (i.e., historically accounting for traffic and routing at time of day and day of week, etc. to predict both the amount of time it will take to transport RS asset from first location to the second location and how much incremental energy the transport vehicle will consumer). The historic f(t) is then utilized by the vehicle transport engine 3205 to calculate the vehicle transport projected rate structure f(t) and the vehicle transport projected route f(t). The cargo capacity of the transport vehicle, including the total capacity and the available capacity is furthered combined with the historic ratio of transactions inflow: outflow ratio f(t) to also create a projected transactions inflow: outflow ratio f(t) such that the cargo, including an RS asset charged to discharged ratio is included when the RS asset is a flow battery electrolyte. It is understood that the revenue realized by the transport vehicle 690.1, or least the method to reduce the operating expense of every trip between locations, is maximized by maximizing the capacity utilization all things equal and more so maximizing the cargo (non-RS asset) capacity will yield higher revenue (as the revenue value per physical volume and physical weight is typically lowest for RS asset relative to other cargo such as food, groceries, Amazon delivery, restaurant food delivery, etc.). Cargo utilization is projected f(t) based on scheduled cargo logistics requirements (i.e., the need to move from first location to either a second location or even a third location, including an intermediary location that is approximately on-route between the otherwise route between the first and second location) and the historic cargo utilization f(t). Once the projected RS asset(s) and cargo are projected the appropriate transport vehicle 690.1 is able to be down-selected also taking into account the now calculated transport vehicle energy utilization based on first the historic f(t) to create a projected f(t). The optimal transport vehicle is also an electric vehicle that is now able to leverage the combination of its onboard always charge storage 510.32 (i.e., battery when it is not a flow battery) and onboard always discharge storage 505.34, where the transport vehicle during braking or decelerating is now able to have a larger inrush current due to the aggregate battery capacity of the onboard always with the dispatchable charge storage 510.31. Virtually all of the aforementioned parameters are utilized to determine the second location that is a function of cargo logistics and requirements for the RS asset to be dispatched and ready to meet the second location's peak demand f(t) such that the RS asset is dispatched to reduce the on-grid or on-site energy (kW) demand requirements. The vehicle transport engine 3205 selects both the transport vehicle 690.1 and at least the second location (which may be a further function of a third location) in which an RS asset and/or cargo is required at that second location.
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[0149] It is understood that the invention includes and anticipates known in the art methods to physically link the vehicle transport energy storage tanks (or batteries) to the energy consuming assets utilizing automated or semi-automated equipment with automated aligning methods and multi-factor with multi-location authentication methods to reduce (or preferably eliminate) any opportunities to alter the status of the charged or discharged energy storage medium.
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[0151] Preferably each consumer, and consumer to consumer model is provided for in the 3d model. Each consumer is overlaid onto the appropriate node and then the appropriate branch so as to provide a high accuracy projection of energy consumption f(t) and peak demand f(t) for each branch of the transmission grid. The system analyzes the historic data, including retroactively embedding weather and/or solar intensity data onto historic data accounting preferably for the 3d model in the creating a high-accuracy (at least 5% more accurate than without retroactive data or without 3d model data) projected energy consumption and peak demand for each branch and each node on its branch. Of particular importance is the projected thermal load f(t) due to the thermal loads being the primary candidate for load shifting in addition to lower cost thermal energy storage (whether be dispatchable or stationary). Projected electrical energy consumption f(t) is overlaid with the projected thermal energy consumption f(t) into an integrated combined electrical and thermal model so as to determine when electricity should be directly stored into thermal energy instead of traditional electrical batteries. The 3d models that are used to establish projected energy consumption and demand profiles as f(t) are also critical to improve the accuracy of projecting renewable energy generation (e.g., solar, wind) especially when those generating assets are impacted with nearby infrastructure (e.g., trees, buildings, bridges, etc.) that impact the generating rates of those generating assets. The result is a schedule of predictive generation f(t) of those renewable assets overlaid onto the consumption f(t) in order to optimize the deployment of dispatchable energy storage assets. The 3d model is all overlaid onto the transmission grid nodes and nodes within branches. This resulting 3d model, in combination or standalone with dispatchable RS assets, is the fundamental and inventive model to establish the location for new renewable energy assets. The placement of renewable energy assets then becomes a preferred embodiment to establish the location of 5G communication towers, especially when such 5G communication towers are multi-functional by providing the height for wind turbines leveraging the same tower. It is understood that the 3d model overlaid with communication demand f(t) and renewable energy generation f(t) assets achieves a greater than 5% increase in 5G towers being powered by renewable energy. This is repeated for both wind renewable energy as well as solar renewable energy, and where fortunate the combination of the two at one location overlaid with the 3d model of 5G communications all being influenced by the height relative to each asset identified within the 3d model.
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[0153] Although the invention has been described in detail, regarding certain embodiments detailed herein, other anticipated embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and the present invention is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents.