US 12,078,370 B2
Integrated community energy and harvesting system
James Scott Cotton, Burlington (CA); Kelton Friedrich, Hamilton (CA); Vickram Lakhian, Hamilton (CA); Saber Mohamed, Hamilton (CA); Mohamed Yasser Abdelsalam, Hamilton (CA); Jorge Chebeir, Hamilton (CA); and Jeff Girard, Hamilton (CA)
Assigned to McMaster University, Hamilton (CA)
Filed by McMaster University, Hamilton (CA)
Filed on Apr. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/301,907.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/011,704, filed on Apr. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0325069 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. F24F 11/46 (2018.01); F24D 11/02 (2006.01); F24F 5/00 (2006.01); F24F 11/47 (2018.01); F24F 11/63 (2018.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01); H02J 3/38 (2006.01)
CPC F24F 11/46 (2018.01) [F24D 11/0207 (2013.01); F24F 5/0021 (2013.01); F24F 11/47 (2018.01); F24F 11/63 (2018.01); G05B 19/042 (2013.01); F24D 2200/11 (2013.01); F24D 2200/13 (2013.01); F24D 2200/32 (2013.01); F24F 2203/02 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2614 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2639 (2013.01); H02J 3/381 (2013.01); H02J 2203/20 (2020.01); H02J 2310/12 (2020.01); H02J 2310/48 (2020.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A district energy system for a district comprising a plurality of buildings, each building having an associated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and associated electrical loads, the district energy system comprising:
(a) a central energy management unit comprising:
i) at least one energy provisioning unit, the at least one energy provisioning unit including at least one thermal storage element, each thermal storage element configured to store thermal energy; and
ii) an energy management controller;
(b) a district thermal distribution network thermally coupled to the central energy management unit and thereby the at least one energy provisioning unit, the district thermal distribution network comprising at least one fluid conduit, each fluid conduit transporting a heat transfer fluid, the district thermal distribution network comprising a plurality of external thermal coupling interfaces, each external thermal coupling interface connectable to the associated HVAC system of one of the buildings in the plurality of buildings within the district, wherein the district thermal distribution network is operable to transfer thermal energy between the central energy management unit and each external thermal coupling interface using the heat transfer fluid;
(c) a district electrical distribution network electrically coupled to the central energy management unit, the district electrical distribution network comprising a plurality of external electrical coupling interfaces, each external electrical coupling interface connectable to one of the buildings in the plurality of buildings within the district, wherein the district electrical distribution network is operable to transfer electrical energy between the central energy management unit and each external electrical coupling interface;
wherein
the energy management controller is configured to:
determine a district thermal energy demand and a district electrical energy demand for the plurality of buildings based on a thermal demand of the HVAC system of each building and associated electrical loads of each building;
determine a district electricity supply state of the central energy management unit;
determine a district operational energy state based on the district thermal energy demand, district electrical energy demand, and the district energy supply state; and
adjust the operation of the at least one energy provisioning unit and/or the thermal coupling between the district thermal distribution network and the at least one energy provisioning unit based on the district operational energy state such that a set of energy provisioning units coupled with the central energy management unit and the plurality of external thermal coupling interfaces using the thermal distribution network is responsive to the district operational energy state.