The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 2014
Filed:
Apr. 10, 2012
Richard M. Pratt, Richland, WA (US);
Donald J. Hammerstrom, West Richland, WA (US);
Michael C. W. Kintner-meyer, Richland, WA (US);
Francis K. Tuffner, Richland, WA (US);
Richard M. Pratt, Richland, WA (US);
Donald J. Hammerstrom, West Richland, WA (US);
Michael C. W. Kintner-Meyer, Richland, WA (US);
Francis K. Tuffner, Richland, WA (US);
Battelle Memorial Institute, Richland, WA (US);
Abstract
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for charging and discharging an energy storage device connected to an electrical power distribution system. In one exemplary embodiment, a controller monitors electrical characteristics of an electrical power distribution system and provides an output to a bi-directional charger causing the charger to charge or discharge an energy storage device (e.g., a battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)). The controller can help stabilize the electrical power distribution system by increasing the charging rate when there is excess power in the electrical power distribution system (e.g., when the frequency of an AC power grid exceeds an average value), or by discharging power from the energy storage device to stabilize the grid when there is a shortage of power in the electrical power distribution system (e.g., when the frequency of an AC power grid is below an average value).