IP Library Granted Patent US 9,979,195
Granted Patent B2
US 9,979,195 · App. 14/609,528 · Granted May 22, 2018

Power distribution in energy storage farms

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,979,195
App. No.
14/609,528
Granted
May 22, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, a method of distributing power among a plurality of energy storage systems in an energy storage farm may generally include receiving a power distribution input associated with a power amount to be received by or delivered from the energy storage farm, determining an initial power value for each energy storage system based at least in part on a state of charge associated with the energy storage system, determining an unallocated power value for the energy storage farm based at least in part on the received power request and the initial power values of the energy storage systems, determining an updated power value for each energy storage system based at least in part on the unallocated power value, and controlling the operation of the energy storage farm such that each energy storage system delivers or receives an amount of power equal to its determined updated power value.

Claims (40)

1. A method of distributing power among a plurality of energy storage systems in an energy storage farm, each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems having at least one energy storage device, the method comprising:

identifying, by one or more processors, each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems as a charge contributor or a discharge contributor based, at least in part, on a charge contributor threshold that defines a maximum number of energy storage systems allowed to be simultaneously identified as charge contributors;

receiving, at the processor(s), a power distribution input associated with an amount of power to be delivered from or received by the energy storage farm;

determining, by the processor(s), an initial power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems based at least in part on a state of charge associated with a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems;

determining, by the processor(s), an unallocated power value for the energy storage farm based at least in part on the power distribution input and the initial power values determined for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems;

determining, by the processor(s), an updated power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems based at least in part on the unallocated power value, the updated power value for at least one energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems corresponding to an increase in the initial power value determined for the at least one energy storage system; and

controlling, by the processor(s), the operation of the energy storage farm such that each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems delivers or receives an amount of power equal to the updated power output value determined for a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the initial power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems is determined as a function of both the power distribution input and the state of charge associated with a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the initial power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems is determined such that the initial power value does not exceed a power capability associated with a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unallocated power value corresponds to the difference between the power distribution input and the sum of the initial power values for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updated power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems is determined based at least in part on a power capability associated with a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining the updated power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems comprises:

determining a remaining power capability associated with each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems based at least in part on the initial power value determined for a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems;

determining a distribution value associated with each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems based at least in part on the remaining power capability of a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems; and

determining the updated power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems based on the unallocated power value and the distribution value for a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the remaining power capability associated with each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems corresponds to the difference between the power capability associated with a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems and the initial power value determined for the corresponding energy storage system.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the distribution value associated with each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems is determined as a function of both the remaining power capability for a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems and the sum of the remaining power capabilities determined for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power distribution input corresponds to a charging input associated with an amount of power to be received by the energy storage farm, the initial and updated power values corresponding to power input values for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power distribution input corresponds to a power request associated with an amount of power to be discharged from the energy storage farm, the initial and updated power values corresponding to power output values for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the initial power value is determined as a function of both the power distribution input and a normalized state of charge associated with a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems, wherein the normalized state of charge is determined by dividing the state of charge of the corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems by the sum of the states of charge of every other energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems in the energy storage farm.

12. An energy storage farm, comprising:

a plurality of energy storage systems, each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems having at least one energy storage device; and

a control system configured to perform one or more operations, the one or more operations comprising:

identifying each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems as a charge contributor or a discharge contributor based, at least in part, on a charge contributor threshold that defines a maximum number of energy storage systems allowed to be simultaneously identified as charge contributors;

receiving a power distribution input associated with an amount of power to be delivered from or received by the energy storage farm;

determining an initial power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems based at least in part on a state of charge associated with a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems;

determining an unallocated power value for the energy storage farm based at least in part on the power distribution input and the initial power values determined for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems;

determining, by the processor(s), an updated power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems based at least in part on the unallocated power value, the updated power value for at least one energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems corresponding to an increase in the initial power value determined for the at least one energy storage system; and

controlling, by the processor(s), the operation of the energy storage farm such that each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems delivers or receives an amount of power equal to the updated power output value determined for a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

13. The energy storage farm of claim 12 , wherein the initial power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems is determined as a function of both the power distribution input and the state of charge associated with a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

14. The energy storage farm of claim 13 , wherein the initial power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems is determined such that the initial power value does not exceed a power capability associated with a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

15. The energy storage farm of claim 12 , wherein the unallocated power value corresponds to the difference between the power distribution input and the sum of the initial power values for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

16. The energy storage farm of claim 12 , wherein the updated power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems is determined based at least in part on a power capability associated with a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

17. The energy storage farm of claim 16 , wherein the power capability associated with each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems comprises the total amount of power in a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems that is available for charge or discharge.

18. The energy storage farm of claim 16 , wherein determining the updated power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems comprises:

determining a remaining power capability associated with each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems based at least in part on the initial power value determined for a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems;

determining a distribution value associated with each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems based at least in part on the remaining power capability of a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems; and

determining the updated power value for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems based on the unallocated power value and the distribution value for a corresponding energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

19. The energy storage farm of claim 12 , wherein the power distribution input corresponds to a charging input associated with an amount of power to be received by the energy storage farm, the initial and updated power values corresponding to power input values for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

20. The energy storage farm of claim 12 , wherein the power distribution input corresponds to a power request associated with an amount of power to be discharged from the energy storage farm, the initial and updated power values corresponding to power output values for each energy storage system of the plurality of energy storage systems.

Assignments (5)
QUITCLAIM ASSIGNMENT Recorded Sep 18, 2025
From: EDISON INNOVATIONS LLC
To: GLACIER POINT INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 072941/0226 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2025
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 070636/0815 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 26, 2025
From: GE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
To: DOLBY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 070643/0907 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: DOLBY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
To: EDISON INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 070293/0273 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2015
From: DJAN-SAMPSON, PATRICK OSAE; CUTRIGHT, RICHARD HAYES; KAUCIC, ROBERT AUGUST; WEBB, JOSHUA PAUL
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 034850/0563 →