ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF
5
Field of the invention
[OOOI] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an energy storage system and a
controlling method thereof, and, more particularly, to an energy storage system and a
controlling method thereof, which enables the frequency of power flowing in an electric-
10 power system to be continuously regulated.
BACKGROUND
Description of the Related Art
[0002] As environmental destruction and resource exhaustion are becoming a serious
15 problem, there is a rising interest in a system that may store energy and efficiently utilize
the stored energy. Likewise, there is a rising interest in new renewable energy that never
or scarcely causes pollution (e.g., causes little pollution) during power generation. An
energy storage system may be a system that uses the new renewable energy, a battery
system and an existing electric-power system in conjunction with each other.
20 [0003] Such an energy storage system is configured to include a battery system that
stores power, a power conversion system that properly converts power of the battery
system, a power generation system, and an electric-power system. The energy storage
system then supplies the converted power.
[0004] When the electric-power system is in an abnormal state, for example, a power
25 failure occurs, the energy storage system may perform an uninterruptible power supply
(UPS) operation. Further, when the frequency is changed depending on a change in
consumption of power flowing in the electric-power system, the energy storage system
may perform frequency regulation to maintain a desired frequency by charging or
5 discharging power stored in the battery system, thus allowing a frequency to be kept
constant or substantially constant.
[0005] When the energy storage system is operated to regulate the frequency, it is
required to continuously and randomly charge or discharge the battery system. However,
when the battery system comes into a full charge state or a full discharge state due to the
10 accumulation of the charging or discharging operations, the charging or discharging
operation may be stopped. In this case, the state of charge (SOC) of the battery system
should be regulated to 50% again and then the charging or discharging operation to
perform the frequency regulation may resume, thus causing an inconvenience.
15 SUMMARY
[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an
energy storage system including a power conversion system configured to produce a
control signal for regulating a frequency of power flowing from a power generation system
to an electric-power system; and a battery system including a first battery rack, a second
20 battery rack, a chargerldischarger configured to perform a chargingldischarging operation
of the second battery rack; and a rack battery management system (BMS) configured to
control the chargingldischarging operation of the first and second battery racks using the
control signal, and to control the chargerldischarger, thus controlling a state of charge
(SOC) of the second battery rack.
25 [0007] The control signal may include a charge control signal causing the power to be
charged into the first or second battery rack when the frequency of the power flowing in
the electric-power system exceeds a set value, and a discharge control signal causing the
first or second battery rack to be discharged, thus supplying power to the electric-power
5 system when the frequency of the power flowing in the electric-power system is less than
the set value.
[0008] When the control signal is the charge control signal, the rack BMS may perform
control such that the power is charged into the first battery rack when a state of charge of
the first battery rack is less than a first state of charge, and may perform control such that
10 the power is charged into the second battery rack when the state of charge of the first
battery rack is equal to or more than the first state of charge.
[0009] When the state of charge of the second battery rack increases to exceed a
second state of charge and the power is being charged into the second battery rack, the
rack BMS may control the chargerldischarger to discharge the second battery rack such
15 that the state of charge of the second battery rack maintains the second state of charge.
[OOIO] When the first battery rack is charged or discharged in response to the control
signal, the rack BMS may control the chargerldischarger such that the state of charge of
the second battery rack has a fifth state of charge.
[OOII] The fifth state of charge may be about 50%.
20 [0012] When the control signal is the discharge control signal, the rack BMS may
perform control such that the first battery rack is discharged when a state of charge of the
first battery rack is more than a third state of charge, and may perform control such that
the second battery rack is discharged when the state of charge of the first battery rack is
equal to or less than the third state of charge.
25 [0013] When the state of charge of the second battery rack is less than a fourth $tate
of charge and the second battery rack is being discharged, the rack BMS may contrdl the
chargerldischarger to charge the second battery rack such that the state of charge of the
second battery rack maintains the fourth state of charge.
5 [0014] When the first battery rack is charged or discharged in response to the control
signal, the rack BMS may control the chargerldischarger such that the state of charge of
,the second battery rack has a fifth state of charge.
[0015] The fifth state of charge may be about 50%.
[0016] A maximum rated discharge of the second battery rack may be larger than a
10 maximum rated discharge of the first battery rack.
[0017] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
method of controlling an energy storage system, the energy storage system including a
battery system having a first battery rack, a second battery rack, a chargerldischarger
configured to charge or discharge the second battery rack; and a power conversion
15 system configured to transmit a control signal for regulating a frequency of power flowing
from a power generation system to an electric-power system and for regulating a
frequency of power flowing from the battery system to the electric-power system, the
method including determining a priority of chargingldischarging the first battery rack or the
second battery rack using the control signal and a state of charge of the first battery rack;
20 chargingldischarging the first battery rack or the second battery rack to regulate the
frequency depending on the determined priority; and controlling a state of charge of the
second battery rack to be a set state of charge using the chargerldischarger.
[0018] The control signal may include a charge control signal causing the power to be
charged into the first or second battery rack when the frequency of the power flowing in
25 the electric-power system exceeds a set value; and a discharge control signal causing the
first or second battery rack to be discharged, thus supplying power to the electric-power
system when the frequency of the power flowing in the electric-power system is less than
the set value.
5 [0019] When the control signal is the charge control signal, at the determining of the
priority, the priority may be determined such that: when the state of charge of the first
battery rack is less than a first state of charge, the power is charged into the first battery
rack, and when the state of charge of the first battery rack is equal to or more than the first
state of charge, the power is charged into the second battery rack.
10 [0020] When the state of charge of the second battery rack exceed$ a second state of
charge, at controlling of the state of charge of the second battery, the chargerldischarger
may be controlled such that the second battery rack is discharged and the state of charge
of the second battery rack maintains the second state of charge.
[0021] When the control signal is the discharge control signal, at the determining of the
15 priority, the priority may be determined such that: when the state of charge of the first
battery rack is more than a third state of charge, the first battery rack is discharged, and
when the state of charge of the first battery rack is equal to or less than the third state of
charge, the second battery rack is discharged.
100221 When the state of charge of the second battery rack is less than a fourth state
20 of charge, at controlling of the state of charge of the second battery, the
chargerldischarger may be controlled such that the second battery rack is charged and
the state of charge of the second battery rack maintains the fourth state of charge.
[0023] When the first battery rack is charged or discharged, at controlling of the state
of charge of the second battery, the chargerldischarger may be controlled such that the
25 state of charge of the second battery rack has a fifth state of charge. ,
100241 The fifth state of charge may be about 50%.
[0025] A maximum rated discharge of the second battery rack may be larger than a
maximum rated discharge of the first battery rack.
5 [0026] According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to
continuously carry out a chargingldischarging operation of a battery system in a way that
regulates a frequency in an energy storage system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
10 [0027] Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied in different
forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and
complete, and will fully convey the scope of the example embodiments to those skilled in
15 the art.
[0028] In the drawing figures, dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "between" two elements,
it can be the only element between the two elements, or one or more intervening elements
may also be present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
20 [0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an energy storage system and
peripheral components thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the energy storage
system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a battery system according to
25 an embodiment of the present invention;
LO0321 FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of controlling the energy storage system
for regulating a frequency according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 [0033] FIG. 5 is a graph showing a change in power of a battery rack when regulating
a frequency using a single battery rack according to the related art; and
[0034] FIGS. 6A and 6B are graphs showing a change in power of first and second
battery racks when regulating a frequency using the first and second battery racks,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] In the following detailed description, certain exemplary embodiments of the
present invention have been shown and described, simply by way of illustration. As those
skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various
15 different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and
not restrictive.
[0036] In addition, when an element is referred to as being "on" another element, it can
be directly on the another element or be indirectly on the another element with one or
20 more intervening elements interposed therebetween. Also, when an element is referred to
as being "connected to" or "coupled to" another element, it can be directly connected to or
coupled to the another element or be indirectly connected to or coupled to the another
element with one or more intervening elements interposed therebetween. Hereinafter, like
reference numerals refer to like elements.
25 [0037] As used herein, the term "andlor" includes any and all combinations of one or
more of the associated listed items.
[0038] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
5 [0039] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an energy storage system and
peripheral components thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 1, the energy storage system 1 according to this embodiment
is configured to supply power to a load 4, in conjunction with a power generation system 2
and an electric-power system 3.
10 [0041] The power generation system 2 is a system that produces power using an
energy source. The power generation system 2 is configured to supply produced power
to the energy storage system 1. The power generation system 2 may be a solar-light
power generation system, a wind power generation system, a tidal power generation
system, etc. However, these are to be regarded as illustrative only, and as such the
15 power generation system 2 is not limited thereto. The power generation system 2 may
also include all other suitable kinds of power generation systems that produce power (e.g.,
power generation systems that produce power using renewable energy such as solar heat
or geothermal heat). For example, since it is easy to install a solar cell configured to
produce electrical energy using solar-light in a home, a factory, etc., the solar cell is
20 suitable for the energy storage system I in the home or factory. The power generation
system 2 may be provided with a plurality of power generation modules arranged in
parallel and may produce power at every power generation module, thus constituting a
high-capacity energy system.
[0042] The electric-power system 3 may include a power plant, a substation, a power
25 line, etc. When the electric-power system 3 is in a normal state, it supplies power to the
energy storage system 1 to provide the power which is to be supplied to the load 4 andlor
the battery system 20, and the electric-power system 3 is supplied with power from the
energy storage system 1. On the other hand, when the electric-power system 3 is in an
5 abnormal state, the supply of power from the electric-power system 3 to the energy
storage system 1 is stopped, and the supply of power from the energy storage system 1 to
the electric-power system 3 is likewise stopped.
[0043] The load 4 consumes power produced from the power generation system 2,
power stored in the battery system 20, andlor power supplied from the electric-power
10 system 3. A home, factory, or the like may be an example of the load 4.
[0044] The energy storage system 1 includes the battery system 20 configured to store
power, and a power conversion system 10 configured to properly convert the power from
the battery system 20, the power generation system 2, and the electric-power system 3
and then supply the converted power to the load 4.
15 [0045] The energy storage system 1 may store power, produced from the power
generation system 2, in the battery system 20, and may supply the produced power to the
electric-power system 3. The energy storage system 1 may supply power stored in the
battery system 20 to the electric-power system 3, or may store power, supplied from the
electric-power system 3, in the battery system 20. When the electric-power system 3 is in
20 an abnormal state, for example, a power failure occurs, the energy storage system 1
performs the UPS operation to supply power to the load 4. Even when the electric-power
system 3 is in a normal state, the energy storage system 1 may supply power produced
from the power generation system 2 or power stored in the battery system 20 to the load
4.
25 [0046] Further, when the frequency is changed depending on a change in consumption
of power flowing in the electric-power system 3, the energy storage system 1 may perform
frequency regulation to maintain a desired frequency by charging or discharging power
stored in the battery system 20, thus allowing a frequency to be kept constant or
5 substantially constant. That is, for the purpose of regulating the frequency, when the
frequency of power flowing in the electric-power system is high, the energy storage
system 1 may supply power, produced from the power generation system 2, to the battery
system 20. On the other hand, when the frequency is low, the energy storage system 1
may discharge the power stored in the battery system 20 and then supply it to the electric-
10 power system 3.
[0047] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the energy storage
system I according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 2, the energy storage system 1 includes the power conversion
system 10 configured to control power conversion, the battery system 20, a first switch 30,
15 a second switch 40, and others.
[0049], The power conversion system 10 converts power supplied from the power
generation system 2, the electric-power system 3, and the battery system 20 into a form
suitable for the electric-power system 3, the load 4, and the battery system 20. The power
conversion system 10 performs the conversion of power to an inputloutput terminal or the
20 conversion of power from the inputloutput terminal. In this context, the power conversion
may be DCIAC conversion and conversion between first and second voltages. The power
conversion system 10 supplies converted power to a desired place depending on an
operation mode under the control of an integrated controller 15. The power conversion
system 10 may include a power conversion unit 11 (e.g., a power converter 1 I), a DC link
25 unit 12 (a DC link 12), an inverter 13, a converter 14, and the integrated controller 15.
[0050] The power conversion unit 11 is a power conversion device that is connected
(e.g., coupled) between the power generation system 2 and the DC link unit 12. The
5 power conversion unit 11 is configured to transmit power, produced from the power
generation system 2, to the DC link unit 12. An output voltage from the power conversion
unit 11 is a DC link voltage.
[0051] The power conversion unit 11 may include a power conversion circuit, such as a
converter or a rectifier circuit, depending on the kind of the power generation system 2.
10 For example, if the power generation system 2 produces DC power, the power conversion
unit 11 may include a converter for converting the voltage level of the DC power of the
power generation system 2 into the voltage level of the DC power of the DC link unit 12.
However, if the power generation system 2 produces AC power, the power conversion
unit 11 may be a rectifier circuit for converting alternating current into direct current. For
15 example, when the power generation system 2 is the solar-light power generation system,
the power conversion unit 11 may include an MPPT converter that performs a maximum
power point tracking control to maximally or increasedly obtain power produced from the
power generation system 2 depending on several conditions such as a quantity of solar
radiation andlor a temperature. The power conversion unit 11 may stop operating so as
20 to minimize or reduce power consumption when no power is produced from the power
generation system 2.
[0052] The DC link voltage may become unstable due to an instantaneous voltage
drop of the power generation system 2 or the electric-power system 3, a sudden change
in the load 4 or the requirement of high load. However, the DC link voltage should be
25 stabilized to normally operate the converter 14 and the inverter 13. The DC link unit 12 is
connected between the power conversion unit 11 and the inverter 13 to keep the DC link
voltage constant or substantially constant. For example, a high-capacity capacitor may be
included as the DC link unit 12.
5 [0053] The inverter 13 is a power conversion device that is connected between the DC
link unit 12 and the first switch 30. The inverter 13 may include an inverter that converts
DC output voltage from the DC link unit 12 into AC voltage of the electric-power system 3
in a discharge mode. Further, the inverter 13 may include a rectifier circuit that rectifies
the AC voltage of the electric-power system 3, converts the AC voltage into the DC link
10 voltage, and outputs the converted voltage so as to store the power of the electric-power
system 3 in the battery system 20 in a charge mode. That is, the inverter 13 may be a bidirectional
inverter that is changeable in input and output directions.
[0054] The inverter 13 may include a filter for removing harmonic waves from the AC
voltage that is output to the electric-power system 3. Further, the inverter 13 may include
15 a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit for synchronizing an AC voltage phase that is output
from the inverter 13 with an AC voltage phase of the electric-power system 3 so as to
suppress reactive power loss. Moreover, the inverter 13 may perform several functions,
for example, restriction on a voltage fluctuation range, improvement on a power factor,
removal of a DC component, and protection against transient phenomena. When the
20 inverter 13 is not in use, it may stop operating so as to minimize or reduce power
consumption.
[0055] The converter 14 is a power conversion device that is connected between the
DC link unit 12 and the battery system 20. The converter 14 includes a DC-DC converter
that converts the voltage of power output from the battery system 20 into the DC link
25 voltage for the inverter 13 in the discharge mode. Further, the converter 14 may include a
DC-DC converter that converts the voltage of power output from the power conversion
unit 11 or the inverter 13 into the voltage for the battery system 20 in the charge mode.
That is, the converter 14 may be a bi-directional converter that is changeable in input and
5 output directions. When the converter 14 is not used to charge or discharge the battery
system 20, the converter 14 may stop operating, thus minimizing or reducing power
consumption.
[0056] The integrated controller 15 monitors the state of the power generation system
2, the electric-power system 3, the battery system 20 and the load 4, and controls the
10 operation of the power conversion unit 11, the inverter 13, the converter 14, the battery
system 20, the first switch 30, and the second switch 40 depending on the monitored
result. The integrated controller 15 may monitor whether or not a power failure occurs in
the electric-power system 3 and whether or not power is produced by the power
generation system 2, and may monitor a production amount of the power if it is produced
15 from the power generation system 2, the charging state of the battery system 20, the
power consumption of the load 4, a time, etc. When power that is to be supplied to the
load 4 is insufficient, for example, when a power failure occurs in the electric-power
system 3, the integrated controller 15 may control the load 4 to determine the priority of
power utilization devices included in the load 4, and supply power to a power utilization
20 device having a high priority.
[0057] Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the
frequency is changed depending on a change in the consumption of power flowing in the
electric-power system 3, the integrated controller 15 may perform frequency regulation for
maintaining a desired frequency by charging or discharging power stored in the battery
25 system 20, thus maintaining a constant or substantially constant frequency. That is, when
the frequency of the power flowing in the electric-power system 3 for regulating the
frequency is high, power produced from the power generation system 2 is supplied to the
battery system 20. When the frequency is low, power stored in the battery system 20 may
5 be discharged and supplied to the electric-power system 3.
[0058] To this end, the integrated controller 15 may transmit a control signal for
regulating the frequency to the battery system 20. In this regard, the control signal may
include a charge control signal causing the power to be charged into the battery system
20 when the frequency of the power flowing in the electric-power system 3 exceeds a
10 value (e.g., a set value or a predetermined value), and a discharge control signal causing
the power stored in the battery system 20 to be discharged, thus supplying the power to
the electric-power system 3 when the frequency of the power flowing in the electric-power
system 3 is less than the value (e.g., the set value or the predetermined value).
[0059] The operation of the battery system, in response to the control signal for
15 regulating the frequency, will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0060] Referring back to FIG. 2, the first switch 30 and the second switch 40 are
connected between the inverter 13 and the electric-power system 3 in series, and perform
an ONIOFF operation under the control of the integrated controller 15, thus controlling a
current flow between the power generation system 2 and the electric-power system 3.
20 The ONIOFF state of the first switch 30 and the second switch 40 may be determined
depending on the state of the power generation system 2, the electric-power system 3 and
the battery system 20.
[0061] To be more specific, in order to supply power from the power generation system
2 andlor the battery system 20 to the load 4 and to supply power from the electric-power
25 system 3 to the battery system 20, the first switch 30 is turned on. In order to supply
power from the power generation system 2 and/or the battery system 20 to the electricpower
system 3 or to supply power from the electric-power system 3 to the load 4 andlor
the battery system 20, the second switch 40 is turned on. As the first and second
5 switches 30 and 40, it is possible to use a switching device such as a relay that may
withstand a large magnitude of current.
100621 When a power failure occurs in the electric-power system 3, the second switch
40 is turned off and the first switch 30 is turned on. That is, while power is supplied from
the power generation system 2 andlor the battery system 20 to the load 4, the power
10 supplied to the load 4 is prevented or substantially prevented from flowing towards the
electric-power system 3. The energy storage system 1 is disconnected from the electricpower
system 3 where a power failure occurs, thus preventing or substantially preventing
power from being supplied to the electric-power system 3. Hence, this prevents or
substantially prevents a worker who works on a power line or the like of the electric-power
15 system 3, for example, a worker who repairs the power failure of the electric-power
system 3, from getting shocked by the power from the energy storage system 1.
[0063] The battery system 20 is supplied with power from the power generation system
2 andlor the electric-power system 3 to store the power, and supplies the power stored in
the battery system 20 to the load 4 or the electric-power system 3. The battery system 20
20 may include a power storing portion and a portion for controlling and protecting the power
storing portion. Hereinafter, the battery system 20 will be described in detail with
reference to FIG. 3.
100641 FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a battery system according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
25
[0065] Referring to FIG. 3, the battery system 20 includes a battery rack 110, a rack
battery management system (BMS) 120, a rack protection circuit 130, and a
5 chargeldischarge unit 140 (e.g., a chargerldischarger 140).
[0066] The battery rack 110 stores power supplied from an outside, namely, the power
generation system 2 andlor the electric-power system 3, and supplies the stored power to
the load 4 andlor the electric-power system 3. The battery rack 110 may include one or
more battery trays that are connected in series andlor in parallel to serve as a plurality of
10 subunits. Further, each battery tray may include a plurality of battery cells as the
subunits. Various secondary batteries that are rechargeable may be used for the battery
cells. For example, the secondary battery used for the battery cell may include one or
more batteries selected from a group including a nickel-cadmium battery, a lead storage
battery, a nickel metal hydride battery (NiMH), a lithium ion battery, a lithium polymer
15 battery, etc.
[0067] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the battery rack 110
may include a first battery rack 11 1 and a second battery rack 113. In this regard, the first
battery rack 111 may include battery cells suitable for a low-speed operation, and the
second battery rack 113 may include battery cells suitable for a high-speed operation. To
20 this end, the discharge rate (e.g., the maximum rated discharge, or the maximum safe
discharge rate) of the battery cells (e.g., the current rating of the battery cells) included in
the second battery rack 113 may be larger than the discharge rate (e.g., the maximum
rated discharge, or the maximum safe discharge rate) of the battery cells (e.g., the current
rating of the battery cells) included in the first battery rack 11 1. That is, the second battery
25 rack 11 3 may perform a chargingldischarging operation at higher speeds in comparison to
the first battery rack 11 1, and the state of charge of the second battery rack 113 may be
rapidly controlled by a separate chargeldischarge unit 140 that will be described below.
5 [0068] The rack BMS 120 is connected to the battery rack 110, and controls the
chargingldischarging operation of the battery rack 110 according to a control signal Sf
transmitted from the integrated controller 15 of the power conversion system 10 to
regulate a frequency. Further, the rack BMS 120 may perform an overcharge protection
function, an over-discharge protection function, an overcurrent protection function, an
10 overvoltage protection function, an overheat protection function, a cell balancing function,
etc. To this end, the rack BMS 120 may receive one or more information or data such as,
for example, monitoring data Dm on a voltage, a current, a temperature, a remaining
power, a life span, a charging state, a state of charge (SOC), and others from the battery
rack 110, and may produce a control signal Sp in response to the monitored result to
15 control the rack protection circuit 130. Further, the rack BMS 120 performs control using
the chargeldischarge unit 140 such that the state of charge of the second battery rack has
a constant or substantially constant value. Further, the rack BMS 120 may apply the
received monitoring data Dm to the integrated controller 15 of the power conversion
system 10, and may receive instructions on the control of the battery rack 110 from the
20 integrated controller 15.
[0069] The rack protection circuit 130 is connected between inputloutput terminals (110
T+, 110 T-) that are connected to the battery rack 110 and the converter 14 of the power
conversion system 10, thus preventing or substantially preventing the battery rack 110
from being damaged. The rack protection circuit 130 may receive a control signal Sp from
25 the rack BMS 120 to control the flow of current in response to the control signal Sp.
Further, the rack protection circuit 130 may measure the output voltage or output current
of the battery rack 110 and then transmit a measured signal Sd to the rack BMS 120.
Here, the rack protection circuit 130 may be physically separated from the rack BMS 120.
5 Thus, the rack BMS 120 is configured to be separated from the rack protection circuit 130
located on a high current path, thus allowing the rack BMS 120 to be protected from a
high current.
[0070] The chargeldischarge unit 140 performs the chargingldischarging operation of
the second battery rack 113. For example, the chargeldischarge unit 140 may forcibly
10 charge the second battery rack 113 using external power or may forcibly discharge the
second battery rack 113 by connecting it to an external load, under the control of the rack
BMS 120.
[0071] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of controlling the energy storage system
for regulating the frequency according to an embodiment of the present'invention. The
15 frequency regulating method of the battery system according to one embodiment of the
present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0072] First, the rack BMS 120 receives a control signal for controlling the frequency of
power flowing in the electric-power system 3, from the power conversion system 10, at
step S101.
20 100731 In this regard, the control signal may include a charge control signal causing the
power to be charged into the battery system 20 when the frequency of the power flowing
in the electric-power system 3 exceeds a value (e.g., a set value or a predetermined
value), and a discharge control signal causing the power stored in the battery system 20
to be discharged, thus supplying the power to the electric-power system 3 when the
25 frequency of the power flowing in the electric-power system 3 is less than the value (e.g.,
the set value or the predetermined value).
[0074] Subsequently, the rack BMS 120 determines whether or not the control signal is
the charge control signal or the discharge control signal, at step S103.
5 [0075] When the control signal is the charge control signal, the rack BMS 120
compares the state of charge of the first battery rack 11 1 with a first state of charge (e.g.,
a first preset state of charge) so as to determine the priority of charging the first battery
rack 111 and the second battery rack 113, at step S105. The first state of charge (e.g.,
the first preset state of charge) is a value determining that the battery rack will come into
10 the full charge state when a charging operation further proceeds because the state of
charge of the first battery rack 111 is sufficiently high. This value (i.e., the first state of
charge) may be predetermined through pre-experiments.
[0076] The rack BMS 120 performs control such that the first battery rack 111 is
charged with power produced from the power generation system 2, or supplied by the
15 electric-power system 3, when the state of charge of the first battery rack 111 is less than
the first state of charge (e.g., the first preset state of charge), at step S107. In contrast,
the rack BMS 120 performs control such that the second battery rack 113 is charged with
power produced from the power generation system 2, or supplied by the electric-power
system 3, when the state of charge of the first battery rack 11 1 is equal to or more than
20 the first state of charge (e.g., the first preset state of charge), at step S109.
[0077] When the control is performed such that the second battery rack 113 is charged
with power produced from the power generation system 2, the rack BMS 120 compares
the state of charge of the second battery rack 113 with a second state of charge (e.g., a
second preset state of charge), at step S111. The second state of charge is a value
25 determining that the battery rack will come into the full charge state when a charging
operation further proceeds because the state of charge of the second battery rack 113 is
sufficiently high. This value (i.e., the second state of charge) may be predetermined
through pre-experiments.
5 [0078] When the state of charge of the second battery rack 113 increases to exceed
the second state of charge (e.g., the second preset state of charge), the rack BMS 120
forcibly discharges the second battery rack 113 using the chargeldischarge unit 140 so
that the state of charge of the second battery rack 113 maintains the second state of
charge, at step S113. To this end, power discharged from the second battery rack 113
10 may be larger than power transmitted from the power generation system 2. That is, the
battery cell constituting the second battery rack 113 may be a battery cell having a
discharge rate high enough to perform a rapid chargingldischarging operation.
[0079] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the battery system
20 should be charged with power produced from the power generation system so as to
15 regulate a frequency, first, the charging operation is performed using the first battery rack
11 1 suitable for the low-speed operation. When there is a risk that the first battery rack
11 1 will be fully charged, the charging operation is performed using the second battery
rack 113 suitable for the high-speed operation. When there is a risk that the second
battery rack 113 will be fully charged due to the charging operation, the second battery
20 rack 113 is forcibly discharged by the separate chargeldischarge unit 140, thus preventing
or substantially preventing the second battery rack 113 from being fully charged.
Consequently, the battery system 20 can continuously perform the charging operation for
the frequency regulation without a stop resulting from the full charge.
[0080] Turning back to step S103, when the control signal is the discharge control
25 signal, the rack BMS 120 compares the state of charge of the first battery rack 11 1 with a
third state of charge (e.g., a third preset state of charge) so as to determine the priority of
charging the first battery rack 111 and the second battery rack 113, at step S115. The
third state of charge is a value determining that the battery rack will come into a full
5 discharge state when a discharging operation further proceeds because the state of
charge of the first battery rack 11 1 is sufficiently low. This value (i.e, the third state of
charge) may be predetermined through pre-experiments.
[0081] When the state of charge of the first battery rack 11 1 exceeds the third state of
charge, the rack BMS 120 performs control such that the first battery rack 111 is
10 discharged, at step S117. In contrast, when the state of charge of the first battery rack
11 1 is equal to or less than the third state of charge, the rack BMS 120 performs control
such that the second battery rack 113 is discharged, at step S119.
[0082] When the rack BMS 120 performs control such that the second battery rack 113
is discharged, the rack BMS 120 compares the state of charge of the second battery rack
15 113 with a fourth state of charge (e.g., a fourth preset state of charge), at step S121. The
fourth state of charge is a value determining that the battery rack will come into the full
discharge state when a discharging operation further proceeds because the state of
charge of the second battery rack 113 is sufficiently low. This value (e.g., the fourth state
of charge) may be predetermined through pre-experiments.
20 [0083] When the state of charge of the second battery rack 113 is less than the fourth
state of charge, the rack BMS 120 forcibly charges the second battery rack 113 using the
chargeldischarge unit 140 such that the state of charge of the second battery rack 113
maintains the fourth state of charge, at step S123. To this end, power charged in the
second battery rack 113 via the chargeldischarge unit 140 may be larger than power
25 discharged to regulate a frequency.
[0084] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the battery system
20 should be discharged to regulate a frequency, first, the discharging operation is
5 performed using the first battery rack 111 suitable for the low-speed operation. When
there is a risk that the first battery rack 111 is fully discharged, the discharging operation is
performed using the second battery rack 113 suitable for the high-speed operation.
Further, when there is a risk that the second battery rack 113 is fully discharged due to the
discharging operation, the second battery rack 113 is forcibly charged via a separate
10 chargeidischarge unit 140, thus preventing or substantially preventing the second battery
rack 113 from being fully discharged. Consequently, the battery system 20 can
continuously perform the discharging operation for the frequency regulation without a stop
resulting from the full discharge.
[0085] When the first battery rack I I I is charged at step 5107 or the first battery rack
15 111 is discharged at step 5117, the rack BMS 120 performs control such that the state of
charge of the second battery rack 113 is equal to (or substantially equal to) a fifth state of
charge (e.g., a fifth preset state of charge) via the chargeidischarge unit 140, at step
S125.
[0086] In this context, the fifth state of charge may be about 50%. The rack BMS 120
20 controls the chargeldischarge unit 140 such that the state of charge of the second battery
rack 11 3 is about 50% when the first battery rack 11 1 is charged or discharged. In other
words, by resetting the state of charge of the second battery rack 113 to about 50%,
power can be charged into or discharged from the second battery rack 113 as much as
possible (i.e., substantially the same amount of power can be charged into or discharged
25 from the second battery rack 113).
[0087] FIG. 5 is a graph showing a change in power of a battery rack when regulating
a frequency using a single battery rack according to the related art.
5 [0088] Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the operation of readjusting the state of
charge of the battery rack to about 50% occurs after the battery rack is fully discharged at
point A due to the chargingldischarging operation of the battery rack for regulating the
frequency. Further, it can be seen that the operation of readjusting the state of charge of
the battery rack to about 50% occurs after the battery rack is fully charged at point B.
10 [0089] FIGS. 6A and 68 are graphs showing a change in power of the first and second
battery racks when regulating a frequency using the first and second battery racks,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0090] Under the condition that the first battery rack has the discharge rate of 2C and
the capacity of 60Ah, a test was performed. Further, under the condition that the second
15 battery rack has the discharge rate of 4C and the capacity of 20Ah, a test was performed.
[0091] As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, as a result of the frequency regulation according
to embodiments of the present invention using the first and second battery racks, no fully
charged or discharged section occurs in either the first battery rack or the second battery
rack. That is, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the determination of
20 the priority of the first or second battery rack and the individual charging or discharging
operation of the second battery rack enable frequency regulation to be continuously
performed without a stop.
[0092] Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms
are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense
25 only and not for purpose of limitation. In some instances, as would be apparent to one of
ordinary skill in the art as of the filing of the present application, features, characteristics,
andlor elements described in connection with any particular embodiment may be used
singly or in combination with features, characteristics, andlor elements described in
5 connection with any other suitable embodiments unless otherwise specifically indicated.
Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as set forth in the following claims and their equivalents.

WE CLAIM:
I An energy storage system comprising:
a power conversion system configured to produce a control signal for regulating a
frequency of power flowing from a power generation system to an electric-power system;
and
a battery system comprising:
a first battery rack;
a second battery rack;
a chargerldischarger configured to perform a chargingldischarging operation
of the second battery rack; and
a rack battery management system (BMS) configured to control the
15 chargingldischarging operation of the first and second battery racks using the control
signal, and to control the chargerldischarger, thus controlling a state of charge (SOC) of
the second battery rack.
2. The energy storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control signal
20 comprises:
a charge control signal causing the power to be charged into the first or second
battery rack when the frequency of the power flowing in the electric-power system
exceeds a set value; and
a discharge control signal causing the first or second battery rack to be discharged,
25 thus supplying power to the electric-power system when the frequency of the power
flowing in the electric-power system is less than the set value.
3. The energy storage system as claimed in claim 2, wherein, when the control
5 signal is the charge control signal, the rack BMS performs control such that the power is
charged into the first battery rack when a state of charge of the first battery rack is less
than a first state of charge, and performs control such that the power is charged into the
second battery rack when the state of charge of the first battery rack is equal to or more
than the first state of charge.
4. The energy storage system as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the state of
charge of the second battery rack increases to exceed a second state of charge and the
power is being charged into the second battery rack, the rack BMS controls the
chargerldischarger to discharge the second battery rack such that the state of charge of
15 the second battery rack maintains the second state of charge.
5. The energy storage system as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the first
battery rack is charged or discharged in response to the control signal, the rack BMS
controls the chargeridischarger such that the state of charge of the second battery rack
20 has a fifth state of charge.
6. The energy storage system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fifth state of
charge is about 50%.
7. The energy storage system as claimed in claim 2, wherein, when the control
signal is the discharge control signal, the rack BMS performs control such that the first
battery rack is discharged when a state of charge of the first battery rack is more than a
third state of charge, and performs control such that the second battery rack is discharged
5 when the state of charge of the first battery rack is equal to or less than the third state of
charge.
8. The energy storage system as claimed in claim 7, wherein, when the state of
charge of the second battery rack is less than a fourfh state of charge and the second
10 battery rack is being discharged, the rack BMS controls the chargerldischarger to charge
the second battery rack such that the state of charge of the second battery rack maintains
the fourth state of charge.
9. The energy storage system as claimed in claim 7, wherein, when the first
15 battery rack is charged or discharged in response to the control signal, the rack BMS
controls the chargerldischarger such that the state of charge of the second battery rack
has a fifth state of charge.
10. The energy storage system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fifth state of
20 charge is about 50%.
11. The energy storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a maximum rated
discharge of the second battery rack is larger than a maximum rated discharge of the first
battery rack.
25
12. A method of controlling an energy storage system, the energy storage
system comprising: a battery system comprising: a first battery rack; a second battery
5 rack; a chargerldischarger configured to charge or discharge the second battery rack; and
a power conversion system configured to transmit a control signal for regulating a
frequency of power flowing from a power generation system to an electric-power system,
the method comprising:
determining a priority of chargingldischarging the first battery rack or the second
10 battery rack using the control signal and a state of charge of the first battery rack;
chargingldischarging the first battery rack or the second battery rack to regulate the
frequency depending on the determined priority; and
controlling a state of charge of the second battery rack to be a set state of charge
using the chargerldischarger.
15
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control signal comprises:
a charge control signal causing the power to be charged into the first or second
battery rack when the frequency of the power flowing in the electric-power system
exceeds a set value; and
20 a discharge control signal causing the first or second battery rack to be discharged,
thus supplying power to the electric-power system when the frequency of the power
flowing in the electric-power system is less than the set value.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein when the control signal is the
25 charge control signal,
at the determining of the priority, the priority is determined such that:
when the state of charge of the first battery rack is less than a first state of
charge, the power is charged into the first battery rack, and
5 when the state of charge of the first battery rack is equal to or more than the
first state of charge, the power is charged into the second battery rack.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein, when a state of charge of the
second battery rack exceeds a second state of charge,
10 at the controlling of the state of charge of the second battery rack, the
chargerldischarger is controlled such that the second battery rack is discharged and the
state of charge of the second battery rack maintains the second state of charge.
16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein, when the control signal is the
15 discharge control signal,
at the determining of the priority, the priority is determined such that:
when the state of charge of the first battery rack is more than a third state of
charge, the first battery rack is discharged, and
when the state of charge of the first battery rack is equal to or less than the
20 third state of charge, the second battery rack is discharged.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein, when state of charge of the
second battery rack is less than a fourth state of charge,
at the controlling of the state of charge of the second battery rack, the
25 chargerldischarger is controlled such that the second battery rack is charged and the state
of charge of the second battery rack maintains the fourth state of charge.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein, when the first battery rack is
5 charged or discharged, at the controlling of the state of charge of the second battery rack,
the chargeridischarger is controlled such that the state of charge of the second battery
rack has a fifth state of charge.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the fifth state of charge is about
10 50%.
20. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein a maximum rated discharge of
the second battery rack is larger than a maximum rated discharge of the first battery rack.
Dated this 03.03.2015