Intelligent Power & Energy Research Corp — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N152-098

Description

While the concept of a microgrid may seem straightforward, the actual implementation of the hardware and controls can be complex and difficult to integrate with the available equipment. Of particular annoyance is the vast set of contingencies that must be accounted for to ensure the controller operates safely in the event of equipment or device communication failures.<br>The development of control algorithms, contingency handling, and human-machine interface can consume surprisingly large amounts of time and human resources. The costs associated with control algorithms can dwarf the cost of the control hardware installation.<br>Faced with these issues, we propose the design and development of a system that would automate the creation of the control system for microgrids. This system would generate a set of rules and algorithm templates that can be used by a commercially available microgrid controller. These templates are based on the equipment identified by the controller during the initial system commissioning. In effect, the controller would be overlaid on top of the microgrid equipment (switchgear, generators, and other hardware) and would, with minimal user input, identify and implement the salient routines that initiate microgrid mode (and return to grid-tied mode) when appropriate. The system would also be capable of setting up the framework to offer any potential ancillary services to the local utility, thus providing an additional revenue stream to the facility operator. The automated process would execute a large number of routines designed to handle the various operational contingencies anticipated with the installed equipment, while forming a user-modifiable GUI that acts as the human-machine interface.