Electric Grid Technology
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Multi-Flex™ Electric Grid Technology

The electric utility grid is faced with growing demand that is outstripping supply in periods of peak demand. Utility companies are also facing new “green” energy goals and mandates to reduce emissions. The Multi-Flex™ can assist consumers, businesses, and public utilities by blending energy from both alternative energy sources and storage systems to manage peak demand and smooth power flow.

The Multi-Flex™ is a hardware and software system that can optimize the generation and storage of energy. Multi-Flex™ features:
  1. Direct energy to storage in periods of low demand (off-peak) and release energy from storage when demand peaks.
  2. Enable systems to target an electrical load output using variable generation systems such as wind and solar. Excess energy is stored, periods of low production are supplemented by storage or other generation systems.
  3. Shave peak demand using a storage system comprised of a power battery pack and an energy battery pack.

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With an increased emphasis on alternative energy, photovoltaic(solar) and wind energy systems are becoming more popular. The benefits of these systems are that they produce no emissions and once installed, the marginal cost of electricity approaches zero. However, energy production from wind and solar systems depends on sunshine and wind velocity. Solar cells do not produce electricity at night, and produce less under cloud cover. Similarly, wind systems do not produce electricity unless the wind blows, and the production varies as the velocity of wind changes. In addition, the wind often generates electricity at times when energy demand is low, so it would be optimal if that energy could be stored. While DC-DC converters exist today, there is no product that can intelligently blend, smooth, and otherwise manage energy between energy generation and/or energy storage devices of different voltages.

Electric utility companies need to reduce the demand for energy at peak times so that the need for new power plant construction can be minimized and so that expensive peak generation station use can be decreased. Because of this, electric utility companies have begun to offer financial incentives to customers who allow “smart meters” to decrease energy to the customer during times of peak demand. With these new incentives, momentum is growing for a system that would make up any difference between the reduced energy provided by the utility during peak demand times and the normal demand at other times. In other words, alternative energy and storage systems that serve as a backup to the grid for a few hours a day are needed.

Indy Power Systems has developed the Multi-Flex™, a hardware and software system that directs the flow of energy between multiple power unit sources (such as a solar panel, wind generator, or battery pack) and a load (such as a home or business) regardless of voltage. The system is bi-directional and can target constant voltage, constant current, or power while moving energy in any direction and in any combination. A proposed configuration of the Multi-Flex™ is shown in the diagram below.

The Multi-Flex™ can smooth fluctuating power from solar or wind generators by directing peak or excess power to storage systems and using power stored to supplement times of low generation.

Multi-Flex™ is completely scalable and can manage handheld electrical devices and electric vehicles in addition to the power grid. The Multi-Flex™ can manage any number of power units, and in any combination. Because the Multi-Flex™ is software driven, changes in configuration can be handled with just a software modification. Multi-Flex™ systems are fully upgradeable. As such, power units can be modified and even substituted with new power technology as desired.

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