Patent Publication Number: US-2018034299-A1

Title: Hybrid interactive storage system and method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/117,271 filed on Feb. 17, 2015. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/037,290, filed Feb. 26, 2008, titled “Portable Power Supply” and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/917,128, filed Nov. 1, 2010, titled “Portable Alternating Current Inverter Having Reduced Impedance Losses,” both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This description relates to a hybrid interactive storage system and method. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one general aspect, an appliance includes an electrical connection to receive power from a mains line through an electrical grid to operate the appliance. The appliance includes at least one battery to supply power to operate the appliance, a battery charging circuit for charging the at least one battery and a controller. The controller is programmed to determine when to use power from the mains line to operate the appliance and/or to charge the at least one battery and determine when to use power from the at least one battery to operate the appliance and/or to supply power back to the electrical grid. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the appliance may further include a sensor that is configured to sense a loss of power from the mains line, where the controller is programmed to cause the at least one battery to supply power to operate the appliance and to send a signal to open a disconnect switch to prevent the at least one battery from supplying power back to the electrical grid in response to the sensor sensing the loss of power from the mains line. The controller may be configured to cause the at least one battery to supply power to at least one additional appliance in response to the sensor sensing the loss of power from the mains line. The electrical connection may include a mains line cord, where the mains line cord is configured to receive power from the mains line and to supply power from the at least one batter to the at least one additional appliance. 
     The appliance may further include a communications module that is configured to communicate with a power meter. The at least one battery may be a removable and replaceable component of the appliance. The appliance may be a refrigerator. The appliance may be a washing machine. 
     In another general aspect, a method for selling power to a power supplier from energy stored in at least one battery of an appliance includes determining, by a controller in the appliance, when to use power from a mains line through an electrical grid to operate the appliance and/or to charge the at least one battery, buying power from the power supplier through the electrical grid to power the appliance from the mains line in response to the controller determining to use power from the mains line through the electrical grid to operate the appliance and/or to charge the at least one battery, determining, by the controller, when to use power from the at least one battery to operate the appliance and/or to supply power back to the electrical grid and selling the power to the power supplier through the electrical grid from the energy stored in the at least one battery of the appliance in response to the controller determining to use power from the at least one battery to operate the appliance and/or to supply power back to the electrical grid. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the appliance may be a refrigerator. 
     In another general aspect, a method of selling power includes selling power to an end user for use by the user in an end user building, buying power from the end user, where the power from the end user is supplied from at least one battery of an appliance to an electrical grid and re-selling the power bought from the end user to other end users. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the appliance may be a refrigerator. 
     In another general aspect, a method for distributing power to a building electrical grid from energy stored in at least one battery of an appliance having a mains cord line includes determining, by a controller in the appliance, when to use power from a mains line through an electrical grid to operate the appliance and/or to charge the at least one battery, buying power from the power supplier through the electrical grid to power the appliance from the mains line in response to the controller determining to use power from the mains line through the electrical grid to operate the appliance and/or to charge the at least one battery, determining, by the controller, when to use power from the at least one battery to operate the appliance and/or to distribute power to the building electrical grid to power at least one additional appliance and distributing the power to the building electrical grid through the mains line cord from the energy stored in the at least one battery of the appliance in response to the controller determining to use power from the at least one battery to operate the appliance and/or to distribute power to the building electrical grid. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the appliance may be a refrigerator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system for a hybrid interactive storage system. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating example operations of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an example process for selling power. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an example process for powering a building grid circuit from an appliance having at least one battery. 
         FIG. 5  is a graphic representation of an exemplary appliance of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This document describes systems and techniques for hybrid interactive storage. In one example implementation, a household or building appliance, or simply appliance, (e.g., a refrigerator, a washing machine, a dryer, an HVAC system, assembly line equipment, a computer server, or other appliance or equipment) is configured to accept power from both the mains line and one or more rechargeable batteries or battery packs. The appliance may include one or more of the rechargeable batteries or battery packs, where the batteries or battery packs may be a modular component of the appliance that can be removed and replaced. In this manner, the appliance may be powered by the mains line, which is supplied from the electrical grid, and/or the appliance may be powered by the batteries. The mains line may provide power to operate the appliance and/or to recharge the batteries. 
     As described in more detail below, the batteries may be sized and configured to power not only the one appliance, but also other household appliances, devices and equipment using the internal building grid circuit. Also, the batteries may be sized and configured to power not only the one appliance but upon removal from the appliance, also power other household appliance, devices and equipment, including portable power tools. Additionally, as described in more detail below, the battery—through the appliance—may be configured to provide power back to the electrical grid using the energy stored in the batteries. In this manner, the end user of the appliance is able to sell power back to a power supplier with the energy stored in the batteries of the appliance. 
     The appliance may be configured to operate in various different modes. For instance, in one mode of operation, the appliance receives and operates using power from the mains line from the electrical grid and, at the same time, charges the batteries in the appliance. The appliance includes one or more components, such as a controller and/or a sensor, to determine when and where to receive power for operating the appliance. The controller may be configured to cause the appliance to receive power from the mains line during times of low grid cost or low demand power times, which may occur at various times throughout the day and night. During this time, the controller is configured to use power from the mains line to charge the batteries in the appliance using a charging circuit. In this manner, the appliance uses power from the grid during low cost times to both operate the appliance and to charge the batteries, where the batteries store the energy for later use, including for selling the energy back to the power supplier through the electrical grid. Thus, the appliance user is buying power from the grid when cost rates for the power from the grid are the lowest. 
     In a similar mode of operation, the appliance receives power from the mains line from the electrical grid while the appliance is not operating and uses the received power to charge the batteries in the appliance using a charging circuit. 
     In a different mode of operation, the appliance receives and operates using power from the batteries. The controller may be configured to cause the appliance to receive power from the batteries during times of high grid cost or peak demand times, which may occur at various times throughout the day and night. During this time, the controller is configured to use the power from the batteries to operate the appliance for a period of time (e.g., 3 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, other periods of time, etc.) using the energy stored in the batteries. The appliance may include an inverter to convert the DC battery output to an AC signal. In this manner, the appliance uses power from the batteries during high grid cost or peak demand times. Thus, the appliance user is not buying power from the grid when cost rates for the power from the grid are highest. 
     In the same mode of operation, the appliance may be configured to supply power from the batteries back to the grid. The appliance user may sell the power from the batteries back to a power supplier connected to the electrical grid. In this manner, the appliance uses power from the grid to charge the batteries at low cost times and uses power from the batteries to run the appliance and to sell power from the batteries back to the electrical grid at higher costs. In a similar mode of operation, the appliance may be configured to supply power from the batteries back to the grid, whether or not the batteries are being used to operate the appliance simultaneously. 
     In some implementations, the controller is configurable to switch between the grid supplying the power to the appliance and the batteries supplying power to the appliance based on a given time of day. In other implementations, the controller is configured to monitor the cost of power being delivered to the building (e.g., home, office, factory, warehouse, etc.) and the controller determines when to use the mains line power and when to use battery power based on the monitored cost. 
     In another mode of operation, the appliance may be configured to sense a loss of power from the mains line and to switch to battery power in response to sensing the loss of the mains line power. For example, the controller may sense the loss of power from the mains line and cause the appliance to switch to battery power in response to sensing the loss of the mains line power. The controller also may open a disconnect switch, which may be part of a household panel breaker or otherwise located between the appliance and power from the mains line. For instance, power from the mains line may flow from the electrical grid into a disconnect switch and then into a breaker panel for distribution throughout the building including to the appliance. In this manner, for safety reasons, the appliance would not supply power back to the electrical grid when there is a loss of power on the grid. Thus, during a power outage, the appliance is still powered and running without the need for another source of energy such as a separate generator. 
     Additionally, in some implementations, the appliance may be configured to deliver power from the stored energy in the batteries to other appliances, devices and equipment. The appliance and the other devices and appliances may be electrically connected. For instance, during a sensed loss of mains line power, the appliance may supply power to other appliances and devices using the energy stored in the batteries. Thus, during a power outage, other appliances and devices may still receive power without the need for another source of energy such as a separate generator. Also, during times of peak grid demand or high grid cost, the appliance may use the energy stored in the batteries to power itself and other appliances and devices, thus reducing the cost to deliver power to these other appliances and devices. 
     One advantage of an appliance having a battery or battery packs that are configured to function as described herein is that the infrastructure demand on the grid may be reduced. In this manner, the appliance includes the infrastructure components, including the batteries, so that the grid does not need to upgrade or provide the infrastructure components, such as banks of batteries, at other locations on the power grid. When the batteries are placed in the appliance, it eliminates the need for infrastructure upgrades on the grid upstream of the batteries. For instance, it may eliminate the need for small upgrades such as reducing the need to have a heavy gauge power cord, reducing the need to upgrade circuit breakers, reducing the need to upgrade grid substations or reducing the need to upgrade grid transformers. 
     In one technique, an end user purchases the appliance having the alternate battery power supply. The user may register and sign up online with a power supply provider to sell power back to the power supply provider and/or to receive any offered rebates from the supplier or other party, including any government-sponsored rebates. In one implementation, an amount of power provided by the user back to the power supply provider may be measured through a meter at the building. The power sold by the user back to the power supplier may be monetized in the form of a credit to offset the cost of the power purchased by the user from the power supplier or in other forms of compensation. 
     In one technique, the power supplier may offer to provide and sell power to the user from the grid. In one implementation, the power supplier also may be the appliance vendor or a third party having a business relationship with the appliance vendor. The power supplier may purchase lower cost power from various sources and sell the power to the appliance user at a higher rate. Additionally, the power supplier may purchase power from the user through the energy stored in the batteries of the appliance and re-sell that purchased power to other users. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system  100  for a hybrid interactive storage system. The system is referred to as a hybrid interactive storage system because the system is capable of receiving power from both the mains line and batteries. The system  100  is interactive because the appliance is capable of both receiving (or buying) power from a power supplier as well as supplying (or selling) power back to the power supplier. 
     The system  100  includes a power plant  102  and an end user building  104 . The system also includes a power supplier  106 . The power plant  102  may include many different types of energy sources that may be converted to provide power on an electrical grid  108 . The electrical grid  108  includes a distribution network to connect the end user building  104  with the power plant energy sources  102 . 
     In this example, while only a single power plant  102  is illustrated, it is understood that the power plant  102  may represent different forms of power generated by different types of sources. For example, the sources may include coal-fueled power, wind power, solar power, hydro-electric power, nuclear power and other types of power. 
     The power supplier  106  may be a third party intermediary that is in the business of buying and selling power. For instance, the power supplier  106  may buy different types of power from the power plant  102  and supply the purchased power over the electrical grid  108  to the end user building  104 . In the system  100 , the end user building  104  also may supply power back to the electrical grid  108  and sell the power to the power supplier  106 . The power supplier  106  may then re-sell the power purchased from the end user to other end users. In this manner, the power supplier  106  may purchase power back from the end-user building  104 , as discussed briefly above and as discussed in more detail below. 
     The end user building  104  may be any type of building including, for example, a house, an apartment building, a condominium, a business, a townhouse, a factory, a warehouse, or other type of commercial or residential building that may include one or more appliances. In this example, the end user building  104  includes an appliance  110 , one or more other appliances  112  and one or more other electrical and/or electronic devices  114 . The appliance  110 , the other appliances  112  and the other devices  114  all may be electrically wired and connected together. The appliance  110 , the other appliances  112  and the other devices  114  may receive power from the mains line through a breaker panel  116 . These devices may be connected together through electrical wiring  118  as distributed throughout the end user building  104 . The electrical wiring  118  may terminate in electrical outlets (also referred to as wall outlets), which the appliance  110 , the other appliances  112  and the other devices  114  may plug into to receive power. 
     The appliance  110  is configured to receive power from multiple sources. The appliance  110  includes one or more rechargeable batteries or battery packs  120 , a charging circuit  121 , a mains line power cord  122 , a controller  124  and a sensor  126 . Optionally, the appliance  110  also may include a communications module  128  and an inverter  129 . The appliance  110  is configured to receive power from the mains line through a power meter  130 , which may be attached to the outside or inside of the end user building  104 . The mains line power is received by the appliance  110  through the power meter  130  and into the breaker panel  116  through the electrical wiring  118  and the mains line cord  122 , which connects the appliance  110  to the electrical wiring  118  through an electrical outlet (or wall outlet). Additionally and/or alternatively, the appliance  110  may receive power from the batteries  120 . The breaker panel  116 , the electrical wiring  118  and the mains line cord  122  may form an internal building electrical grid. The mains line cord  122  may plug into a building wall outlet and both receive power from the mains line through the mains line cord  122  and supply power from the batteries  120  back out through the same mains line cord  122  for distribution through the building using the building electrical grid and/or for distribution back to the power supplier  106  through the electrical grid  108 . 
     The appliance  110  may be different types of appliances. For instance, in one example implementation, the appliance  110  is a refrigerator. In other example implementations, the appliance  110  may be other appliances such as a washing machine, a dryer, a dish washing machine, an HVAC system, a computer server, factory or assembly line equipment or other typical household (residential) or building (commercial) appliances or equipment. The appliance  110  also could be an energy storage device in and of itself. 
     The other appliances  112  may include an appliance that is different from the appliance  110 . For instance, if the appliance  110  is a refrigerator, then the other appliances  112  may include a microwave oven, a dishwasher, a washing machine, a dryer, an oven, a stovetop or other appliance or equipment, as more fully described above. The other devices  114  may include smaller household appliances or building equipment and devices including an electric coffee maker, other kitchen devices, and any other type of device that may plug into AC mains. 
     The appliance  110  includes the batteries  120 . The batteries  120  may be a modular component of the appliance  110 . When referencing the batteries  120  throughout this document, the batteries  120  may include multiple batteries or battery packs. The batteries  120  may include different battery chemistry types including, for example, lithium ion batteries, liquid metal batteries, flow batteries (e.g., fuel cell batteries), nickel metal hydride batteries, magnesium ion batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, zinc halide batteries and other battery chemistries. The batteries  120  may be sized and configured to power not only the appliance  110  but also one or more of the other appliances  112  and other devices  114  for a period of time. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the battery/batteries  120  may be removable and used to power other devices including portable electronic devices, electrical devices and equipment that may use batteries, including, but not limited to power tools as well as the other appliances  112  and other devices  114 . As shown, the appliance  110  is a refrigerator. The refrigerator  110  includes a cabinet. The refrigerator cabinet includes a front wall (made up of the doors and drawers), a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and two (opposite) side walls  502 . One of the side walls  502  includes an opening  504  exposing a cavity  506  of the cabinet. The cavity  506  includes an electrical/mechanical interface for mating with the removable battery pack  120 . The removable battery pack  120  includes an electrical/mechanical interface configured to mate with the electrical/mechanical interface of the cavity  506 . The appliance electrical/mechanical interface is substantially similar to an electrical/mechanical interface of the other devices (such as the aforementioned power tools) such that the other device may electrically and mechanically mate with the removable battery pack  120  to operate the other device. The batteries  120  may be charged through a charging circuit  121 . As also illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the appliance  110  includes a mains line cord  122  that may plug into a building wall outlet  510  to receive power from the mains line and supply power from the battery pack  120  back out through the same mains line cord  122 , into the wall outlet  510  for distribution to other appliances (not including a battery) that are connected to the building electrical grid. 
     In one example implementation, the batteries  120  are included as a modular component of the appliance  110 . In other example implementations, the batteries  120  may be a separate attached component to the appliance  110 , including a battery bank. The battery bank may be a stand-alone appliance. 
     The appliance  110  is configured to receive power from the batteries  120 . The appliance  110  also may be configured to receive power from both the mains line and the batteries  120 , simultaneously, with each of the sources providing a portion of the power. The appliance also may be configured to receive power from just a single source such as either the mains line or the batteries  120 . In an example where the appliance  110  receives a hybrid of power from both the mains line and the batteries  120 , a power amount may be delivered to provide greater than 120V or greater than 15 amps power for peak loading of the appliance  110 . The appliance may include an inverter  129  to convert the DC battery output to an AC signal for use by the appliance  110  and/or the other appliances  112  and other devices  114 . 
     The controller  124  may determine, in cooperation with the sensor  126 , which source of power to use to power and operate the appliance  110 , as discussed more fully below with respect to various modes of operation. The controller  124  may include a microprocessor or other hardware-type controller that may be programmable to operate the appliance  110  in a specific manner as discussed herein. The controller  124  may include firmware or other application software that enables the functioning and operation of the appliance  110  with respect to receiving and distributing power. The appliance also may include a memory module (not shown), where the memory module may store instructions and/or applications that may be executed and/or run by the controller  124 . 
     The appliance  110  may be configured to operate in various modes. The modes of operation may automatically switch from one mode to another mode through the use of the controller  124  and/or the sensor  126 . In one example mode of operation, the appliance  110  receives power from the mains lines and at the same time charges the batteries  120  from the mains line. The power received from the mains line may be used to both operate the appliance  110  and to charge the batteries  120 , or to just operate the appliance  110  without charging the batteries  120 , or to just charge the batteries  120  without operating the appliance  110 . The charging circuit  121  may be used to charge the batteries  120 . As discussed above, the power comes from a power source such as the power plant  102  and a power supplier  106  through the electrical grid  108  and into the end user building  104  through the power meter  130 , a disconnect switch  132  and the breaker circuits  116 . From the breaker circuits  116 , the power is delivered through the electrical wiring  118  and the mains line cord  122  to the appliance  110 . 
     The power meter  130  measures an amount of power being received from the power plant  102  and the electrical grid  108  as supplied by the power supplier  106 . The appliance  110  may be in wired and/or wireless communication with the power meter  130  through the communications module  128 . The power supplier  106  may use the amount of power measured by the power meter  130  to determine the cost of the power to the end user. 
     In this mode of operation, the appliance  110  is configured to receive power from the mains line at times of low cost and/or low demand from the electrical grid  108 . In one implementation, the controller  124  is configurable to determine the optimal times to receive power from the mains lines to operate the appliance  110  and/or to charge the batteries  120 . The controller  124  may be set or programmed to receive power from the mains line and to operate the appliance  110  and/or charge the batteries  120  during certain periods of time. The controller  124  may simply be programmed to receive power from the mains line during the times of the day when the power cost from the electrical grid is known or expected to be the least expensive. 
     Furthermore, the controller  124  may be a smart controller meaning that the controller  124 , in cooperation with the sensor  126  and the power meter  130 , may calculate when the power cost from the electrical grid is the cheapest instead of simply buying power from the electrical grid  108  during set periods of time. For instance, the controller  124  and the sensor  126  and the power meter  130  may sense when the electrical grid is at a low usage and buy power from the power supplier  106  during those sensed times in response to sensing when and where to receive power for operating the appliance  110  and/or charging the batteries  120 . Thus, the appliance user buys power from the electrical grid  108  and the power supplier  106  when the power costs are the lowest. 
     In another mode of operation, the appliance  110  receives power from the batteries  120 . The controller  124  may be configured to cause the appliance  110  to receive power from the batteries  120  during times of high electrical grid cost or peak demand times, which may occur at various times throughout the day and night. The batteries  120  may be sized to operate the appliance  110  for an extended period of time. Additionally, the batteries  120  may be sized to supply power to the appliance  110  as well as other appliances  112  and the other devices  114  for an extended period of time. The controller  124  may be programmed to run the appliance  110  on the power from the batteries  120  at set periods of time. 
     In other implementations, the controller  124  along with the sensor  126  and the power meter  130  may be programmed to first calculate the optimal time to run the appliance  110  using the batteries, e.g., at times when the electrical grid  108  and the power being supplied through the mains line is the most expensive or at high cost. In this manner, the controller  124  is not purchasing power from the power supplier  106  to operate the appliance  110  and/or charge the batteries  120  when the cost of power is higher. Instead, the controller  124  is programmed to use the batteries  122  to operate the appliance  110  during these high cost times. 
     During the mode of operation when the appliance  110  is being powered by the batteries  120 , the batteries  120  also may sell the stored energy back to the power supplier  106  as power. In this manner, the appliance  110  is configured to sell power back to the power supplier during the times of high peak demand and high cost. In operation, the power may flow from the batteries  120 , through the mains line cord  122 , the electrical wiring  118 , and the breaker panel  116  through a disconnect switch  132  and the power meter  130  back to the electrical grid  108  for use and/or resale by the power supplier  106 . In this manner, the internal building electrical grid, including the mains line cord  122 , the electrical wiring  118  and the breaker panel  116  is used to deliver the power from the batteries  120  of the appliance  110  to the electrical grid  108 . The power meter  130  may measure an amount of power flowing from the batteries  120  back onto the electrical grid  108  such that the end user may be appropriately compensated for the sale of the power. 
     The sale of the power from the batteries  120  back to the electrical grid  108  may result in compensation to the end-user in various different ways. For instance, the end user may be credited with an amount for the sale of the power back to the electrical grid  108  where the credit is used to offset the cost of the power purchased from the power supplier  106 . In another example, the end user may receive cash compensation for an amount of the cost to sell the power back to the power supplier  106 . The power meter  130  in conjunction with the controller  124  may calculate and keep a running total of the amount of power sold back to the power supplier  106  so that cash compensation may be provided at the end of a determined period of time. In other implementations, the power supplier  106  may use information collected by the power meter  130  in order to determine an amount of the compensation to the end-user, whether in the form of an offset credit or in the form of cash compensation or in other forms of compensation. 
     During this mode of operation, the appliance  110  is both powering the appliance using the batteries  120  and selling the power from the batteries  120  back to the power supplier  106 . Additionally, the appliance  110  also may supply power to one or more other appliances  112  and one or more other devices  114  at the same time. The length of time the appliance may operate in this mode may vary depending on a size and configuration of the batteries. The controller  124  may determine whether the batteries  120  power only the appliance  110  or power the appliance  110  and sell power back to the power supplier  106  based on information including a state of charge of the batteries  120  and the power requirements of the appliance  110 , the other appliances  112  and/or the one or more other devices  114 . The controller  124  also may determine which of the other appliances  112  and other devices  114  to power using the energy stored in the batteries  120 . 
     In another mode of operation, the appliance  110  may be configured to sense a loss of power from the mains line and to switch to the batteries  120  in response to sensing the loss of mains line power. For example, the sensor  126  and the controller  124  may sense the loss of power from the mains line. When this occurs, the appliance  110  may power itself from the batteries  120 . Additionally, the controller  124  may open the disconnect switch  132  so that power from the batteries  120  does not flow back onto the electrical grid  108  during a power outage. The controller  124  and/or the sensor  126  may sense the loss of power from the mains line and in response to sensing the loss of power send a signal to the disconnect switch  132  to cause the disconnect switch  132  to open. 
     When the appliance  110  senses a loss of power and powers itself using the batteries  120 , the appliance  110  also may provide power to other appliances  112  and other devices  114 . As discussed above, the appliance  110  is electrically connected to the other appliances  112  and other devices  114  through the internal building grid. Thus, the power may flow from the batteries  120  in the appliance  110  through the mains line cord  122  and the electrical wiring  118  back to the breaker panel  116  for distribution to the other appliances  112  and the other devices  114  through the electrical wiring  118  that connects the breaker panel  116  to the other appliances  112  and the other devices  114 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an example flowchart illustrates an example process  200  for selling power to a power supplier from energy stored in at least one battery of an appliance. Process  200  includes determining, by a controller in the appliance, when to use power from the mains line through an electrical grid to operate the appliance and/or to charge the at least one battery ( 210 ). For example, with reference to  FIG. 1 , the controller  124  is configured or programmed to determine when to use power from the mains line through the electrical grid  108  to operate the appliance  110  and/or to charge the batteries  120 . As discussed above, the controller  124  may be programmed to use power from the mains line at certain fixed periods of time each day when the cost of power from the mains line is known to be delivered at a lower cost. The controller  124  also may be programmed to use power from the mains line at varied time during the day based on calculating when the cost of power from the mains line is at a lower cost. 
     Process  200  includes buying power from the power supplier through the electrical grid to power the appliance from the mains line in response to the controller determining to use power from the mains line through the electrical grid to operate the appliance and/or to charge the at least one battery ( 220 ). For example, with reference to  FIG. 1 , when the controller  124  determines to use power from the mains line, then power is bought and used from the power supplier  106  to power the appliance  110  and/or to charge the batteries  120 . 
     Process  200  includes determining, by the controller, when to use the power from the at least one battery to operate the appliance and/or to supply power back to the electrical grid ( 230 ). For example, with reference to  FIG. 1 , the controller  124  is configured or programmed to determine when to use power from the batteries  120  to operate the appliance  110  and/or to supply power back to the electrical grid  108 . As discussed above, the controller  124  may be programmed to use power from the batteries  120  at certain fixed period of time each day when the cost of power from the mains line is known to be delivered at a higher cost. The controller  124  also may be programmed to use power from the batteries  120  at varied times during the day based on calculating when the cost of power from the mains line is at a higher cost. 
     Process  200  includes selling the power to the power supplier through the electrical grid from the energy stored in the at least one battery of the appliance in response to the controller determining to use power from the at least one battery to operate the appliance and/or to supply power back to the electrical grid ( 240 ). For example, with respect to  FIG. 1 , when the controller  124  determines to use power from the batteries  120 , then power is sold back to the power supplier  106  through the electrical grid  108 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an example flowchart illustrates a process  300  for selling power. Process  300  includes selling power to an end user for use by the user in an end user building ( 310 ). For example, with respect to  FIG. 1 , the power supplier  106  may obtain power from the power plant  102 , which may include power from various different sources of energy. The power supplier  106  may sell the power to the end user for use in an end user building  104 . 
     Process  300  includes buying power from the end user, where the power from the end user is supplied from at least one battery of an appliance to an electrical grid ( 320 ). For example, the power supplier  106  may buy power from the end user, where the power from the end user is supplied from the batteries  120  of the appliance  110  to the electrical grid  108 . 
     Process  300  includes re-selling the power bought from the end user to other end users ( 330 ). For example, the power supplier  106  may re-sell the power purchased from the batteries  120  of the appliance  110  to other end users. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , an example flowchart illustrates an example process  400  for distributing power to a building electrical grid from energy stored in at least one battery of an appliance. Process  400  includes determining, by a controller in the appliance, when to use power from the mains line through an electrical grid to operate the appliance and/or to charge the at least one battery ( 410 ). For example, with reference to  FIG. 1 , the controller  124  is configured or programmed to determine when to use power from the mains line through the electrical grid  108  to operate the appliance  110  and/or to charge the batteries  120 . As discussed above, the controller  124  may be programmed to use power from the mains line at certain fixed periods of time each day when the cost of power from the mains line is known to be delivered at a lower cost. The controller  124  also may be programmed to use power from the mains line at varied time during the day based on calculating when the cost of power from the mains line is at a lower cost. 
     Process  400  includes buying power from the power supplier through the electrical grid to power the appliance from the mains line in response to the controller determining to use power from the mains line through the electrical grid to operate the appliance and/or to charge the at least one battery ( 420 ). For example, with reference to  FIG. 1 , when the controller  124  determines to use power from the mains line, then power is bought and used from the power supplier  106  to power the appliance  110  and/or to charge the batteries  120 . 
     Process  400  includes determining, by the controller, when to use the power from the at least one battery to operate the appliance and/or to distribute power to the building electrical grid ( 430 ). For example, with reference to  FIG. 1 , the controller  124  is configured or programmed to determine when to use power from the batteries  120  to operate the appliance  110  and/or to distribute power to the building electrical grid (e.g., mains cord line  122 , electrical wiring  118  and breaker panel  116 ). As discussed above, the controller  124  may be programmed to use power from the batteries  120  at certain fixed period of time each day when the cost of power from the mains line is known to be delivered at a higher cost. The controller  124  also may be programmed to use power from the batteries  120  at varied times during the day based on calculating when the cost of power from the mains line is at a higher cost. 
     Process  400  includes distributing the power to the building grid circuit through the mains line cord from the energy stored in the at least one battery of the appliance in response to the controller determining to use power from the at least one battery to operate the appliance and/or to distribute power to the building electrical grid ( 440 ). For example, with respect to  FIG. 1 , when the controller  124  determines to use power from the batteries  120 , then power may be distributed to the building grid circuit through the mains line cord. 
     Implementations of the various techniques described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Implementations may be implemented as a computer program product, i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. A computer program, such as the computer program(s) described above, can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network. 
     Method steps may be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. Method steps also may be performed by, and an apparatus may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). 
     Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. Elements of a computer may include at least one processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer also may include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry. 
     To provide for interaction with a user, implementations may be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. 
     Implementations may be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front-end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation, or any combination of such back-end, middleware, or front-end components. Components may be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN), e.g., the Internet. 
     While certain features of the described implementations have been illustrated as described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the scope of the embodiments.