Battery Storage Canopy for Peak Load Shifting in Buildings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are unpredictable and often disrupt traditional power grids, while large consumers like industrial refrigeration systems face high energy demands, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs during peak demand hours.
Innovation Solution
An energy storage canopy system that integrates high-capacity batteries with solar canopies, allowing for energy storage during off-peak times and regulated discharge during peak demand hours, minimizing grid reliance and providing stable power to buildings through a combination of electrical and refrigerant energy storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If renewable energy sources (wind, solar) are used to power the grid, then environmental sustainability improves, but power supply stability deteriorates due to unpredictable output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements energy storage systems that pre-store renewable energy during periods of high generation (when wind blows strongly or sun is shining) so that this energy can be discharged later during periods of low generation. This preliminary storage action resolves the contradiction by decoupling energy generation from energy consumption timing, maintaining both sustainability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces energy storage devices (batteries, thermal storage) as intermediary components between renewable energy sources and the power grid. These intermediaries buffer the unpredictable fluctuations in renewable generation, converting intermittent input into stable, on-demand output, thus resolving the contradiction between sustainability and reliability.
2Power
If large-scale renewable energy farms are built remote from residential centers, then energy generation capacity increases, but grid disruption vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent promotes distributed energy storage systems installed at local buildings rather than centralized remote farms. By segmenting the energy system into many small, geographically distributed units, the patent reduces vulnerability to grid disruptions while maintaining total generation capacity. Each building becomes an independent energy node that can operate autonomously if needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension centralized power model to a multi-dimensional distributed architecture. Energy storage is placed at the building level (horizontal distribution) rather than concentrated at remote locations (vertical centralization), creating resilience through spatial diversity and reducing the impact of localized grid failures.
3Ease of operation
If energy storage equipment is installed at ground level, then accessibility for maintenance improves, but real estate footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates energy storage equipment from the horizontal plane (ground level) to the vertical plane (rooftops, elevated structures). This dimensional transition preserves maintenance accessibility through the use of elevated platforms and access mechanisms while dramatically reducing the ground footprint, allowing urban buildings to accommodate storage without consuming valuable real estate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin-film solar cells and flexible energy storage components that can be integrated into building surfaces such as rooftops and facades. These flexible, space-efficient components provide energy storage functionality without requiring large dedicated ground areas, maintaining accessibility while minimizing real estate impact.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system reduces energy costs by storing renewable energy for peak demand times, stabilizes power supply, and minimizes the footprint of energy storage equipment by locating it above parking spaces, thus reducing real estate impact.
Implementation Method 1
solar panels arranged over a parking area to define a parking space
Implementation Method 2
a high capacity battery integrated into or retrofitted to the solar canopy
Implementation Method 3
The large electrical power demand is generally due to the compressor used to compress the working fluid
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage canopy associated with a local building is provided. The energy storage canopy includes support members that can support compartments, which may be integral with or removable from the energy storage canopy. Each compartment includes a plurality of high capacity batteries to store electrical energy, at least one power conditioner to allow coupling high capacity batteries to an external unit. The external unit may be a power grid, a building, other loads, or the like.