Scalable energy storage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016190801-A1
Application number	US-201414586349-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 30, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A scalable energy storage system may comprise a plurality of battery packs including at least a first battery pack and a second battery pack. The system may also include a plurality of inverters. The plurality of inverters may include at least a first inverter and a second inverter. The plurality of battery packs may be electrically coupled to the plurality of inverters such that the first battery pack is individually connected to an input of the first inverter and the second battery pack is individually connected to an input of the second inverter.

First claim

1 . A scalable energy storage system, comprising:
a plurality of battery packs including at least a first battery pack and a second battery pack, wherein each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs includes a plurality of batteries connected together in series; and a plurality of inverters including at least a first inverter and a second inverter, the plurality of battery packs being electrically coupled to the plurality of inverters such that the first battery pack is individually connected to an input of the first inverter and the second battery pack is individually connected to an input of the second inverter, and an output of each inverter of the plurality of inverters is electrically connected together, wherein (a) the first battery pack includes a different number of batteries than the second battery pack, and (b) the first battery pack has a different state of health than the second battery pack.

2 . The energy storage system of claim 1 , wherein each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is electrically connected to a separate inverter of the plurality of inverters.

3 . The energy storage system of claim 1 , wherein each battery of the plurality of batteries includes multiple cells.

4 . The energy storage system of claim, wherein the first battery pack is a new battery pack and the second battery pack is a refurbished battery pack.

5 . The energy storage system of claim 1 , wherein the first battery pack is a battery pack of an electric car and the second battery pack is a refurbished battery pack of an electric bus.

6 . The energy storage system of claim 4 , wherein the first battery pack includes a different chemistry than the second battery pack.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The energy storage system of claim 4 , wherein the first battery pack includes a different state of charge (SOC) than the second battery pack.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The energy storage system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of battery packs and the plurality of inverters are packaged together in a single module.

11 . A scalable energy storage system, comprising:
a plurality of battery packs, wherein each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs includes a plurality of batteries connected together in series; and a plurality of inverters, wherein each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is electrically connected to a separate inverter of the plurality of inverters, and an output of each inverter of the plurality of inverters is electrically connected together, wherein each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs have (a) includes a different number of batteries and (b) a different state of health than other battery packs of the plurality of battery packs.

12 - 13 . (canceled)

14 . The energy storage system of claim 11 , wherein at least one battery pack of the plurality of battery packs has a different state of charge (SOC) than another battery pack of the plurality of battery packs.

15 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . The energy storage system of claim 11 , wherein at least one battery pack of the plurality of battery packs has a different chemistry than another battery pack of the plurality of battery packs.

18 . A method of making a scalable energy storage system, comprising:
electrically connecting a plurality of battery packs to a plurality of inverters such that each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is electrically connected to an input of a separate inverter of the plurality of inverters, wherein each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs have multiple batteries connected together in series, and each battery pack (a) includes a different number of batteries and (b) a different state of health than other battery packs of the plurality of battery packs; and electrically connecting together an output of each inverter of the plurality of inverters.

19 . (canceled)

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one battery pack of the plurality of battery packs has a different state of charge (SOC) than another battery pack of the plurality of battery packs.

21 . The energy storage system of claim 11 , wherein each battery of the plurality of batteries includes multiple cells.

22 . The energy storage system of claim 11 , wherein at least one battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is a new battery pack and another battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is a refurbished battery pack.

23 . The energy storage system of claim 11 , wherein at least two battery packs of the plurality of battery packs are substantially different in age.

24 . The energy storage system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of battery packs and the plurality of inverters are packaged together in a single module.

25 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is a new battery pack and another battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is a refurbished battery pack.

26 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least two battery packs of the plurality of battery packs are substantially different in age.

27 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least two battery packs of the plurality of battery packs have a different chemistry.

Assignees

• Proterra Inc

Inventors

• Mcgrath Seamus T
• Walker Michael C

Classifications

• H02J7/50

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• H02J3/38

  Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel · CPC title

• H01M10/4207 Primary

  for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• H01M16/00

  Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators · CPC title

• H02J2105/16

  being internal to power sources or power generation plants · CPC title