Off-Peak Electricity Storage Network for Grid Load Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current electricity system faces challenges in storing and utilizing off-peak electricity efficiently, leading to shortages and high environmental pollution, as most power generation sources like coal-fired and nuclear plants cannot be easily varied, resulting in costly peak-hour electricity and wasted off-peak energy.
Innovation Solution
An energy storage network is implemented, comprising energy storage devices such as rechargeable batteries and super-capacitors connected to an electricity grid, which are charged during off-peak hours and discharged during peak hours, with a control unit managing the process to optimize energy usage and sales to electricity providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electricity is produced continuously by coal-fired and nuclear plants, then power supply reliability is maintained, but off-peak electricity cannot be stored and peak-hour electricity becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing off-peak electricity in advance during low-demand periods when nuclear and coal plants operate at full capacity. The energy storage devices accumulate electricity when it is abundantly produced but not fully utilized, then discharge it during peak hours to avoid waste and reduce the need for expensive peak-hour generation.
2Productivity
If power companies set high prices for peak-hour electricity, then consumers are incentivized to shift load to off-peak hours, but transmission bottlenecks and equipment costs remain high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces energy storage devices as an intermediary between the electricity grid and consumers. These devices decouple the timing of electricity consumption from generation, allowing consumers to effectively shift load without requiring complex transmission infrastructure changes or relying solely on price mechanisms. The storage devices act as a buffer that simplifies the overall system architecture.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If nuclear plants produce maximum power 24 hours a day, then continuous power supply is ensured, but off-peak electricity must be sold at lower prices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the previously harmful situation of forced off-peak electricity sales at discounts into a beneficial system. By introducing energy storage devices, the excess off-peak electricity that would otherwise be wasted or sold at loss becomes a valuable resource. The stored electricity is then utilized during peak hours when it commands premium prices, transforming the nuclear plants' continuous operation from a source of waste into an asset that generates revenue during both off-peak and peak periods.
4Ease of operation
If electricity cannot be stored on large scale, then electricity must be produced and delivered at the exact time needed, but this leads to transmission bottlenecks during peak hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to electricity management by introducing energy storage devices. Instead of only managing electricity flow in the time dimension (producing and delivering at exact moments), the system now utilizes the storage dimension, allowing electricity to be moved from off-peak time slots to peak time slots. This dimensional addition resolves transmission bottlenecks by redistributing electricity flow across different time periods.
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 the efficient storage and utilization of off-peak electricity, reducing energy shortages and pollution by enabling the sale of stored electricity at peak times, thereby generating profits for property owners and reducing the strain on power generation sources.
Implementation Method 1
an energy storage device electrically coupled to an electricity grid of at least one electricity provider, where the energy storage device has a storing capacity of Woff, and is chargeable or dischargeable, upon demand
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage network associated with a plurality of properties, {Bk}, for storing and capitalizing off-peak electricity includes a plurality of energy storage devices coupled to an electricity grid of at least one electricity provider, each energy storage device being chargeable or dischargeable, upon demand, and associated with a respective property Bk; and a control unit coupled to the plurality of energy storage devices and the electricity grid, and configured to control operations of each energy storage device such that each energy storage device associated with the respective property Bk is charged at an off-peak time each day when a demand for electricity is low, with an amount of off-peak electricity, (Woff)k, from the electricity grid, and is discharged at a peak time each day when the demand for electricity is high, to provide an amount of electricity, Wk, to the at least one electricity provider.