Real-Time Simulator for Advanced Energy Network Planning, Optimization and Control
Abstract
Future DOD capabilities will require power and energy systems that meet agility, efficiency, scalability and controllability requirements that cannot be met today. Advanced control systems and real-time optimization, with distributed processing from the supervisory to the power electronics levels are needed to solve this challenge. Managing the competing interests of agility and stability is also a challenging aspect of the problem. Guaranteed stability is a requirement, however, operation near instability provides an opportunity to increase power system agility and rapidly transition a power grids mode of operation. For example, ship electrical power systems may need to channel large amounts of power for a short duration for pulse power systems while still satisfying other critical loads. Increasing energy storage assets is one solution, however, it requires significant space and maintenance. Initial strategy development is possible using batch simulation followed by laboratory testing. However, this approach stifles development of the best strategies. In particular, a power grid must be greatly simplified in both topology and scenario for laboratory studies. This constrains subsequent strategy improvement, uncovered by the laboratory testing, due to the expense of laboratory changes. A high fidelity, real-time, hardware-in-the-loop simulator, which is the focus of this DURIP request, solves this problem. It is arguably the best approach for development and evaluation of advanced microgrid and energy network control strategies prior to their laboratory and field deployment. The proposed HIL test-bed instrument will: 1. Enhance the quality of research currently funded by the DoD at Michigan Tech by enabling rapid, scalable and safe prototyping of real-time controls and optimizations of energy networks. Currently funded projects that will greatly benefit from this instrument include: • Autonomous Microgrids: Theory, Control, Flexibility & Scalability • Increasing Ship Power System Capability Through Exergy Control • Metastability of Pulsed Load Microgrids 2. Establish new research capabilities and enhance current research capabilities at Michigan Tech for performing research of interest to the DoD. Current research concepts under early development that would be advanced by the HIL test-bed include: • Energy Packet Networks • Agent Consensus Power
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 27, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812745
Entities
People
- Wayne W. Weaver
Organizations
- Michigan Technological University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy