Modular Energy Pooling for Intermittent Renewable Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for energy, driven by growing populations and economic activities, strains natural resources and infrastructure, leading to energy shortages and inefficiencies, particularly due to the intermittent and unreliable nature of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which complicates energy management and distribution.
Innovation Solution
Modularized energy management using pooling of multiple pressurized storage elements, where operating data from energy modules is analyzed to dynamically adjust the number of modules and their operation, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval of energy based on demand and resource availability, incorporating techniques such as pump-turbine systems and compressed air storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If renewable energy sources like solar and wind are used, then environmental damage and pollution are reduced, but energy reliability and stability deteriorate due to their intermittent nature
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by storing excess energy in pressurized storage elements during periods of high renewable energy production or low demand. This pre-stored energy is then available to compensate for intermittency when renewable sources are unavailable, thus maintaining reliability while preserving the environmental benefits of renewable energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and storage parameters of energy by converting electrical energy into pressurized potential energy stored in compressed gas or liquid. This parameter transformation allows energy to be stored in a stable, reliable form that can be dispatched on demand, resolving the contradiction between renewable energy usage and energy stability.
2Reliability
If energy storage capacity is increased to meet growing demand, then energy availability improves, but infrastructure complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the energy storage infrastructure into multiple modular pressurized storage elements that can be independently controlled and managed. This segmentation allows the system to scale storage capacity by adding or removing individual modules rather than building complex monolithic storage facilities, thus improving energy availability while managing infrastructure complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurized storage elements serve multiple functions: storing excess renewable energy, providing backup power during intermittency, and enabling load shifting to meet peak demand. This multi-functionality increases energy availability without proportionally increasing infrastructure complexity, as a single modular component fulfills multiple energy management needs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modularized energy management with pooling is implemented, then adaptability to changing demand improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic adaptability by enabling real-time pooling and unpooling of energy modules based on fluctuating demand conditions. The modular architecture allows the system to dynamically reconfigure its capacity by adding or removing storage elements from the pool, providing versatility in meeting changing demand while managing complexity through standardized modular interfaces and control mechanisms.
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 approach enhances energy resilience, improves predictive maintenance, and reduces energy losses by adapting to changing demands and resource availability, enabling cost-effective long-term energy storage and balancing energy production and consumption.
Implementation Method 1
multiple pressurized storage elements
Implementation Method 2
pressurized storage elements
Implementation Method 3
pump-turbine systems
Implementation Method 4
pump-turbine systems
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed techniques include energy management based on modularized energy control using pooling. Operating data is obtained from a plurality of energy modules within an energy storage system. The plurality of energy modules is pooled. One or more operating goals are obtained for the plurality of energy modules. The operating goals can be based on cost, availability, or energy module status. One or more processors are used to analyze the operating data, the one or more operating goals, energy demand, and energy module operating health. The operation of one or more of the plurality of energy modules is controlled based on the analysis. The energy modules can be a pooled homogeneous bank of energy modules. The homogeneous banks can be pooled into heterogeneous energy modules. The pools can include dynamically added energy module peers.