# 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. - **Patent:** US 10480867 - **Original title:** Combined heating power and cooling apparatus with energy storage type adapted to an active distribution network and its method - **Owner:** Tsinghua University - **Granted:** 2019 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 2 - **Field:** energy, telecommunications, mechanical, software ## What it does 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 does NOT 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. ## 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 ## 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. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Smart Energy System for Power, Heating, and Cooling Grids cover? 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. ### Who owns patent US 10480867? Tsinghua University owns this patent, granted in 2019. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on December 10, 2035, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 10480867 cited by? This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? 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. ### What does this patent NOT 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." **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10480867/combined-heating-power-and-cooling-apparatus-with-energy-storage-type-adapted-to **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10480867 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Heated Water and Compressed Air Generate Electricity](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11532949/system-for-energy-storage-and-electrical-power-generation) — This patent describes a system that stores energy as compressed air and generates electricity by injecting that air into heated water, creating an upward flow that drives a hydro-electric turbine. - [Managing Power with Different Types of Batteries in an Energy Storage System](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10756544/energy-storage-system-and-management-method-thereof) — This patent describes an energy storage system that uses multiple types of batteries, each with different charging and discharging speeds, to efficiently manage power from various sources like solar panels or the main power grid for different electricity needs. - [How Rondo Energy Stores Electricity as High-Temperature Industrial Heat](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12486789/spacex-structures-philosophy) — A system that converts cheap renewable electricity into continuous, high-temperature heat for factories by using two stages of thermal storage units that can charge and discharge independently. - [How an EV Charging Station Manages Power from Batteries and the Grid](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9168838/charging-control-system-and-charging-control-method) — This patent describes a smart charging system for electric vehicles that decides whether to power cars from a local battery or the main electricity grid, and when to recharge that local battery, to help balance power demand. - [How to Smartly Manage Power in Small Grids with Renewable Energy](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11095127/method-for-real-time-scheduling-of-multi-energy-complementary-micro-grids-based-) — This patent describes a method for quickly and efficiently planning how different energy sources (like solar, wind, and batteries) work together in a small, local power grid, especially when renewable energy output changes unexpectedly.