Plug-In Smart Energy Storage Units for Distributed Grid Response
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized battery storage systems are inefficient, costly, difficult to control, and fail to address consumer-side energy needs, leading to inefficiencies in energy management and scalability, while ignoring the potential of distributed energy resources.
Innovation Solution
Distributed, plug-and-play smart energy storage units that can be easily integrated into consumer grids by plugging into outlets, featuring smart plugs with multiple safety mechanisms and regionalization, allowing safe charging and discharging, and intelligent control systems for efficient energy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If centralized battery storage systems are used, then energy storage capacity is provided, but the systems are inefficient, costly, and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized battery storage system into multiple distributed energy storage units that can be independently controlled and managed. Each unit operates autonomously but can coordinate with others, transforming a single large-scale storage problem into multiple manageable smaller units that improve overall system efficiency and controllability.
2Quantity of substance
If centralized battery storage systems are used, then energy storage capacity is provided, but the systems are costly and occupy huge warehouse space
Solution Approach 1:
The system breaks down large centralized storage into multiple smaller distributed units that can be deployed in existing consumer spaces rather than requiring huge warehouse facilities. This segmentation reduces infrastructure costs and simplifies deployment while maintaining total energy storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy storage units are designed to be self-contained with integrated control systems that automatically manage charging, discharging, and grid interaction without requiring complex external infrastructure or skilled operational resources, thereby reducing deployment and operational costs.
3Quantity of substance
If centralized battery storage systems are used, then energy storage is provided, but the systems are very hard to maintain and control
Solution Approach 1:
Each distributed energy storage unit includes its own control system and intelligence, allowing independent monitoring and adjustment. This segmentation makes the system easier to control and maintain compared to a single large centralized system, as issues can be isolated and addressed at the individual unit level.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors battery cell conditions and provides real-time feedback to adjust charging and discharging operations. This feedback mechanism prevents cell imbalance and maintains optimal performance, making the system easier to control and reducing maintenance requirements.
4Quantity of substance
If centralized battery storage systems are used, then energy storage is provided, but individual energy storage cells easily become unbalanced causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the state of charge and voltage of each battery cell and provides real-time feedback to adjust charging current distribution. This feedback mechanism detects and corrects cell imbalance early, preventing malfunction and maintaining system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies slightly different charging rates to individual cells based on their specific state, rather than uniform charging. This partial differentiation in charging action prevents overcharging of weaker cells and maintains balance across the entire battery pack, improving reliability.
5Quantity of substance
If centralized battery storage systems are used, then energy storage is provided, but the systems cannot respond quickly to demand events
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple distributed energy storage units can simultaneously respond to demand events, providing faster aggregate response compared to a single centralized system. The modular architecture allows parallel operation and quicker deployment of storage capacity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts the operation of individual energy storage units based on real-time grid conditions and demand events. This dynamic response capability allows the system to quickly scale storage output up or down as needed, improving response speed to changing conditions.
6Quantity of substance
If centralized battery storage systems are used, then energy storage is provided, but the systems store electricity at overall loss due to AC to DC conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters of the power conversion by using high-efficiency bidirectional inverters that minimize AC-DC-AC conversion losses. By optimizing conversion parameters and using advanced power electronics, the system reduces energy loss while maintaining the necessary energy storage and release functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A smart energy storage system is described. The system includes a smart energy storage unit coupled to a selected circuit of a local electric grid, and configured for being charged so as to withdraw and store energy from the local electric grid, and discharged for supplying energy to the local electric grid. The smart energy storage unit includes an energy storage cell configured for being charged so as to withdraw and store energy from the local electric grid, and discharged for supplying energy to the local grid, and a storage cell management unit for controlling the energy storage cell.