Method of controlling storage battery, apparatus for controlling storage battery, and electric power control system

1. A method of controlling a high-temperature storage battery connected to an electric power system after supplying electric power from an electric power supply to a heater to provide thermal energy to the storage battery during activation of the storage battery, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring a temperature of the storage battery;

determining whether the measured temperature of the storage battery is equal to or lower than a predetermined reference temperature; and

charging and discharging the storage battery with charging and discharging electric power based on a predetermined operating process for the storage battery; and

controlling the charging and discharging when the temperature of the storage battery is equal to or lower than the predetermined reference temperature,

wherein:

in the step of controlling the charging and discharging, the storage battery is charged and discharged with charging and discharging electric power, which is a sum of the charging and discharging electric power based on the predetermined operating process for the storage battery and charging and discharging electric power corresponding to charging and discharging cycles in which each of a continuous charging time is 1 hour or shorter and each of a continuous discharging time is 1 hour or shorter, for thereby generating thermal energy in the storage battery to increase the temperature of the storage battery to be at least equal to the reference temperature without supplying electric power to the heater.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein controlling charging and discharging of electric power from the storage battery in the charging and discharging cycles further comprises;

determining a differential signal based on a difference between the frequency of the electric power system and a reference frequency, and

charging and discharging electric power from the storage battery based on the determined differential signal in the predetermined operating process for the storage battery.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein controlling charging and discharging of electric power from the storage battery in the charging and discharging cycles further comprises;

determining a high-frequency component of the differential signal; and

charging and discharging electric power from the storage battery based on the determined high-frequency component of the differential signal in the predetermined operating process for the storage battery.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the high-frequency component is extracted by a high-pass filter having a cut-off frequency of 1/3600 Hz or lower.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein controlling charging and discharging of electric power from the storage battery in the charging and discharging cycles further comprises:

determining a differential signal based on a difference between electric power generated by the electric power system and electric power demands for the electric power system; and

charging and discharging electric power from the storage battery based on the determined differential signal in the predetermined operating process for the storage battery.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein controlling charging and discharging of electric power from the storage battery in the charging and discharging cycles further comprises:

determining a high-frequency component of the differential signal; and

charging and discharging electric power from the storage battery based on the determined high-frequency component of the differential signal in the predetermined operating process for the storage battery.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the high-frequency component is extracted by a high-pass filter having a cut-off frequency of 1/3600 Hz or lower.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein controlling charging and discharging of electric power from the storage battery in the charging and discharging cycles further comprises:

determining a differential signal based on a difference between determining a differential signal based on a difference between electric power generated by a natural-energy-based electric generating apparatus connected to the electric power system and planned output electric power; and

charging and discharging electric power from the storage battery based on the determined differential signal in the predetermined operating process for the storage battery.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein controlling charging and discharging of electric power from the storage battery in the charging and discharging cycles further comprises:

determining a high-frequency component of the differential signal; and

charging and discharging electric power from the storage battery based on the determined high-frequency component of the differential signal in the predetermined operating process for the storage battery.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the high-frequency component is extracted by a high-pass filter having a cut-off frequency of 1/3600 Hz or lower.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising adjusting an amount of thermal energy supplied to the storage battery by one of increasing and reducing an average amplitude of the charging and discharging electric power.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising adjusting an amount of thermal energy supplied to the storage battery in the charging and discharging cycles by one of increasing and reducing a ratio of a time during which the charging and discharging cycles are performed to a time during which the charging and discharging cycles are not performed within a time zone in which the storage battery is in a standby state.

13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

establishing a target temperature Tb that is to be achieved by controlling charging and discharging of the storage battery with the sum of the charging and discharging electric power in the predetermined operating process for the storage battery; and

establishing a target temperature Tc that is to be achieved by controlling a supply of electric power to a heater,

wherein the target temperature Tb and the target temperature Tc satisfy the relationship Tb>Tc.

14. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

establishing a predetermined temperature that is an upper-limit temperature at which the storage battery is allowed to be charged and discharged; and

stopping the charging and discharging of the storage battery with the sum of the charging and discharging electric power in the predetermined operating process for the storage battery when the temperature of the storage battery becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature.