Patent ID: 7622816
Filing Date: 2009-11-24
Classification: F03D,F05B,H02J,Y02A,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A power control interface between a power output of an unstable power source such as a wind farm having an expected normal output level of power output during average operating conditions and a power transmission line, comprising: (a) an electrical energy storage coupled between the unstable power source and the power transmission line to store its excess power output when it is above a normal output level of the unstable power source and to release stored electrical energy to add to its power output when it is below the normal output level of the unstable power source; (b) a control system which includes a unstable power source monitoring means, a transmission line monitoring means, and a control means including an electronic compensation module coupled to the electrical energy storage for operating the electrical energy storage to store excess power output as stored electrical energy and to release stored electrical energy as added power output in accordance with signals from said unstable power source monitoring means and said transmission line monitoring means, wherein said electrical energy storage is configured to have a relatively small storage capacity sufficient to accommodate power fluctuations typically expected to be encountered in a narrow band range of fluctuations of the unstable power source; and (c) said electronic compensation module being operated in response to a narrow band range of fluctuations of the unstable power source so as to release electrical energy stored in the electrical energy storage to add to the power output to the power transmission line when the power output of the unstable power source is below its normal output level, and to store excess power output from the unstable power source in the electrical energy storage when the power output of the unstable power source is above its normal output level, whereby operation of the electronic compensation module in the narrow-band range of fluctuations enables use of electrical energy storage with a relatively small storage capacity to reduce energy storage costs.