Mobile Power Grids (MPGs)
Introduction
A Mobile Power Grid (MPG) uses a combination of power sources, energy storage and a power conversion system to deliver power to customers in an effective and energy efficient manner. They can be used in a myriad of applications such as disaster relief, military tactical, law enforcement, rural electrification, contingency power, uninterrupted power (UPS) and remote or islanded type operations.
Under field testing our system has be shown to reduce fuel consumption by up to 70%. Mobile Power Grids can be used in a variety of ways, such as, on a mobile platform or transport, yet could also be used in stationary applications. These systems are fully scalable to be sized from a small operating base to a large town section such as a hospital zone or neighborhood.
ARP Mobile Power Grid uses a patented power conversion system technology. Power is delivered as three phase power. Voltages and frequencies are fully configurable. Unlike other systems on the market today which bring generated source power exclusively onto a DC bus, where the power flows through battery storage and is then converted to AC power and then delivered to customer in an uninterruptible manner. Our system brings the AC sources of power, such as a diesel generator, directly onto the AC bus synchronously with the power conversion system (PCS). The former method limits the power delivered to customers to the output power of the power conversion system, whereas our system can use the output power of the generator combined with the output power of the power conversion system in order to more effectively support higher peak loads. The second advantage of our system is that the generator output delivers power directly to the customer without the losses of rectification and power conversion. This system monitors the loads in order to keep the generator running at or near its optimum power output to fuel intake level. When the power need is lighter than the optimum load on the generator, excess power produced, which is stored by the synchronized power conversion system into the energy storage system (ESS). If the power need is heavier than the generator’s output power, the synchronized power conversion system supplements the generator by reversing current flow in order to deliver power to the customer from the ESS. When the ESS state of charge (SOC) reaches its upper limit, the system turns the generator off and delivers power to customers drawing power from the ESS.
Renewable sources of power are somewhat erratic due to cloudy skies, inconsistent wind, low water levels, and various other reasons. Our MPG systems bring the outputs of renewable energy sources onto a DC bus where a DC to DC converter either boosts or bucks the voltage to match that of the DC bus of the ESS. It does not matter what the output voltage is on the renewable, the DC to DC converter will place the available renewable power on the ESS DC bus. If the ESS is full, the DC to DC converter will throttle back the renewable to match the output of the power conversion system.
Choosing sources of power is another advantage of our MPG. The MPG’s master controller automatically chooses the most energy efficient source or sources of power to deliver power to the customer. Sensors detect if a renewable is present or not. If a renewable source is present, power is delivered from that source in conjunction with the ESS to deliver stable power to the load. If there is no or little power available from a renewable source and the ESS is reaching its lower limit, the master controller will automatically command the generator to turn on and use that source to support the load.
Quiet operation is another advantage of our MPG. The system can be programmed by the operator to operate from the ESS only at certain periods of time. ESS power levels can be reserved and used for a military tactical silent operation or quiet operation in a hospital or neighborhood overnight when most people would like a quiet time for sleeping.
Load shedding is also available for areas where a small system is supporting customer needs that are greater than the combined sources of power generation. Critical and non-critical power outputs are incorporated into the system to allow the user to set priority powers such as a surgical or command post above that of a leisure area. When the system is overloaded and there is no reserve in the ESS, the master controller automatically warns and then sheds the non-critical load output in order to ensure stable power supply to the critical loads placed on the system.
Expandable operations are available to form mobile-grids. Expandable operation is the ability to for more than one system to be connected to the same customers. Placed in external mode, the system will no longer act as an island of power. It will look to see that whether or not there is power on its outputs. If not, the system will create the leading power and other systems coming online will synchronize and follow the first system’s power. Algorithms in each master controller monitor the frequency and voltages on the mobile-grid to determine whether to supply, store, idle, or generate power to provide a stabilized mobile-grid. These algorithms essentially address is peak shaving, frequency control, voltage control, uninterruptible power and etc.
Benefits
A Mobile Power Grid (MPG) uses a combination of power sources, energy storage and a power conversion system to deliver power to customers in an effective and energy efficient manner. They can be used in a myriad of applications such as disaster relief, military tactical, law enforcement, rural electrification, contingency power, uninterrupted power (UPS) and remote or islanded type operations.
Under field testing our system has be shown to reduce fuel consumption by up to 70%. Mobile Power Grids can be used in a variety of ways, such as, on a mobile platform or transport, yet could also be used in stationary applications. These systems are fully scalable to be sized from a small operating base to a large town section such as a hospital zone or neighborhood.
ARP Mobile Power Grid uses a patented power conversion system technology. Power is delivered as three phase power. Voltages and frequencies are fully configurable. Unlike other systems on the market today which bring generated source power exclusively onto a DC bus, where the power flows through battery storage and is then converted to AC power and then delivered to customer in an uninterruptible manner. Our system brings the AC sources of power, such as a diesel generator, directly onto the AC bus synchronously with the power conversion system (PCS). The former method limits the power delivered to customers to the output power of the power conversion system, whereas our system can use the output power of the generator combined with the output power of the power conversion system in order to more effectively support higher peak loads. The second advantage of our system is that the generator output delivers power directly to the customer without the losses of rectification and power conversion. This system monitors the loads in order to keep the generator running at or near its optimum power output to fuel intake level. When the power need is lighter than the optimum load on the generator, excess power produced, which is stored by the synchronized power conversion system into the energy storage system (ESS). If the power need is heavier than the generator’s output power, the synchronized power conversion system supplements the generator by reversing current flow in order to deliver power to the customer from the ESS. When the ESS state of charge (SOC) reaches its upper limit, the system turns the generator off and delivers power to customers drawing power from the ESS.
Renewable sources of power are somewhat erratic due to cloudy skies, inconsistent wind, low water levels, and various other reasons. Our MPG systems bring the outputs of renewable energy sources onto a DC bus where a DC to DC converter either boosts or bucks the voltage to match that of the DC bus of the ESS. It does not matter what the output voltage is on the renewable, the DC to DC converter will place the available renewable power on the ESS DC bus. If the ESS is full, the DC to DC converter will throttle back the renewable to match the output of the power conversion system.
Choosing sources of power is another advantage of our MPG. The MPG’s master controller automatically chooses the most energy efficient source or sources of power to deliver power to the customer. Sensors detect if a renewable is present or not. If a renewable source is present, power is delivered from that source in conjunction with the ESS to deliver stable power to the load. If there is no or little power available from a renewable source and the ESS is reaching its lower limit, the master controller will automatically command the generator to turn on and use that source to support the load.
Quiet operation is another advantage of our MPG. The system can be programmed by the operator to operate from the ESS only at certain periods of time. ESS power levels can be reserved and used for a military tactical silent operation or quiet operation in a hospital or neighborhood overnight when most people would like a quiet time for sleeping.
Load shedding is also available for areas where a small system is supporting customer needs that are greater than the combined sources of power generation. Critical and non-critical power outputs are incorporated into the system to allow the user to set priority powers such as a surgical or command post above that of a leisure area. When the system is overloaded and there is no reserve in the ESS, the master controller automatically warns and then sheds the non-critical load output in order to ensure stable power supply to the critical loads placed on the system.
Expandable operations are available to form mobile-grids. Expandable operation is the ability to for more than one system to be connected to the same customers. Placed in external mode, the system will no longer act as an island of power. It will look to see that whether or not there is power on its outputs. If not, the system will create the leading power and other systems coming online will synchronize and follow the first system’s power. Algorithms in each master controller monitor the frequency and voltages on the mobile-grid to determine whether to supply, store, idle, or generate power to provide a stabilized mobile-grid. These algorithms essentially address is peak shaving, frequency control, voltage control, uninterruptible power and etc.
Benefits
- Ability to parallel AC sources of power to support peak loads up to 4 times the primary power generation source for long durations.
- Uninterruptible power supplied to customers.
- Nominal tested fuel savings of over 70% and case studies show possibly up to 94%.
- Carbon footprint reduction.
- Multiple configurations increase the useful applications.
- Mobile for relief efforts, temporary construction sites, and military applications.
- Stationary and mobile for rural or sectional electrification (Africa, Middle East, Asia, South America, and Central America).
- Load shedding to ensure critical loads always have priority over non-essential loads.
- Silent operation scheduling limits noise during desired times.
- Scalability
- Mobile systems can be scaled from a small pull behind trailers with packs and inverters only while linking to existing onsite generator to include onboard generators on platforms as large as a tractor-trailer.
- Stationary units can be as small as to meet the needs of a few homes or as large as to be able to meet the needs of a large sector such as a neighborhood or local hospital.
- MPG systems are 25KWH, 50KWH, 100KWH, 500KWH, 5000KWH, or customer requested.
- Expandability
- Adjacent systems could be configured to support each other to form a mobile-grid. This eliminates the need for long power transmission lines, yet ensures dependable power if one system fails or is overloaded, the adjacent systems can be utilized to support the loads on the failing or overloaded system until either the overload condition is removed or the diminished system is repaired.
- Return on investment
- The higher the cost of fuel, the higher the return on investment, especially in areas where renewable sources of energy are readily available.
- If renewable sources of energy have been incorporated into the system, the recurring maintenance costs are minimal compared to the recurring costs of refilling fuel tanks.
- Equipment life expectancy compared to return on investment (ROI)is tremendous.
- Within a short period of time, the savings in fuel cost on one system can be used to procure another system and so on with system savings compounding upon each other.
© 2017 ARP- Advanced Renewable Power
© 2017 ARP- Advanced Renewable Power