Integrated energy management system including a fuel cell coupled refrigeration system

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an integrated energy management system for managing thermal and electrical energy in a fuel cell coupled refrigeration system. In one example, a refrigeration cycle is driven by heat provided alternatively by a fuel cell and an electric heating device. In another example, a refrigeration cycle is driven by heat provided by a fuel cell to reduce consumption of electrical grid supplied power.

1 . An integrated energy management system for generating and managing thermal energy, the system comprising:
 a fuel cell operable to generate electric energy and thermal energy;   an energy storage device operable to receive at least a portion of the electric energy generated by the fuel cell;   a refrigeration system including a refrigerant;   a heat exchanger operable to transfer at least a portion of the thermal energy from the fuel cell to the refrigeration system to heat the refrigerant; and   a control system operable to control operation of the fuel cell.   
     
     
         2 . A integrated energy management system as in  claim 1  further comprising a heating device thermally coupled with the refrigeration system, the control system operable to cycle the fuel cell and the heating device. 
     
     
         3 . An integrated energy management system as in  claim 2  further comprising a heating device thermally coupled with the refrigeration system, the control system operable to cycle the fuel cell and the heating device to drive a refrigeration cycle of the refrigeration system alternatively with the fuel cell and the heating device. 
     
     
         4 . An integrated energy management system as in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of operating profiles, the control system operable to select a selected profile of the plurality of operating profiles. 
     
     
         5 . An integrated energy management system as in  claim 4  wherein the selected profile is selected to control a temperature inside a compartment. 
     
     
         6 . An integrated energy management system as in  claim 1  wherein the refrigeration system comprises a compressor. 
     
     
         7 . An integrated energy management system as in  claim 6  wherein the compressor is powered, at least in part, by the fuel cell. 
     
     
         8 . An integrated energy management system as in  claim 6  wherein the control system is operable to provide electrical energy to the compressor motor from an electrical power grid, and from the inverter device to the electrical power grid. 
     
     
         9 . An integrated energy management system as in  claim 6  further comprising a heating device, the control system operable to cycle the fuel cell and the heating device according to the selected profile. 
     
     
         10 . An integrated energy management system as in  claim 6  wherein the selected profile is configured to control the fuel cell to satisfy a target refrigeration parameter and reduce a total energy cost of the energy consumed by the refrigeration system and the fuel cell. 
     
     
         11 . An integrated energy management system as in  claim 10  further including an electrical load, wherein the selected profile is configured to operate the electrical load and to reduce the total energy cost of the energy consumed by the refrigeration system, the fuel cell and the electrical load. 
     
     
         12 . An integrated energy management system as in  claim 10  wherein the selected profile includes a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, and wherein the control system is operable to maintain a high charge level in the energy storage device in the first mode of operation and to engage the second mode of operation during times when grid supplied electrical energy costs exceed a cost threshold. 
     
     
         13 . An integrated energy management system as in  claim 1  further including an auxiliary cooling system operable to remove thermal energy from the fuel cell. 
     
     
         14 . A method to operate an integrated energy management system, the method comprising:
 generating electric energy and thermal energy with a fuel cell;   storing at least a portion of the electric energy in an energy storage device; and   driving a refrigeration cycle of a refrigeration system with energy provided by a first source of energy and with thermal energy from the fuel cell.   
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 14  further comprising changing an energy ratio between the energy provided by the first source of energy and the thermal energy responsive to a variable associated with the first source of energy. 
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 15  wherein the variable is the energy cost of the energy from the first source of energy, wherein the changing comprises reducing the energy ratio when the energy cost of the energy from the first source of energy increases. 
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 15  wherein the variable is the energy cost of the energy from the first source of energy, wherein the changing comprises reducing the energy ratio when the energy cost of the energy from the first source of energy exceeds a predetermined high cost level. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 15  wherein the first source of energy is the energy storage device and the changing comprises reducing the energy ratio when a charge level of the energy storage device reaches a predetermined low charge level. 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 14  further comprising operating the refrigeration system and the fuel cell with an energy management system to control a building temperature, and changing, by the energy management system, an energy ratio between the energy provided by the first source of energy and the thermal energy responsive to a variable associated with the first source of energy. 
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 19  wherein the first source of energy is an electrical power grid, further comprising, by the energy management system, reducing the ratio when an energy cost of the electrical energy from the electrical power grid exceeds a predetermined kilowatt-hour cost.