Patent Abstract:
A building energy storage and conversion apparatus includes at least a control unit, an electric power conversion unit, an energy conversion unit and a thermoelectric conversion unit to regulate energy sources of the electric power conversion unit. The energy conversion unit generates cold/heat energy which is stored through a heat storage equipment (for cold/heat energy). The cold/heat energy can be released when needed. When the cold/heat energy is in a surplus state, it can be converted to electric power through the thermoelectric conversion unit or stored in the form of electric power. Thus energy resources can be converted and utilized in an optimal fashion to achieve energy self-sufficiency of a building. Moreover, energy exchange with other buildings in the neighborhood can be done to balance demand and supply. In the event of energy shortage, the needed electric power is obtained from a public power supply system to establish a regional energy exchange mechanism to save energy and achieve flexible use of energy resources inside and outside the building.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a building energy storage and conversion apparatus and particularly to an apparatus to effectively integrate various types of energy resources inside and outside a building and make optimal conversion and utilization thereof to supply energy required in the building to achieve onsite energy self-sufficiency and incorporate with other buildings in the neighborhood to balance energy demand and supply and obtain power from public power supply systems in case needed to establish a regional energy exchange mechanism to save energy and flexibly utilize the energy resources inside and outside the building. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    The energy resources of the earth have been consumed by mankind in the past one hundred years at an alarming speed. The accelerated and voracious consumption of energy resources have caused global warming and climatic change, and seriously threaten the survival of human being. Only through saving and more discreet use of energy can prevent catastrophe from falling to the mankind and keep the earth continuously running in a sustainable manner. 
         [0005]    In order to solve the energy problems many types of renewable energies have been developed, such as solar energy, wind power, fuel cells and the like. One of typical applications is electric power systems adopted on buildings. Refer to  FIG. 1  for a renewable energy conversion approach now widely adopted on buildings. It has an energy apparatus  11  to provide renewable energy (such as solar energy, hydrogen fuel, wind power or the like) and generate electric power supply. It also has a controller  14  to control a converter  13  to convert and select a building power supply system  15  to supply electric power needed. The power supply mainly includes three types: first, power from the energy apparatus  11 ; second, power from a public power supply system  12 ; third, power supplied simultaneously by the two types mentioned above. However, the known energy structure at present still has shortcomings in practice, notably: 
         [0006]    1. In a building, aside from lighting which consumes a greater amount of energy, air conditioning equipments which also consume a great deal of energy often are not included in energy saving items. Due to the building is always thermally affected by external and internal environments, an uncomfortable heated feeling frequently occurs inside the building. This problem has to be overcome through air conditioning. But the air conditioning, aside from providing a comfortable indoor environment, also generates thermal pollution such as consuming energy and producing waste heat. This not only creates ill consequences such as urban heat island effect and greenhouse effect, also seriously contaminates the eco-environment of the earth. It also results in huge waste of energy resources. Moreover, the climate temperature gradually rises due to the waste energy has been constantly discharged into the external environment. As a result, loading of air conditioning equipments increases and operation efficiency is lower. 
         [0007]    2. The known energy schemes of a building mostly focus on conversion of the generated electric power without fully considering better utilization of heat energy in the building and integration of the building and electric power. This is a big loophole in energy resource management. As a result a great deal of investment has been made on generation of electric power and utilization thereof, but heat energy of the building is wasted. And the heat inside and outside the building is not being treated as an energy resource and is poorly used. In many cases the heat inside and outside the building even is treated as waste heat and discharged. Thus energy saving effect cannot be easily achieved in terms of energy resource management. 
         [0008]    3. The renewable energy resources such as solar energy and wind power are constrained by natural conditions, and are not reliable in terms of electricity generation and timing. According the present energy resource management schemes, they can only be used as power supply at the generating instant. In the event that sunlight or wind power is sufficient, surplus electric power may be sold to the public power supply system  12 . But in peak load periods or during the energy apparatus  11  cannot meet power demand, users have to buy electric power from the public power supply system  12 . This results in a power price difference of selling the power at a lower price but buying the power at a higher price. In addition to energy loss incurred to the conversion system, the users do not enjoy their share of benefits. If a scheme can be developed to allow the users to use the surplus electric power onsite, or further convert and store, and balance energy demand and supply with other buildings in the neighborhood to establish a regional energy exchange mechanism, and get supply from the public power supply system  12  for the shortage, a significant portion of power expenditure can be saved. 
         [0009]    Based on previous discussion it is obvious that the conventional energy structure does not have an integrated planning for the energy resources in a building. It also neglects the importance of effectively utilizing the internal and external heat energy of the building and integration of regional electric power. Although the Applicant has submitted R.O.C. patent application No. 91125414 aiming to flexibly use electric power in the off-peak period and store energy through an air-conditioning equipment, and release heat energy during peak hours to balance electric power usage periods, and ultimately save electric power and balance the power in the peak and off-peak periods, it still does not fully utilize the heat energy inside and outside the building, or fully integrate regional electric power to achieve flexible power usage. There are still rooms for improvement. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a building energy storage and conversion apparatus which includes at least a control unit, an electric power conversion unit, an energy conversion unit and a thermoelectric conversion unit. The electric power conversion unit has a power supply which can be regulated through the invention. The energy conversion unit generates cold and heat energy which can be utilized in an optimum fashion according power requirement. The invention also has a heat storage equipment to store heat (storing cold/heat energy), and release the cold/heat energy at a required time through. In the event that surplus cold/heat energy occurs the thermoelectric conversion unit can supply electric power. Thus energy resources can be converted and used in the optimum fashion. As a result, energy supply self-sufficiency can be achieved first for a building. Then balance of energy demand and supply can be accomplished with other buildings in the neighborhood to meet mutual requirements and establish a regional exchange mechanism to meet overall demand and supply. Finally, in the event that the self-generating electric power is not adequate, needed power can be obtained from a public electric power supply system. Thus energy resources can be managed and utilized onsite in a centralized fashion to reduce transmission loss of remote energy transportation. And energy saving effect can be achieved, and energy resources inside and outside the building can be flexibly utilized. 
         [0011]    In one aspect, the electric power conversion unit is controlled by the control unit to control sources of various types of electric power. The electric power sources include at least one power supply, for instance, electric power provided by the public power supply system, electric power provided by the energy apparatus such as electric power converted from solar energy, electric power generated by wind power, electric power generated by fuel cells and electric power converted from other renewable energy sources. 
         [0012]    In another aspect the energy conversion unit includes a heat source equipment and a heat storage equipment. The heat source equipment includes at least a host, a heat generator, a cold generator and an intermediate heat exchanger. The heat storage equipment includes a cold storage device and a heat storage device. 
         [0013]    In yet another aspect, the thermoelectric conversion unit generates electric power by adopting See-back temperature difference thermoelectric effect that generates the electric power by conversion of thermoelectric effect of cold/heat energy temperature difference. 
         [0014]    In yet another aspect, the energy storage and conversion apparatus further include an electricity storage unit to store surplus electric power through batteries. 
         [0015]    The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a conventional energy conversion scheme. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the structure of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the structure of the energy conversion unit of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is flowchart- 1  of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is flowchart- 2  of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the invention in operating conditions. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the structure of a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is flowchart- 1  of the second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is flowchart- 2  of the second embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the energy storage and conversion apparatus  3  according to the invention includes at least a control unit  31 , an electric power conversion unit  32 , an energy conversion unit  33  and a thermoelectric conversion unit  34 . 
         [0026]    The control unit  31  aims to control operations of various units mentioned above to regulate and control optimal processing of storage and conversion of energy resources. 
         [0027]    The electric power conversion unit  32  is controlled by the control unit  31  to control various types of input sources of electric power and provide electric power required by a building B. The power source includes at least one power supply, such as electric power provided by a public power supply system  42 , or electric power provided by an energy apparatus  41  such as electric power converted from solar energy, electric power generated by wind power, electric power generated by fuel cells and electric power converted from other renewable energy sources. 
         [0028]    The energy conversion unit  33  aims to generate cold energy and heat energy and store heat (including cold energy and heat energy), and includes at least a heat source equipment  331  and a heat storage equipment  332 . The heat storage equipment  332  includes at least a cold storage device  3321  and a heat storage device  3322 . 
         [0029]    The thermoelectric conversion unit  34  aims to generate electric power by adopting the See-back temperature difference thermoelectric effect to generate electric power by conversion of thermoelectric effect of cold/heat energy temperature difference. 
         [0030]    The energy storage and conversion apparatus  3  uses the cold/heat energy stored in the heat storage equipment  332 , and directly supplies the stored cold/heat energy to a required cold environment C and a required heat environment H (the cold energy environment, depending on industrial requirements, may be divided into a number of situations such as below 30° C. for industrial use, 0-30° C. or 0-10° C. for commercial use; while heat energy environment may be divided into some other situations such as 50° C. or more for industrial use, and 40° C.-50° C. for commercial and household uses). Moreover, when the stored cold/heat energy is more than the use requirement, the surplus energy can be converted through the thermoelectric conversion unit  34  by applying See-back temperature difference thermoelectric effect to generate electric power. Therefore all or a designated portion of electric power needed in the building B can be supplied to achieve maximum utilization of energy resources in the building. 
         [0031]    Refer to  FIGS. 4 and 5  for process flow  5  of the invention (also referring to  FIGS. 2 and 6 ). When the energy apparatus  41  starts operation (for instance, in the event of generating electric power through solar energy, the energy apparatus  41  receives photo energy of sunshine and converts to electric power), electric power E 1  is generated and transmitted to the electric power conversion unit  32 , and the control unit  31  compares a set value EOS of total electric power requirement of the building B with the electric power E 1  generated by the energy apparatus  41  (namely the control unit  31  is equipped with processing and detection capability). The process flow includes the procedures as follow: 
         [0032]    1. When the value of electric power E 1  generated by the energy apparatus  41  is greater than or equal to the set value EOS of total electric power requirement of the building B, namely E 1 ≧EOS (step  501 ), the electric power E 1  generated by the energy apparatus  41  can meet total electric power requirement EOS of the building B (generally is in off peak periods and electric power requirement in the building is smaller, such as clustered residences in daytime while people have gone to offices or other places). The surplus electric power has to be utilized. Hence the control unit  31  activates the energy conversion unit  33 , and judges whether heat energy Q generated by the energy conversion unit  33  is greater than or equal to a total required heat energy set value QOS (step  502 ) of the building B, and the following processes are executed accordingly: 
         [0033]    (1) in a condition of Q≧QOS, the heat energy is surplus, and the heat storage equipment  332  is activated to store heat (storing cold/heat energy) (step  503 ); when the stored heat amount N reaches a heat storage set value NS, the control unit  31  activates the thermoelectric conversion unit  34  (steps  504  and  505 ), and the cold energy released by the cold storage device  3321  and the heat energy released by the heat storage device  3322  of the heat storage equipment  332  are being used to generate electric power E 2  by the thermoelectric conversion unit  34  through See-back temperature difference thermoelectric effect. The generated electric power E 2  can be converted to DC or AC power to supply the building B. In the event that the sum of the electric power E 1  generated by the energy apparatus  41  and the electric power E 2  generated by the thermoelectric conversion unit  34  is greater than or equal to the set value EOS of total electric power requirement of the building B, namely E 1 +E 2 ≧EOS (step  506 ), the electric power is in a surplus state, and step  507  is executed to determine whether the surplus power to be sold to the public power supply system  42  (step  507 ). If there is a sales contract between the building owner and the public power supply system  42 , step  508  is executed to sell the surplus electric power to the public power supply system; if there is no sales contract, step  509  is executed, namely electric power conversion is stopped. 
         [0034]    (2) If the condition Q≧QOS does not exist, namely Q&lt;QOS (step  510 ), the total required heat energy set value QOS of the building B is greater than the heat energy Q generated by the energy conversion unit  33 , then step  511  is executed, and the heat source equipment  331  directly supplies heat to the heat environment H (or cold environment c) of the building B (including supply of heat energy or cold energy). In the event that the stored heat amount N of the heat storage equipment  332  has reached the heat storage set value NS, it starts to release heat (release cold/heat energy) (steps  512  and  413 ); on the other hand, if the stored heat amount N is less than the heat storage set value NS, the heat storage equipment  332  proceeds heat storing (storing cold/heat energy) (step  514 ). Thus heat storing and releasing processes can be performed at the same time. This is another feature of the invention. 
         [0035]    2. In the event that the condition E 1 ≧EOS does not exist, namely E 1 &lt;EOS, the electric power E 1  generated by the energy apparatus  41  cannot fully meet the set value EOS of total electric power requirement of the building B, and in the event that another condition E 1 +E 2 &lt;EOS also exists, the set value EOS of total electric power requirement of the building B is greater than the sum of the electric power E 1  generated by the energy apparatus  41  and electric power E 2  generated by the thermoelectric conversion unit  34 , then the public power supply system  42  has to be included to supply the required electric power (steps  515  and  516 ); meanwhile, supply and demand condition of heat energy has to be determined. In the event that Q&lt;QOS (step  517 ), the total required heat energy set value QOS of the building B is greater than the heat energy Q generated by the energy conversion unit  33  (step  510 ), the heat source equipment  331  directly supplies heat (step  511 ) to the heat environment H (or cold environment C) of the building B, including supply of heat energy or cold energy, and judges whether the stored heat amount N of the heat storage equipment  332  has reached the heat storage set value NS (step  513 ); if the stored heat amount N has reached the heat storage set value NS, the heat storage equipment  332  releases heat (releasing cold/heat energy) (step  513 ); on the other hand, if the stored heat amount N is less than the heat storage set value NS, the heat storage equipment  332  proceeds heat storing process (step  514 ). 
         [0036]    The heat source equipment  331  includes at least a host  3311 , a heat generator  3312 , a cold generator  3313  and an intermediate heat exchanger  3314  (referring to  FIG. 3 ). The host  3311  aims to perform circulation of refrigerant. The heat generator  3312  is a heat exchanger to generate heat energy sent to the heat storage device  3322  via a first pump  335  to supply heat energy required by the heat environment H. The cold generator  3313  is another heat exchanger to generate cold energy sent to the cold storage device  3321  via a second pump  334  to supply cold energy required by the cold environment C. The intermediate heat exchanger  3314  aids operation of the heat source equipment to regulate cold and heat energy requirements. In the event that cold energy requirement QC is approximate to heat energy requirement QH (namely QC≈QH), the intermediate heat exchanger  3314  suspends operation. In the event that the cold energy requirement QC is greater than the heat energy requirement QH (namely QC&gt;QH), the intermediate heat exchanger  3314  discharges heat; in the event that the heat energy requirement QH is greater than the cold energy requirement QC (namely QH&gt;QC), the intermediate heat exchanger  3314  absorbs heat. 
         [0037]    Refer to  FIG. 7  for a second embodiment of the invention. The energy storage and conversion apparatus  3  further has an electricity storage unit  35  to store the surplus electric power generated by the thermoelectric conversion unit  34 . Namely the electric power in the off peak period is stored to supply and meet power demand in the peak period. 
         [0038]    Please refer to  FIGS. 8 and 9  (also  FIG. 7 ) for the process flow  6  of the second embodiment. When the energy apparatus  41  starts operation (for instance, in the event of generating electric power through solar energy, the energy apparatus  41  receives photo energy of sunshine and converts to electric power), electric power E 1  is generated and transmitted to the electric power conversion unit  32 , and the control unit  31  compares the set value EOS of total electric power requirement of the building B with the electric power E 1  generated by the energy apparatus  41 . When the value of E 1  is greater than or equal to the set value EOS, namely E 1 ≧EOS (step  601 ), the electric power E 1  generated by the energy apparatus  41  can meet total electric power requirement of the building B (generally is in the off peak periods). The surplus electric power has to be utilized. Hence the control unit  31  activates the energy conversion unit  33 , and judges whether heat energy Q generated by the energy conversion unit  33  is greater than or equal to the total required heat energy set value QOS (step  602 ) of the building B, and the following processes are executed accordingly: 
         [0039]    (1) in the condition of Q≧QOS, the heat energy is surplus, and the heat storage equipment  332  is activated to store heat (step  603 ); a judgment also is made on whether the stored heat energy N reaches the heat storage set value NS (step  604 ); if the outcome is positive, the control unit  31  activates the thermoelectric conversion unit  34 , and cold energy released by the cold storage device  3321  and heat energy released by the heat storage device  3322  of the heat storage equipment  332  are being used to generate electric power E 2  by the thermoelectric conversion unit  34  through See-back temperature difference thermoelectric effect. The electric power E 2  generated by the thermoelectric conversion unit  34  can be converted to DC or AC power (step  605 ) to be utilized. In the event that the sum of the electric power E 1  generated by the energy apparatus  41  and the electric power E 2  generated by the thermoelectric conversion unit  34  is greater than or equal to the total electric power requirement EOS of the building B, the electric power is surplus, and the control unit  31  activates the electricity storage unit  35  to store electric power (steps  606  and  607 ), and judges whether an electric storage set value E 3 S has been reached (step  608 ); if the outcome is positive, another judgment is made on whether a contract for selling electric power between the building owner and the public power supply system  42  exists (steps  609 ); if the outcome also is positive, step  610  is executed to sell the surplus electric power to the public power supply system; if there is no sales contract, step  611  is executed, namely electric power conversion is stopped. 
         [0040]    (2) If the condition Q≧QOS does not exist, namely Q&lt;QOS (step  612 ), the total required heat energy set value QOS of the building B is greater than the total heat energy Q generated by the energy conversion unit  33 , then step  613  is executed, and the heat source equipment  331  directly supplies heat to the heat environment H (or cold environment C) of the building B (including supply of heat energy or cold energy). In the event that the stored heat amount N of the heat storage equipment  332  has reached the heat storage set value NS, it starts to release heat (steps  614  and  615 ); on the other hand, if the stored heat amount N is less than the heat storage set value NS, the heat storage equipment  332  proceeds heat storing process (step  616 ). 
         [0041]    4. In the event that the condition E 1 ≧EOS does not exist, namely E 1 &lt;EOS, a number of situations may happen as follow:
       (1) Judge whether E 1 +E 2 &lt;EOS (step  617 ); if the outcome is positive, the sum of the electric power E 1  generated by the energy apparatus  41  and electric power E 2  generated by the thermoelectric conversion unit  34  is less than the set value EOS of total electric power requirement of the building B, then the control unit  31  activates the electricity storage unit  35  to release its stored electric power E 3  (step  618 );   (2) If E 1 +E 2 +E 3 &lt;EOS, the electric power E 1  generated by the energy apparatus  41 , electric power E 2  generated by the thermoelectric conversion unit  34  and electric power E 3  of the electricity storage unit  35  cannot fully meet the set value EOS of total electric power requirement of the building B, additional power supply has to be obtained from the public power supply system  42  (steps  619  and  620 ), and a judgment of another condition Q&lt;QOS also is made (step  621 ); if the outcome is positive, the total required heat energy set value QOS of the building B is greater than or equal to the heat energy Q generated by the energy conversion unit  33 , namely Q&lt;QOS (step  612 ), step  613  is executed, and the heat source equipment  331  directly supplies heat to the heat environment H (or cold environment C) of the building B, including supply of heat energy or cold energy, and judges whether the stored heat amount N of the heat storage equipment  332  has reached the heat storage set value NS (step  614 ); if the outcome is positive, the heat storage equipment  332  releases heat (step  614 ); otherwise, if the stored heat amount N is less than the heat storage set value NS, the heat storage equipment  332  proceeds heat storing process (step  616 ).       
 
         [0044]    As a conclusion, the building energy storage and conversion apparatus of the invention can regulate power supply of the electric power conversion unit, and use the cold/heat energy generated by the energy conversion unit, and store heat (cold/heat energy) through the heat storage equipment. In the event of requiring cold/heat energy, cold/heat energy can be released as desired. When heat energy is in a surplus state, electric power generation can be performed through the thermoelectric conversion unit. In the event that the electric power is surplus, the extra electric power can be stored in the electricity storage unit to supply the peak period. Hence the invention can manage diversified energy resources onsite in a centralized fashion to accomplish onsite self-sufficiency and integrate effectively. Thus energy resources inside and outside the building can be converted and utilized in an optimal fashion to save energy and flexibly deployed.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8