Energy storage system for increasing the flexibility of power plants

Abstract

Provision of electricity to an electrical grid is controlled such that the electricity supply from the power plant is reduced to the current electric power demand by charging a thermal energy store(s). As a result, the provision of electricity by renewable energy sources to the electrical grid can be given precedence. The power plant can be connected to a heat pump and/or a refrigeration unit by the thermal energy store(s). The thermal energy store(s) can be used for district heating/cooling networks.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a power plant including a condenser;   at least one thermal energy store, including a first thermal store thermally coupled to the condenser of the power plant; and   at least one energy conversion device configured to load the at least one thermal energy store during a period of excess power supply.   
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising an adjusting device adjusting provision of power to a power grid, configured to reduce the power supply from the power plant by charging the thermal energy store to the power demand that applies during a period of time and prioritize power from renewable sources of energy to the power grid. 
     
     
         17 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the power plant operates most efficiently under constant full-load operation. 
     
     
         18 . The system as claimed in  15 ,
 wherein the at least one thermal energy store includes a heat store and the at least one energy conversion device includes a heat pump, and   wherein the system discharges the heat store via a district heating grid.   
     
     
         19 . The system as claimed in  15 ,
 wherein the at least one thermal energy store includes a cold store and the at least one energy conversion device includes a refrigerating machine, and   wherein the system discharges the cold store via a district cooling grid.   
     
     
         20 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 wherein the at least one thermal energy store includes at least one of a heat store a cold store,   wherein the at least one energy conversion device includes at least one of a heat pump with an evaporator, and a refrigerating machine with a condenser, and   wherein the first thermal store is thermally coupled to at least one of the evaporator of the heat pump and the condenser of the refrigerating machine.   
     
     
         21 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 wherein the at least one energy conversion device is a heat pump having a condenser, and   wherein the at least one thermal energy store further includes a second thermal store thermally coupled to the condenser of the heat pump.   
     
     
         22 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 wherein the at least one energy conversion device is a refrigerating machine with an evaporator, and   wherein the at least one thermal energy store further includes a second thermal store thermally coupled to the evaporator of the refrigerating machine.   
     
     
         23 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 wherein the power plant includes a generator having a shaft, and   wherein the at least one energy conversion device includes a compressor coupled to the shaft of the generator.   
     
     
         24 . A method for adjustable provision of power by a power plant, comprising:
 charging at least one thermal store thermally coupled to a condenser of the power plant by an energy conversion device during a period of excess power supply; and   reducing power supply to a power grid by the power plant by said charging of the at least one thermal store to a power demand applied during a first period of time, so that provision of power to the power grid from renewable sources of energy is prioritized.   
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising running the power plant at constant full-load operation. 
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 ,
 wherein the at least one a thermal energy store is a heat store, and   wherein said method further comprises discharging the heat store via a district heating grid during a second period of time when no excess power is available from the power plant.   
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 ,
 wherein the at least one a thermal energy store is a cold store, and   wherein said method further comprises discharging the cold store via a district cooling grid during a second period of time when no excess power is available from the power plant.   
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 ,
 wherein the at least one a thermal energy store includes at least one heat store and at least one cold store, and   wherein said charging includes charging the at least one heat store by a heat pump, and the at least one cold store by a refrigerating machine.