Systems and methods for power cogeneration
The invention includes systems and methods for power cogeneration. In certain embodiments the cogeneration systems include one or more units that are modularized; in some of these embodiments, the modules contain components that are integrated and ready for use with a control system that optimizes a result for the cogeneration plant. In some cases, the cogeneration system is part of a network of cogeneration systems.
1. A cogeneration system operably connected to at least one host facility, wherein the cogeneration system comprises a control system, an energy storage system, and a power generation system, wherein
(i) the control system is configured to predict a spike in energy demand, or to rapidly sense a spike in energy demand, of the at least one host facility, and to send one or more signals to the energy storage system and to the power generation system to match power output of the cogeneration system to the spike;
(ii) the energy storage system is configured to match an initial power demand of the energy spike by releasing stored energy during the initial power demand; and
(iii) the power generation system is configured to match the power demand of a later part of the power demand spike, including a peak of the spike.
2. The cogeneration system of claim 1 wherein the energy storage system comprises one or more batteries.
3. The cogeneration system of claim 2 wherein the one or more batteries comprise one or more lithium ion batteries.
4. The cogeneration system of claim 1 wherein the power generation system comprises an internal combustion engine as a prime mover.
5. The cogeneration system of claim 1 wherein the power generation system is sized to match predicted peak power demands for the at least one host facility, rather than being sized to match average power demands for the at least one host facility.
6. The cogeneration system of claim 1 wherein the cogeneration system comprises at least one transportable module.
7. The cogeneration system of claim 6 wherein the at least one transportable module comprises at least part of the energy storage system.
8. The cogeneration system of claim 7 wherein the energy storage system comprises one or more batteries.
9. The cogeneration system of claim 7 wherein the at least part of the energy storage system is situated in otherwise unused space of the transportable module.
10. The cogeneration system of claim 9 wherein the transportable module is a containerized unit that can be loaded onto a truck, ship, or rail transport system and the otherwise unused space comprises space in the floor, wall, or ceiling of the containerized unit, or a combination thereof.
11. The cogeneration system of claim 10 wherein the otherwise unused space comprises a gap between an internal floor of the unit and a base of the unit.
12. The cogeneration system of claim 1 wherein the control system is configured to predict an energy spike for the at least one host facility.
13. The cogeneration system of claim 12 wherein the control system is configured to send a signal to the energy storage system to release energy in anticipation of the predicted spike.
14. A method for matching power output of a cogeneration system to a spike in energy demand of one or more host facilities for the cogeneration system comprising
(i) providing a power generation system for the cogeneration system that is sized to match predicted spikes in energy demand of the one or more host facility rather than to match only predicted average energy demand of the one or more host facilities;
(ii) providing an energy storage system for the cogeneration system that is configured to release energy sufficiently quickly to match an initial increase in energy demand of a spike in energy demand of the one or more host facilities; and
(iii) providing a control system for the cogeneration plant that is configured to sense a spike in energy demand of the one or more host facilities and/or to predict a spike in energy demand of the one or more host facilities, and to send a signal to the energy storage system and to the power generation system to match the spike in energy demand
wherein the control system is configured to learn from the past energy demands of the one or more host facilities and to predict a spike in energy demand for the one or more host facilities based at least in part on said learning and
(a) sends a signal to the energy storage system to match an initial portion of the predicted spike in energy demand; and
(b) sends a signal to the power generation system to match a later portion of the predicted spike in energy demand.