Coordinated Control and Cyber-secure Communication in a Distributed Host Nation Microgrid System
Abstract
Approved for Public ReleaseDoD operates a significant number of bases outside of the United States in cooperation with the local HN. Each base relies heavily on electrical power to accomplish their mission. In countries with poor electrical system reliability, backup power for these bases is typically provided by Advanced Medium Mobile Power System (AMMPS) diesel generators. These systems, however, are not complaint with the Tactical Microgrid Standard (TMS) being pursued as a unified requirement across all services, and further, the scope of TMS emphasizes generator controls without sufficient incorporation of energy storage, load control, and host nation power coupling that can drastically reduce fuel use. Generator fuel is purchased from the local population or transported fromfuel depots which incurs a significant cost for the DoD and introduces an additional vulnerability with the transport of fuel. Therefore, the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) Systems with MCSC has a need to provide reliable, resilient, and cost-effective power on installations that interface with HN power grids and alternative energy assets. Microgrids with intelligent asset coordination and cyber-secure communication can realize this benefit for forward operations of the Marine Corps. While this concept is known theoretically, our research will investigate translating these ideas to implementation through rigorous development, testing, and evaluation before the solutions can be moved to a program of record to scale benefits across DoN operations. Considering the Navy and DoD benefits, the proposed research (a) provides low-cost coordinated microgrid solutions to the HNs power architecture that will offset a significant portion of the fuel required in a conventional diesel generator driven platform, (b) enables reductions in life cycle cost (LCC), annual energy cost, and average fuel usage with a shorter payback period and enhanced savings-to-investment ratio (SIR), and (c) greatly offsets fuel consumption from AMMPS generators, increasing mission autonomy and resilience through advanced microgrid control.The following tasks as part of the technical approach adopted will scope, develop, and test the minimum viable product.Task 1:Benchmarking and Development of Power Quality Performance Indices of HN Microgrid: This task will synthesize and develop the performance indices to quantify the power quality and the extent of benefit obtained by the HN microgrid compared to using the conventional diesel-driven generator system.Task 2: Developing Cyber-resiliency of HN Microgrid connected Power Converters: This task will evaluate the possibilities of various forms of cyber-attacks at the microgrid software and data communication nodes and will develop hardware-domain attack detection and countermeasure mechanisms, verified through an OpalRT power-hardware-in-the-loop simulator.Task 3:Enhancement of adaptability of controls for improved grid power exchange: This task will updatealgorithms to enhance real-time controls to optimize dispatch and energy management strategies of HN microgrids before and during a contingency event.Task 4: Evaluate intelligent controls of hybrid microgrid assets for host nation power grid: The ASU Microgrid Test Bed will be used to demonstrate control algorithms on a 30kW hybrid microgrid system with Blue Planet battery storage, AMMPS diesel generator, NHR and Chroma load management, and Chroma grid emulator.The desirability and viability of the proposed solution/product in relation to Navy/DoD objectivesare:#Desirability: Increases probability of mission success through improvement of overall economics via energy resilience in locations of less-reliable utility access through the dispatch of diesel generators and energy storage.#Viability: Dual-use applications for forward operating bases and garrisoned military installations for energy resilience and cost-savings.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 12, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312347
Entities
People
- Ayan Mallik
Organizations
- Arizona State University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy