Multifunction Building Structure With Distributed Energy Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building infrastructure is rigid and inefficient, leading to high upfront capital costs, excess engineering, and limited flexibility in reconfiguring space and function, with energy storage systems contributing to increased costs and reduced utilization factors.
Innovation Solution
A distributed and decoupled dynamic multifunction structure (DMS) with integrated energy storage systems that leverage feedforward control to optimize energy distribution, reduce capital costs, and enhance flexibility by strategically placing energy storage devices to meet actual demand rather than worst-case scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If energy storage systems are integrated into buildings to decouple power generation from power consumption, then renewable energy production is enabled, but total building system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The building structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: structural support, energy storage, and power generation. The load-bearing walls and structural elements are integrated with battery storage systems and solar panel mounting capabilities, allowing the same physical infrastructure to fulfill multiple roles and reduce overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines previously separate systems (structural infrastructure, energy storage, and power generation) into a unified integrated system. The energy storage units are embedded within structural walls, and solar panels are mounted on the same structure, creating a synergistic system where components support each other's functions.
2Reliability
If infrastructure is designed to meet worst-case scenarios (design-days), then reliability is ensured, but utilization factor decreases and capital costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The building infrastructure transitions from a static, fixed-capacity design to a dynamic system that can adapt its energy storage and generation capacity based on real-time demand. The energy storage system can be charged or discharged, and solar generation can be adjusted, allowing the infrastructure to meet peak demands reliably while operating efficiently at lower capacities during normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameters dynamically rather than maintaining fixed worst-case design parameters. Energy storage capacity utilization, power generation output, and load distribution are adjusted based on actual conditions, allowing the system to achieve reliability when needed while reducing capital costs through optimized sizing.
3Ease of manufacture
If energy storage systems are placed stationary at single locations, then simple installation is achieved, but space utilization factor remains low and peak-to-off-peak offset is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is divided into multiple distributed units placed throughout the building structure rather than a single centralized location. Each segment can independently store and release energy, increasing overall system utilization and enabling better load balancing across different building zones while maintaining relatively simple installation of individual units.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for reconfiguring physical space having structural integrity, notably empowered by leveraging energy distribution that further leverages dynamic feedforward allocation of distributed energy storage, to maximize space utilization factor to accelerate return on investment, reduce system energy consumption, and maximize functional utilization of physical space particularly suited for modular construction with integral and approximately continuous updating of digital twin modeling to empower higher precision feedforward and feedback systems control resulting in high-performance buildings.