Power conditioning and saving device

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein to a power factor adjustor comprising: a power factor measurement unit configured to measure the power factor on an input line to a load and generate a power factor correction signal based on the measured power factor; and a power factor adjustment unit connected to the power factor measurement unit comprising: a fixed capacitor connected in series to a first switching device; and an adjustable element having a variable capacitance connected in parallel to the fixed capacitor and in series to a second switching device, wherein the overall capacitance of the power factor adjustment unit is adjusted by adjusting the capacitance of the adjustable element or by toggling the first and second switching devices in response to the power factor correction signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A energy storage device comprising:
 a container comprised of a non-conducting material;   a compression material positioned in the container;   a first terminal for connecting an external circuit to the compression material;   a second terminal for connecting the compression material to the external circuit; and   a compression device positioned in the container that applies a fixed force to compress the compression material.   
     
     
         2 . The energy storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the compression device comprises a movable metal disk at a second end of the container that moves within the container toward or away from a stationary metal disk positioned at a first end of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The energy storage device of  claim 2 , wherein the movable metal disk has a threaded hole, a screw engages the threaded hole, and the movable metal disk compresses the compression material when the screw is turned at a second end of the container so that the movable metal disk moves toward the stationary metal disk. 
     
     
         4 . The energy storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the compression device is a piston connected to a spring positioned at a first end of the container that pushes the piston toward a second end of the container, thereby compressing the compression material. 
     
     
         5 . The energy storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite. 
     
     
         6 . The energy storage device of  claim 5 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite mixed with carbon. 
     
     
         7 . The energy storage device of  claim 5 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite mixed with an acidic catalyst. 
     
     
         8 . The energy storage device of  claim 7 , wherein the acidic catalyst may be an aqueous solution with an acidic pH. 
     
     
         9 . The energy storage device of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a first metal disk positioned in the container at a first end of the container and connected to the first terminal;   a second metal disk positioned in the container at a second end of the container and connected to the second terminal;   
     
     
         10 . The energy storage device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a metal liner along the inner surface of the container.   
     
     
         11 . The energy storage device of  claim 9 , wherein a space exists between at least one of the first and second metal disks and the metal liner. 
     
     
         12 . A energy storage device comprising:
 a container comprised of a non-conducting material and having an inner cavity;   a compression material in the inner cavity of the container;   a first terminal for connecting an external circuit to the compression material;   a second terminal for connecting the compression material to the external circuit;   a compression device positioned in the container that moves between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position applies compression to the compression material in the inner cavity and the second position relieves compression on the compression material in the inner cavity; and   a temperature dependent movement device that moves the compression device between the first position and the second position based on the temperature of the energy storage device.   
     
     
         13 . The energy storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature dependent movement device moves the compression device toward the first position if the temperature of the energy storage device is below a threshold 
     
     
         14 . The energy storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature dependent movement device moves the compression device toward the second position if the temperature of the energy storage device exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The energy storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature dependent movement device is a thermal spring. 
     
     
         16 . The energy storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite. 
     
     
         17 . The energy storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite mixed with carbon. 
     
     
         18 . The energy storage device of  claim 16 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite mixed with an acidic catalyst. 
     
     
         19 . The energy storage device of  claim 18 , wherein the acidic catalyst may be an aqueous solution with an acidic pH. 
     
     
         20 . The energy storage device of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a metal liner along the inside surface of the container.   
     
     
         21 . A energy storage device comprising:
 a container comprised of a non-conducting material;   a magnetic material comprising powdered magnetite positioned in the container;   a first terminal for connecting an external circuit to the powdered magnetite mix;   a second terminal for connecting the magnetic material to the external circuit; and   a compression device positioned in the container that applies a fixed force to compress the magnetic material.   
     
     
         22 . A method for recharging a energy storage device that includes two terminals and a compression material comprising magnetite that is compressed by a compression device applying a fixed force to the compression material during operation of the energy storage device, the method comprising:
 applying a magnetic field to the energy storage device;   determining the north and south poles of the magnetic field using a magnetic field sensor; and   orienting the energy storage device such that terminals of the energy storage device are respectively pointing toward the north and south poles of a magnetic field as determined by the magnetic field sensor, wherein the positive terminal of the energy storage device is oriented points toward the North Pole.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the magnetic field is the Earth's magnetic field. 
     
     
         24 . A method of preventing overheating of a energy storage device comprising:
 measuring an internal temperature of a energy storage device by a temperature measuring device;   determining whether the internal temperature of the energy storage device is above a temperature threshold; and   applying a force to a compression material using a compression device if the internal temperature of the energy storage device is below the temperature threshold.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite mixed with carbon. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite mixed with an acidic catalyst. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the compression device is a piston, the temperature measuring device is a thermal spring, and the piston is pushed toward the compression material by the thermal spring when the internal temperature of the energy storage device is less than the temperature threshold. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the thermal spring applies less force to the piston when the temperature is above the temperature threshold, thereby decompressing the compression material. 
     
     
         30 . A method of using a energy storage device comprising:
 compressing a compression material contained within the energy storage device using a compression device;   connecting a first terminal to an external circuit;   receiving a current from the external circuit through the first terminal;   transmitting the current from the first terminal to the compression material;   storing a charge in the compression material;   connecting a second terminal to the external circuit; and   driving a current to the external circuit by passing charge stored in the compression material through the second terminal.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite mixed with carbon. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the compression material comprises powdered magnetite mixed with an acidic catalyst. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the compression device is a piston that is pushed toward the compression material by a thermal spring that applies force to the piston. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the compression material is compressed by the compression device when an internal temperature of the energy storage device is below a temperature threshold. 
     
     
         36 . A method of using a energy storage device comprising:
 connecting a first terminal to an external circuit;   receiving a current from the external circuit at the first terminal;   transmitting the current from the first terminal to a charge-storing material contained within the energy storage device, wherein the charge-storing material comprises magnetite;   storing a charge in the charge-storing material;   connecting a second terminal to the external circuit; and   driving a current to the external circuit by passing charge stored in the charge-storing material through the second terminal.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 compressing the charge-storing material using a compression device.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the charge-storing material comprises powdered magnetite mixed with carbon. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the charge-storing material comprises powdered magnetite mixed with an acidic catalyst.