Portable Energy Storage Buffering for Subterranean Peak Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subterranean field operations face power outages and unreliable power delivery due to peak demand exceeding the capacity of remote transmission/distribution lines, leading to insufficient electric power supply for equipment.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid power system comprising a utility power source, a portable energy storage device module, and an on-site substation, controlled by a system that releases reserve power from the module to match the demand level of field equipment, ensuring stable power delivery by combining utility and reserve power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If field equipment operates at peak demand levels, then power output meets equipment needs, but transmission/distribution line capacity is exceeded causing outages
Solution Approach 1:
The portable energy storage device module stores energy in advance during periods of low demand, preparing reserve power before peak demand occurs. This preliminary energy accumulation allows the system to meet peak power needs without exceeding transmission line capacity, preventing outages while maintaining reliable power delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable energy storage device module acts as an intermediary between the utility power source and field equipment. It buffers the mismatch between limited transmission line capacity and peak equipment demand by releasing stored energy during high-demand periods, thereby maintaining power delivery reliability without requiring upgrades to transmission infrastructure.
2Reliability
If transmission/distribution line capacity is increased to meet peak demand, then power delivery reliability improves, but infrastructure cost and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power delivery system is segmented into multiple components: utility power source, portable energy storage module, and field equipment. This segmentation allows the energy storage module to handle peak demand locally, eliminating the need to increase transmission/distribution line capacity and reducing overall infrastructure complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of changing the physical capacity parameters of transmission/distribution lines, the system changes the temporal distribution of power flow by using energy storage. Power is delivered at different rates at different times - lower during charging periods and higher during discharging periods - allowing peak demand to be met without upgrading line capacity infrastructure.
3Reliability
If utility power setpoint is limited to prevent overloading lines, then transmission line safety is maintained, but power sufficiency during peak demand deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The portable energy storage device module performs preliminary energy accumulation during periods when utility power is delivered at setpoint levels. This advance energy storage ensures that when peak demand occurs and utility power remains limited to safe levels, the stored energy supplements the utility power to maintain sufficient total power delivery to field equipment.
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
The system effectively manages peak power demands, preventing outages by dynamically delivering utility and reserve power to meet the electrical needs of field equipment, thereby ensuring continuous and reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a portable energy storage device module configured to provide reserve power
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing power to field equipment for subterranean field can include a utility power source that provides utility power having a setpoint value, a portable energy storage device module configured to provide reserve power, where the portable energy storage device module is mounted on a movable platform, an on-site substation that is configured to receive the utility power from the utility power source and the reserve power from the portable energy storage device module, and a controller configured to determine, at a time, that a demand level of the field equipment exceeds the setpoint value, control the portable energy storage device module to release the reserve power to the on-site substation, and control the on-site substation to deliver the utility power at the setpoint value and the reserve power at a remaining level to the field equipment.