Power conditioning

Citation

Hollingum, J. (2001), "Power conditioning", Sensor Review, Vol. 21 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2001.08721bad.013

Power conditioning

Power conditioning

Keyword: Energy

Inventor: Alfred F. Mistr Jr (USA)Patent number: US6153943Publication date: 28 November 2000Title: Power conditioning apparatus with energy conversion and storage

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that allows an energy user to more efficiently address an unbundled and deregulated energy market and to take advantage of open, private access to electrical transmission systems and to utilize computer communication techniques to provide a more self-sufficient energy user. It is another object to provide an apparatus that enhances the flexibility and efficiency of a power consumer and the interconnected power providing system by allowing the user to have an efficient spinning reserve of power, by providing the capability of a user to shape the load, thereby reducing the spinning reserve requirement of the interconnected system, and to sell excess power and to control transportation costs. Since the present invention allows a user to purchase power from the most efficient source, the present invention promotes efficiency throughout the power generation and power transportation industry. The apparatus can store electrical energy, fossil fuel energy, or both in the form of a compressed gas, which may then be used alone or in combination with fossil fuel energy to generate conditioned electrical power. Another object of the invention is to provide a method for converting and storing electrical energy, fossil fuel energy, or both for later use in the generation of conditioned electrical power, and to provide a method wherein the energy so stored is usable as a back-up power source to provide uninterrupted conditioned electrical power in the event of a failure not only of the primary electrical power source, but also of the transmission or distribution system required for power delivery. The fossil fuel energy source may be in the form of natural gas. The references here to compressing and expanding gas are meant to refer to air or some other non-fuel gas and are not to imply compression, and storage and expansion of fossil fuel gas. A power conditioning apparatus with energy conversion and storage capabilities is provided for use to supplement power supplied to a load from a commercial power source, to operate using electrical power from an electrical power source, to operate using fossil fuel from a fuel power source, and to provide an auxiliary power source, power conditioning and load shaping. The power conditioning apparatus includes a rotary power shaft, a compression turbine connected to the rotary power shaft for being driven by the rotary power shaft, an expansion turbine connected to the rotary power shaft for driving the rotary power shaft, a motor/generator connected to the rotary power shaft for selectively driving and being driven by the rotary power shaft, and a gas storage reservoir selectively connectable to the compression turbine and the expansion turbine. The present invention also includes an assembly operatively connected to the compression turbine and the expansion turbine to reduce or minimize losses, while maintaining the compression turbine and the expansion turbine rotation at a nominal operational speed, an electrical circuit for providing electrical communication between the motor/generator, the power source and the load, and an arrangement for controlling the operation of the apparatus. The control arrangement includes an assembly for monitoring electrical and mechanical conditions within the power conditioner, an assembly for monitoring the power supply and an assembly for controlling electrical and mechanical control devices associated with the power conditioning apparatus.