Realizing Resilient Self-Organizing Microgrids
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is one of the largest consumer of energy in the world, and has become one of the strongest proponents of renewable-augmented microgrids. This grant supports a software-intensive, cyber-physical microgrid testbed that mimics the energy distribution systems in electric ships, electric aircrafts, forward operating bases, and mobile tactical microgrids. This testbed is a synergistic control-hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) setup that emulates, simulates, and imitates physical systems, control loops, and communication channels of a self-organizing cyber-physical microgrid. It enables reduced controller development time, extensive controller testing automation for different contingencies, and cyber-cognizant power system design. A microgrid emulator will be modularly assembled based on Typhoon HIL units to provide a high-fidelity dynamic model of microgirds with low computational latency, using numerous processing cores, embedded processor cores, and controller interface units. The Typhoon control software supports the schematic editor, circuit compiler, custom user interface builder, test executor, HIL paralleling toolbox, DSP controllers, and embedded codes for different microgrid configurations, with excellent update rate and quantization resolution, and minimal offset error and temperature drift. It has the capacity to tightly integrate with external industry-grade controllers and communication systems, and can be interfaced with physical microgrids, both on campus as well as with external collaborators. This testbed mimics microgrid hardware, firmware, and software platforms in both the island and grid-connected mode. This setup is modular, and easily and seamlessly accept future expansion and addition of Typhoon HIL cores and devices for a more powerful configuration. This setup will simultaneously support and enhance the existing research activities funded by the DoD, supports exiting grants by the National Science Foundation with interest to the DoD, develop new experimental capabilities to establish new research directions, and develop educational and pedagogical resources to develop future workforce for DoD. The testbed will be used to experimentally verify algorithms that will enable microgrids to offer performance guarantees with minimum communication, limited local computation, network optimality, and resilience to physical- and cyber-layer faults and attacks, while tackling low distribution inertia, volatile and unpredictable loads, and limited generation capability. Several basic research thrusts will be validated on the assembled microgrid, particularly in real-time modeling and simulation, distributed control, communication schemes in uncertain and risky environment, formal verification and performance guarantee, adaptive dynamic programming, and resiliency and survivability of energy conversion and distribution systems. The combined effect of diminishing student interest and an aging workforce creates an imminent shortage of qualified power engineers. Our goal is to attract, retain, and graduate students in the power and energy discipline. This equipment will be used in pedagogical activities in college-wide curriculum in energy systems. Experimental demonstration, based on this microgrid setup, will be presented in UT-ArlingtonÕs K-12 outreach programs, and used in short course delivery for STEM teachers from Arlington Independent School District. The University of Texas at Arlington is a Hispanic-Serving Institution; the 5th most diversified university in the nation, and ranked among the Best for Vets colleges by Military Times magazine. This testbed will enhance UTA s ability to attract and educate future STEM candidates for DoD mission, and workforce for the defense industry native to Dallas-FortWorth metroplex.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 06, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610534
Entities
People
- Ali Davoudi
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of Texas at Arlington