Power Management and Energy Storage Method

摘要

A method for improving grid power quality despite the presence of rapidly changing loads and a rapidly changing supply. The inventive method includes an energy generation mode that is used when grid demand is relatively high and an energy storage mode that is used when the energy supply exceeds the grid demand. The method is able to rapidly switch between the two modes. In the energy storage mode some of the energy available from a source is transferred to a storage unit. In the energy generation mode, available energy and stored energy is transferred to the grid.

主权项

1. A method for reducing power oversupply and undersupply on an electrical distribution grid, comprising:
a. providing an electrical power source; b. providing a first switching module for selectively connecting said electrical power source to said electrical distribution grid, so that said electrical power source can feed electrical power onto said electrical distribution grid; c. providing a load bank configured to convert electrical power to heat; d. providing a thermal storage unit connected to said load bank; e. providing a second switching module for selectively connecting said electrical power source to said load bank; f. providing an Organic Rankine Cycle engine, connected to said thermal storage unit so that energy stored in said thermal storage unit can be used to drive said Organic Rankine Cycle engine; g. providing an ORC generator powered by said Organic Rankine Cycle engine; h. providing a third switching module for selectively connecting said ORC generator to said electrical distribution grid; i. providing a fourth switching module for selectively connecting said ORC generator to said load bank; j. disconnecting said electrical power source and said ORC generator from said grid; k. connecting said electrical power source and said ORC generator to said load bank in order to send thermal energy to said thermal storage unit; and l. at a later time disconnecting said electrical power source and said ORC generator from said load bank and connecting said electrical power source and said ORC generator to said grid, whereby thermal energy stored within said thermal storage unit is used to power said Organic Rankine Cycle engine and thereby return a portion of said stored energy to said grid.