Abstract: An integrated and hybrid energy provider and storage device system for enhancing the energy efficiency and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions particularly for systems that utilize energy in a discrete and discontinuous manner, such as plug-in hybrid vehicles is provided. The system provides automated means to generate power, distribute the preferably locally generated power to a multiplex array of energy storage devices in a dynamic manner. The system, when utilizing dynamic algorithms, preferably meets the complex demands of often conflicting energy storage device requirements and real-time demand loads in-conjunction with dynamic switching between energy storage devices to enhance the performance and effectiveness that is beneficial to both the aggregate energy efficiency and the individual owner demands of each energy storage device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control device for a waste heat recovery system which enables improvement in the responsiveness of the output control for a power turbine and a steam turbine with respect to sudden changes in the inboard load. The control device for a waste heat recovery system is equipped with: a power turbine that provides drive using engine exhaust gas and a steam turbine that provides drive using steam generated with an engine exhaust gas economizer, and is equipped with a power turbine control means which controls the output of the power turbine and a steam turbine control means which controls the output of the steam turbine, and both of which drive an electrical generator by means of the power turbine and the steam turbine.

Abstract: A method for multi-objective management of the electrical and thermal power generated by a co/trigeneration energy system in a multi-source energy plant. The co/trigeneration energy system comprises an electronic unit implementing a multi-objective function comprising: first computation parameters containing the values of the electrical and thermal powers exchanged within the multi-source plant between a cogeneration module, loads, auxiliary sources, and an electric network; and a set of second and third computation parameters correlated to the costs of management and, respectively, of efficiency of the generation and exchange of the electrical and thermal powers within the multi-source energy plan.

Abstract: A Kalina Cycle control system monitors one or more operating parameters of the Kalina Cycle. The system calculates one or more optimal operating parameters that allow the Kalina Cycle to operate at an increased efficiency. The system automatically adjusts the one or more actual operating parameters to the optimal parameters to increase the efficiency of the Kalina Cycle. Methods of increasing the efficiency of a Kalina Cycle include automatically adjusting one or more operating parameters to an optimal configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a generation facility management system using natural energy, and an object of the invention is to promote introduction of a generation facility by giving a consideration for generated and consumed power.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of coordinating and stabilizing the delivery of wind generated power, such as to a power grid, or a facility having pneumatically driven equipment, so as to avoid sudden surges and spikes, despite wind speed fluctuations and oscillations. The method preferably uses a plurality of windmill stations, wherein energy can be used directly, and/or stored for later use when demand is high or wind availability is low. The method contemplates forming an energy delivery schedule, to coordinate the use of energy from storage, based on daily wind speed forecasts, which help to predict the resulting wind power availability levels for the upcoming day. The schedule preferably sets a reduced number of constant power output periods during the day, during which time energy delivery levels remain substantially constant, despite fluctuations and oscillations in wind speed and wind power availability levels.

Abstract: Block loading may occur during the process of restoring an electrical grid after a blackout. A method and system for coordinating the loading of a combined cycle power plant to support block loading is provided. The power plant may include a gas turbine and a steam turbine. The method and system may provide load control loops, for the gas and steam turbine, which support block loading.

Abstract: Supplying supplemental superheated steam to a steam turbine in a solar-fossil-fuel hybrid power plant feeding steam from a boiler portion of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) of the solar-fossil-fuel hybrid power plant to a concentrated solar power (CSP) field to superheat the steam resulting in the formation of superheated steam and directing the superheated steam from the CSP field to a steam generator to drive the steam turbine.

Abstract: A post-control electric power amount curve generating portion generates plural pieces of running control information indicating a changeable running method for each device and plural post-control electric power amount curves indicating an amount of main electric power. A post-control hot water storage amount curve generating portion generates post-control hot water storage amount curves each indicating an accumulated amount of hot water generated in a case where the fuel cell generates electric power based on the plural post-control electric power amount curves. A hot water storage completion determining portion determines whether the accumulated amounts exceed a specific heat capacity. A reduction amount calculating portion calculates plural energy cost reduction amounts produced before and after the change using the post-control hot water storage amount curves determined as not exceeding the specific heat capacity.

Abstract: In a power supply system (10) having a cogeneration unit (12) equipped with an internal combustion engine (12a) and a generator (12b) to generate power to be supplied to a power destination and hot water to be supplied to a hot water destination, there are provided with a natural energy generation unit (14) that generates power with natural energy, a power supply unit (20) that receives the power generated by the generator and natural energy generation unit to supply the received power to the power destination; a voltage detector (22a) that detects voltage (V1) of the power flowing through an connecting bus (22), and an electric heater (12l). The power supply unit (20) controls operation of the electric heater based on the detected connecting bus power voltage (V1), thereby effectively utilizing surplus electricity without transmitting back it to a commercial power source.

Abstract: There is provided a system, for simulating a heat and power supply facility, that is capable of easily constructing a heat and power supply facility, and that performs a simulation so as to approximate operating conditions including a load factor to an actual situation, by approximating, to a high accuracy, any item included in a total combined energy to a target value. A system configuration setting section (30) associates in advance the heat and power supply devices with each other and associates in advance the heat and power supply devices with the total combined energy, and selects any of the heat and power supply devices with an operation of an operating condition section, to thereby freely construct a system configuration of the heat and power supply facility in which the heat and power supply devices are associated with each other and the heat and power supply devices are associated with the total combined energy.

Abstract: A method controls at least a portion of a combined cycle power plant having at least one gas turbine, at least one heat recovery steam generator, and at least one steam turbine. The method includes developing an actual operating curve of a steam characteristic of the at least one heat recovery steam generator versus an amount of steam provided to the at least one steam turbine from the at least one heat recovery steam generator. The method also includes determining the steam characteristic of the at least one heat recovery steam generator at a point in time during operation of the combined cycle power plant. The method further includes providing an amount of the steam from the at least one heat recovery steam generator to the at least one steam turbine depending upon the determined steam characteristic of the at least one heat recovery steam generator at the point in time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Hybrid Energy Storage System capable of increasing the energy recovery, lowering the environmental impact of CO2 release, decreasing the environmental impact of noise and visual pollution, simplifying the machine design and construction, smoothing the load on the mechanical system, and decreasing the material, design, and implementation costs. The System will store the needed energy in a battery-capacitor system, feed the energy to an electric motor during the high load portion of the load cycle, and retrieve electrical energy during the low load portion of the cycle. Sensor and switching systems will connect and disconnect the electric generator and electric motor systems at the appropriate parts of the cycle. Energy losses will be made up by solar panels, a wind generator, a gas engine, or connection to the electric grid. The System will save energy, lower costs of insulation and operation, and decrease the environment impacts.

Abstract: The object of the present invention provides an evaluation system for evaluating accurately emission amount of environmental influence substance of fuel in a fuel supply facility for supplying stored fuel to a consumer. An evaluation system evaluates the emission amount of environmental influence substance of fuel in which the environmental properties (greenhouse gas emissions) accumulated in the process of drilling a first energy, transporting and storing, producing fuel, and supplying the fuel are taken into account. The evaluation system enables to present the environmental properties of the sold fuel to the fuel consumer and allows the fuel consumer to select, thereby promoting the reduction of emission amount of the greenhouse gas of the fuel supplier and the fuel consumer.

Abstract: A method for configuring the physical model of a heat recovery steam generator that can estimate the state quantity of generated steam from the state quantity of the exhaust gas to be introduced, and capable of establishing the physical model of a combined cycle power generation facility thereby. The optimum values for the flow rates Flp and Fhp, pressures and temperatures Tlp and Thp of the low pressure main steam and high pressure main steam are computed in such a way as to ensure that an objective function E stored in advance will come close to zero.

Abstract: A self-contained, modular electric power generation system includes a portable housing having a modular shell disposed substantially on a foundation, wherein the portable housing is configured to facilitate the transportation of the modular electric power generation system. The system also includes a power generator disposed substantially within the portable housing. The power generator is configured to collect fuel associated with a fuel source and convert at least a portion of the collected fuel to electrical energy. The system also includes a sensing device configured to be coupled to the fuel source. The sensing device is configured to monitor a fuel level associated with the fuel source and provide data indicative of the fuel level to a management console associated with the power generation system. The system also includes a controller coupled to the power generator.

Abstract: A method of coupling a mechanical power source through an electrical power generator to an electrical load is disclosed. A characteristic of an electrical output is measured from the electrical power generator produced during a power generation cycle during which there is a coupling of the mechanical power source through the electrical power generator to the electrical load. The coupling of the mechanical power source is adjusted through the electrical power generator to the electrical load during a subsequent power generation cycle based at least in part on the measured characteristic of the electrical output.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and program product to calculate global energy utility targets and to model and determine an optimal solution for a non-thermodynamically constrained process or cluster of processes subject to non-thermodynamic constraints under all possible process changes and streams specific minimum temperature approaches, are provided. An exemplary system can utilize thermodynamic constraints exhibited in stream-specific minimum temperature approach values ?Tmini as optimization parameters, in addition to other process conditions degrees of freedom including the addition of new waste heat carrier streams to target for minimizing energy consumption of the non-thermodynamic constrained waste heat recovery problem and to identify the optimal operating conditions that result in desired minimum energy consumption subject to the non-thermodynamic constraints.

Abstract: The plant control system has a measurement signal data database, a model to estimate the value of measurement signal data used at a time when an operation signal is given to the plant, an operation signal learning unit to learn a method of generating a model input, which is equivalent to an operation signal, so that a model output, which is equivalent to the measurement signal data, attains a target value. The plant control system also has an evaluation function calculating unit to calculate an evaluation function value from the model output obtained as a result of an operation carried out by the operation signal learning unit for the model, and an evaluation function adjusting unit to adjust evaluation function parameters used in calculation of an evaluation function.

Abstract: A control system and method for achieving economic operation of CHP systems. A plurality of factors, including power source prices and operational needs, are assessed using multiple strategies. The solutions achieved by each strategy are compared, and the best performing strategy is selected. The solution can then be implemented. The assessment of factors and strategies can be updated periodically. A further embodiment includes a method of designing a CHP system using similar methods applied to simulated or estimated future loads and costs.

Abstract: A fuel-cell power generation system includes a fuel-cell power generator, a power measurement section for measuring an actual power-consumption value in a household appliance, and a power-consumption estimation section for estimating a future power-consumption value over a given time-period after a given time point, in accordance with the actual power-consumption value measured by the power measurement section. Moreover, the system includes a power-generation instruction section for determining the need of startup/stop of the fuel-cell power generator in accordance with the estimated power-consumption value from the power-consumption estimation section.

Abstract: A predictive header pressure controller uses predictive boiler steaming models to anticipate future changes in boiler steaming rates, converts the anticipated steaming rates to anticipated rates of change in header pressure, compares the anticipated rates of change of header pressure to measured rates of change of header pressure and controls header pressure of a multi-boiler energy system to a derived rate of change header pressure setpoint. The control may be accomplished by a control action that is integral only or it may be an incremental output directly compatible with distribution hubs. A control signal is directed to one or more control devices that adjust and control header pressure.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating combined cycle electrical generating plants is provided. The method includes simulating the electrical power plant performance, simulating the steam utilizing process plant performance, parameterizing plant equipment and plant performance using the power plant and process plant simulation results, and solving parameterized simultaneous equations and constraints with an objective function to determine parameter settings that facilitate enhancing an efficiency of the combined cycle electrical generating/steam-utilizing process plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for a redundant prime mover system to drive a machine having an engine coupled to the machine, and a motor/generator coupled to the machine and an electrical network connection. The controller operates the engine and the motor/generator in three or four operating modes. The first operating mode drives the machine with the engine. The second operating mode drives the machine with the motor/generator. The third operating mode drives the machine and the motor/generator with the engine such that the motor/generator generates electricity for delivery to the electrical network connection. Alternatively, the third operating mode drives the machine with both the engine and the motor/generator. This alternate operating mode can also be included as a fourth operating mode.

Abstract: An operating condition determiner compares an operation starting time (t1) of network-connected first consuming apparatuses received by a schedule information receiver and a consumption starting time (t2) predicted by a predicting system based on a total consumption amount of the first consuming apparatuses and a second consuming apparatus, which is not network-connected, and determines the operation starting time (t1) as an operation starting time of a fuel cell if the operation starting time (t1) is earlier than the consumption starting time (t2) while determining the consumption starting time (t2) as such if the operation starting time (t1) is later than the consumption starting time (t2), so that the fuel cell can stably generate power. The fuel cell can stably supply power at a time when the consuming apparatuses start consuming power.

Abstract: To permit a customer to reduce environmental load without reducing their electric power, a green power supply system is provided which includes a power supply request acceptance part which accepts from a customer a request to supply power having small environmental loads to the customer, a storage-of-power-supply-content requesting part which stores the state of power supply from each power generation facility, a green degree calculating part which determines the proportion of power which is supplied from the power generation facility having the small environmental loads, in power supplied to the customer, and a customer-directed green-degree notification part which notifies the customer of the degree of environmental load.

Abstract: An energy management system is provided for managing the generation and distribution of energy from an energy source to a building. The building has a desired building environment and a total energy profile including a thermal energy requirement and an electrical energy requirement. The energy management system comprises an energy generator arranged to convert energy from the energy source to thermal energy and electrical energy, a heat recovery unit arranged to recover byproduct heat from the energy generator, a cooling unit arranged to use a first portion of the thermal energy to drive a refrigeration unit, a heating unit arranged to use a second portion of the thermal energy to drive a heating unit, a heat storage unit arranged to store excess heat, and an energy optimizing controller.

Abstract: A method of determining performance impact of individual components of a power plant on overall thermal performance of the power plant, the method including (a) designing a first thermal model of the power plant using original specification data of the power plant; (b) developing a second thermal model of the power plant from measured performance data of each component of the power plant; and (c) determining the performance impact of a selected component of the power plant on the overall thermal performance of the power plant by substituting design performance data of the selected component in the first thermal model with its measured performance data.

Abstract: An energy management system and method is provided for managing the generation and distribution of energy from an energy source to a building. The building has a desired building environment and a total energy profile including a thermal energy requirement and an electrical energy requirement. The energy management system comprises an energy generator arranged to convert energy from the energy source to thermal energy and electrical energy, a heat recovery unit arranged to recover byproduct heat from the energy generator, a cooling unit arranged to use a first portion of the thermal energy to drive a refrigeration unit, a heating unit arranged to use a second portion of the thermal energy to drive a heating unit, a heat storage unit arranged to store excess heat, and an energy optimizing controller.

Abstract: A thermal efficiency diagnostic of a combined power generation plant is performed by using measurement data relative to energy input/output of the respective equipment of the combined power generation plant, recording the design values of heat balance, using measurement data having high measuring accuracy as standard parameters, conducting an optimum state estimation by adjusting the key parameters, which largely affect the diagnostic results so as to be consistent with the standard parameters, so that each deviation of the reference parameters becomes minimum and the probability of the heat balance becomes maximum in a whole plant, comparing the heat balance thus determined with the heat balance based on a design value, analyzing the degree of contribution of performance of each equipment to the thermal efficiency and specifying the equipment which causes the thermal efficiency deterioration in accordance with the degree of contribution.

Abstract: An on-line optimizer is comprised of a nonlinear dynamic model (702) which is operable to provide an estimation of the output of a plant. This receives manipulated variables (MV), disturbance variables (DV), and computed disturbance variables (CDB). The estimated output of the model is then compared to the actual output measured by virtual on-line analyzer (VOA) (616). This is compared is a difference block 618 to generate a bias which is then filtered by a filter(620). The output thereof is then provided to an output block (672) in a steady state optimizer (700) to offset the desired setpoints. These set points are input to a steady state nonlinear model which is operable to optimize the inputs to the plants for use for writing new set points in accordance with a predetermined cost function. This cost function is utilized to optimize the new inputs with the use of the steady state model in accordance with various constraints and target values.