Distributed Generation, Smart Grid, and Microgrid

Distributed Generation refers to small scale electrical generation located at or near customer sites often interconnected to the utility for reliability and power back up. Our distributed generation project is developing a power grid test bed to better understand the effects wind, solar, and fuel cell power sources contribute to the grid under a high degree of distributive generation device penetration. We can also study the power electronic circuits and inverter controls of these complex and dynamic systems. The test bed will lend itself to modular device modifications to evaluate and study new smart grid technologies that are evolving.

Projects

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Device Development and Testing:

• DG test bed construction for simulating distribution grid reliability and performance.
• Test operational characteristics of DG under a high degree of penetration.
• Study stability and dynamic behavior of utility distribution grid with small system inertia Investigate power quality interactions in inverter based DG.
• Develop and test new DG control features that meet IEEE 1741.
• Phasor measurement (PMU) and data storage systems.
• Power electronics, controls and optimization.
• Micro grid and renewable energy systems integration.
• Autonomous energy systems and controls.
• Energy storage devices and systems application.

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Systems Engineering & Integration:

• Micro grid and renewable energy systems integration.
• Autonomous energy systems and controls.