Distributed Energy Storage for Wind Turbine Power Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind farms face challenges with inconsistent power output due to variable wind energy production, requiring expensive and inflexible battery banks for energy storage, and are unable to efficiently integrate solar panels and photovoltaic arrays due to incompatibility with AC power systems.
Innovation Solution
A renewable energy system with each turbine connected to a separate energy storage system, such as batteries or capacitors, and the use of inverter modules to facilitate the integration of photovoltaic arrays, allowing for scalable and cost-effective power management and storage, avoiding the need for large battery banks and enhancing compatibility with AC power systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large battery bank is used to store energy from wind turbines, then power production consistency is improved, but capital cost and facility complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the energy storage system into multiple distributed battery banks, each associated with individual wind turbines or small groups of turbines, rather than using one large centralized battery bank. This segmentation reduces facility complexity and capital cost while maintaining power production consistency through aggregated output from multiple distributed units.
2Reliability
If a large battery bank is used to store energy from wind turbines, then power production consistency is improved, but capital cost increases to approximately $20 million
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the energy storage system into multiple distributed battery banks, each associated with individual wind turbines or small groups of turbines, rather than using one large centralized battery bank. This segmentation reduces facility complexity and capital cost while maintaining power production consistency through aggregated output from multiple distributed units.
3Quantity of substance
If a single facility houses all batteries for energy storage, then energy storage capacity is consolidated, but system vulnerability increases and adaptability to developing battery technology decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent distributes battery banks across multiple locations rather than consolidating them in a single facility. This allows individual battery units to be upgraded or replaced independently as technology develops, improving adaptability while maintaining total energy storage capacity through the distributed network.
4Ease of operation
If conventional wind farms use AC power systems, then power transmission is standardized, but integration of solar panels and photovoltaic arrays is prevented due to incompatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary conversion system that transforms DC power from photovoltaic arrays into AC power compatible with the existing wind farm transmission system. This intermediary allows integration of solar panels without disrupting the standardized AC power transmission infrastructure.
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
This solution allows for more efficient and cost-effective energy storage and management, enabling wind farms to predict and control power output, reducing capital expenditures, and enabling the integration of solar energy, thus improving power reliability and adaptability to market demands.
Implementation Method 1
A renewable energy system includes a plurality of turbines separately connected to a line so as to form a turbine string... a plurality of energy storage systems respectively and separately connected to the plurality of turbines so as to store energy from the plurality of turbines
Implementation Method 2
The most popular means of storage is a battery bank. In a battery bank, a very large number of high-capacity batteries are stored in a single facility.
Implementation Method 3
the use of inverter modules to facilitate the integration of photovoltaic arrays, allowing for scalable and cost-effective power management and storage
Implementation Method 4
wind farms that allow solar panels and photovoltaic arrays to be connected with the system
Implementation Method 5
Wind is the movement of air, which has mass, and when air is in motion it contains kinetic energy. A wind energy system converts the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical or electrical energy that can be harnessed for practical use.
Data Source
AI summary
A renewable energy system has a plurality of turbine separately connected to a line so as to form a turbine string, a plurality of turbine transformers separately and respectively connected to the plurality of turbines, a plurality of energy storage systems separately and respectively connected to the plurality of turbine transformers so as to store energy from the turbines, and a distribution transformer connected to the turbine strings so as to raise a voltage from the turbine strings to a grid voltage. The plurality of turbines are wind power turbine systems. The energy storage system is either a battery or a capacitor. A photovoltaic array can be connected to each turbine.