Smart Energy System for Power, Heating, and Cooling Grids

This patent describes a complex energy system that combines electricity generation, heating, and cooling with energy storage to help power grids manage their load more flexibly.

What it covers

The patent details a combined heating, power, and cooling (CHPC) apparatus designed for an "active distribution network" (a smart power grid). This system includes a "generation apparatus" (like a power plant engine) connected to a "generator" to make electricity. It uses various "flue gas-water heat exchangers" to capture heat from the generation process. Crucially, it incorporates both a "waste heat recovering and absorbing heat pump" and an "energy storing electric heat pump," along with "high temperature energy storing canister" and "low temperature energy storing canister" for storing heat and cold. This setup allows the system to adjust how much electricity it puts onto the grid, helping the grid handle changes in demand, rather than being stuck in older modes where electricity output was solely determined by heating or cooling needs. For example, during times of low electricity demand but high heating needs, the system can store excess heat instead of generating more electricity than the grid requires.

What it doesn't cover

• —Combined heating, power, and cooling systems that do not include specific energy storage components like "high temperature energy storing canister" and "low temperature energy storing canister."
• —Energy systems that do not incorporate both a "waste heat recovering and absorbing heat pump" and an "energy storing electric heat pump."
• —Systems that do not use "flue gas-water heat exchangers" to recover heat from the generation apparatus.
• —Power generation systems that cannot actively regulate their generated electricity to participate in grid load management.
• —Simple combined heat and power (CHP) systems that operate solely by "determining electricity based on heat" or "determining electricity based on cooling."

The clever bit

The innovation lies in breaking the traditional "determining electricity based on heat" or "determining electricity based on cooling" operation. By integrating specific energy storage and heat pump components, the system gains the flexibility to regulate its electricity output to the grid, allowing it to participate in grid load regulation independently of its immediate heating and cooling demands.

Why it matters

Modern power grids, especially those integrating renewable energy, need to be more flexible. This patent addresses a key challenge in traditional combined heat and power systems: their inability to easily adjust electricity output independently of heating and cooling demands. By adding sophisticated energy storage and heat pumps, the system can provide stable power to an "active distribution network" while still efficiently providing heating and cooling, which is vital for grid stability and energy efficiency.

Real-world examples

• 1.District heating and cooling networks with integrated power generation
• 2.Smart grid energy management systems
• 3.Industrial combined heat and power (CHP) plants
• 4.Microgrids with thermal and electrical storage