2012 Advisory Panel
Grid Solutions Program
John Herbst
Center for Electromechanics
The University of Texas at Austin
12/4/2012
Presentation Overview
• Key research challenges, drivers, and goals
• Technology relationships
– Electric Ship
– Microgrid
– Smart Grid
– Energy Security
• Program Development
• Summary
Research Motivation
• US electric power system is rapidly evolving
– Aging power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure
• New technologies changing the landscape
– Increased use of power electronics, telecommunications,
sensors, and controls
• Integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER)
– Renewable resources: wind, solar, geothermal
• Vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure
– Need for energy independence
– Physical/cyber protection of utility grid
• New tools are needed to effectively manage this evolution
– Global issue
Key Research Challenges
• Complex systems and simulation models
– Understanding complex interdependent systems
– Unconventional power equipment and architectures
– Extended computation times limit model utility
• Access and processing of “real-world” data
– Impact of renewables and electric vehicles
– Needed to anchor analytical models
Key Research Drivers
• Integration of renewables
– Dispatchability or local use of PV and wind resources
– Understanding the impact on existing infrastructure
• e.g., transformer power flow, power factor
• Increased penetration of electric vehicles
– Impact on peak demand
• Understanding the impact of energy storage
– Need to define value proposition for stakeholders
• Critical for isolated grids
• Connection to larger grid raises questions about value – other solutions available
– Need to define optimum location for storage
• Home, community, substation, transmission
• Energy security
– Ensuring energy supply with long-term disruptions to utility
– Physical and cyber-security of critical infrastructure
Key Goals
• Reduction/elimination of dependence on fossil
fuel energy supplies
– Need for energy imports creates vulnerability
– Reduction of greenhouse gases
• Enhanced efficiency and energy security through
intelligent control and energy management
–
–
–
–
Land-based military and civilian installations
Remote installations (e.g., Hawaii, Alaska)
Naval vessels – Integrated Power Systems
Offshore and subsea oil and gas installations
Technology Relationships
Advanced Power/Energy
Technologies
High Speed Motors/Generators
Energy Storage Flywheels
Advanced Power Conversion
Integrated Mobile
Pulsed Power Systems
9 MJ Range Gun System
Combat Hybrid Power Supply
Hybrid Energy Storage Module
CEM Grid Solutions
Program
UTSolutions
CEM Grid
Electric
Ship
Program
Program
CEM Grid
Solutions
Program
Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Propulsion Systems
ALPS Locomotive Propulsion
BUS Flywheel
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles
Terrestrial Microgrids
Microgrid Laboratory
FOB/TOC Modeling
DOD Base Modeling (ONR/29 Palms)
CEMSolver
Smart Grids
Offshore Platforms/FPSO
Subsea Power Distribution
New Technology Application Thrust
Pecan Street Project
DOD Energy Security
Model-based Control/Cybersecurity
CEM Expertise
• Unique understanding of microgrid power
system issues and technologies
– Analytical expertise in power system modeling using
tools ubiquitous throughout industry/government
• Enhancing these tools to enable faster/better modeling
– Extensive experience in physical implementation and
operation of advanced power generation and
conversion components and systems
• Overall capabilities give us unique insight and
expertise on each fundamental step of the process
Concept  Design  Analysis  Build  Test
Electric Ship Research and
Development Consortium (ESRDC)
• Consortium of eight universities conducting
research into integrated electric power systems
for future naval vessels
– Two five-year grants with 1-year extension for FY13
– Total annual funding ~$8.5M; UT share ~$1.6M
• Power system modeling and simulation
• Technology development and demonstration
• Multiple spin-off programs
– T-Craft technology evaluations
– EVT permanent magnet motor testing
– Swampworks architecture demonstrations
UT Microgrid Laboratory
• Flexible, MW-scale microgrid
– Configured for MVDC bus; HFAC
architectures also possible
• Multiple functionalities
– Component and subsystem testing
– System-level interactions
– Controls development
HFAC Configuration
10
MVDC Configuration
Swampworks Demonstrations
AC Load Bank
1 MW
Field controllable
engine driven
ac generator
ESRDC
Transformer
480 : 800 V
480 V
Utility
Supply
GE Reactors
1 MVA
800 VAC
60 Hz
SPCO
Controlled
Rectifier
HVDC
Power
Supply
ALPS
Converter
Power Generation
Pulsed
Weapon/Sensor
Hotel Loads
Capacitor
Bank
Dump
Resistor
1 MW
.
DC Bus
1.1 kV
ALPS
DC
Chopper
Leased equipment
ALPS
Load Bank
0.5 MW
Power Generation
Existing equipment
ALPS
Transformer
480 : 800 V
ALPS
Passive
Rectifier
Propulsion
480 V
Utility
Supply
Dyno
Toshiba
VFD
Field controllable
engine driven
ac generator
ALPS
Motorgen
Kahn
Dynamometer
0.5 MW
Pecan Street Inc.
• DOE SmartGrid demonstration
program
– Mixed used development at
Mueller neighborhood
• Site of former Austin airport
– PV generation
– EV charging profiles
– Impact/location of energy storage
3-phase Power
x 10
1.2
S (kVA)
P (kW)
Q (kVars)
PF
1
10
0.8
Power
• Modeling and simulation
• Extremely valuable data on
residential and commercial
power use
55
15
0.6
5
0.4
0.2
0
0
4
8
12
Hours
16
20
0
24
Power Factor (PF)
– Multiple industrial sponsors
– High penetration of EV’s and PV’s
Energy Security
• ONR program through UT Center for Energy Security
– Modeling of notional land-based naval installation
– Leverages ship modeling and PSP data
• Developing M&S tools for base power systems
–
–
–
–
Improved efficiency during normal operation
Guide for incremental evolution of power system
Path to energy independence – “net zero” operation
Effective response to long-term disruption of utility supply
• Energy Security
– Access to renewable/stored energy
– Internal/external threats
• Cybersecurity
– Model-based control validation
ONR Base Modeling
Notional Naval Base
29 Palms Energy Study
• Marine base near Mohave desert
• Seeks to operate as microgrid
• Nominal base load: 15 MW
• Grid power: 40%
• On-site: 60% (5% PV / 55% Cogen Plant)
• Acquisitions for energy storage (1.2 MWh)
and microgrid controls in progress
• Plan to grow PV plant from 1 to 10 MW
• UT-CEM activities
• Building simulation model
• Assessing stability under cloud transients
• Working with MIT Lincoln Labs and GE Global
Research to develop engineering criteria
CEMSolver: Accelerating Simulations
• Complex simulations require
excessive run times
– Impacts technology development
– Industry, government, and
academia face the same issues
• Processor speeds are nearing
physical limits (Moore’s Law)
– Moving from faster processors to
more processors – multicore
computers and cluster supercomputers
• Partitioning of model is critical issue
– Automation of partitioning process and
treatment of legacy models
• CEMSolver is an external parallel solver
for Simulink
CEMSolver: Accelerating Simulations
• CEM’s Approach
– Develop parallel solver that
can import Simulink models
• Parallel solver exploits
desktop multicore technology
– Speedups of 50x observed on
large power system models
• Tool still in development
– Free distribution for ONRsponsored entities
• Validations against Simulink
results in progress
– Accuracy difficult to gauge
without experimental data:
which simulation is “right”?
•
•
•
•
Better core utilization; better run time
Runs on Windows 7 desktop computers
Can import existing Simulink models
Users can still run models in Simulink
Grid Program Development Activities
• Negotiated Master Research Agreement with Oil & Gas Industry Partner
– Two-year process with new technology development project (12/2012)
– Trying to leverage prior power system studies into new activities
• Exploring collaborative proposals in cybersecurity arena with ARL:UT
– Cyber Information Assurance and Decision Support Group (Dr. Cheryl Martin)
• Exploring collaborative proposals with Texas A&M and Extreme Power
– Energy storage applications and testing
• Briefings and white paper proposals
– Dr. Joseph Westphal, Undersecretary of the Army
• Land-based installation modeling
– ASD (OEPP)
• Fort Hood/Fort Bliss critical infrastructure modeling
– Army Research Lab
• FOB/TOC grid systems and technologies
• Identified two cost-share partners for new proposals in this area
New Program Development
Activities 12-18 months
• Follow up with Richard Kidd
– Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army
• Follow up with ASD (OEPP)
– Assistant Secretary of Defense (Operational Energy Plans and Programs)
• Engage with RPSEA/Petrobras
– Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America
– CENPES – Brazilian oil and gas research organization
• Key Program Development challenges
– Time/funding for focused program development
– Cost share requirements difficult for academia (DOE solicitations)
Program Development Opportunities
• Software Partner: ETAP
• Partner/cost share for DOE proposal
– Collaboration with Mississippi State University’s
supercomputing researchers
– Develop advanced power system simulation and
data management tools
– Leveraging CEMSolver to develop tools to model and
manage nationwide power transmission and
distribution system
• Looking for other collaboration activities
Program Development Opportunities
• Software partner: PowerAnalytics
• Paladin DesignBase Software
– Electric power system modeling and monitoring tool
– Low cost, 1-year lease to explore research opportunities
– Negotiating long-term access to support program
development (1% share on research funding) for future
activities
• Press Release: Modeling and Simulation Roadmap to
Enhance Electrical Energy Security of U.S. Naval Bases
– “Used as a reference in selecting Paladin software for the
U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and
Engineering Center (AMRDEC) System Simulation and
Development Directorate (SSDD) laboratory”
Summary
• CEM is uniquely positioned to support the coming
changes in the US electric power system
– Technologies, modeling and simulation, controls
• CEM is effectively leveraging prior research expertise and
current research activities to expand the Grid Solutions
Program
– Electric ship program leading to new projects
• CEM is developing a potentially game changing external
solver for power system simulations
– Enhanced performance for power system simulation tool
used throughout industry, government, and academia
• CEM is actively seeking to develop new partners and
expand into new applications in microgrid power systems
Questions?
John Herbst
Program Manager
The University of Texas Center for Electromechanics
j.herbst@cem.utexas.edu
www.utexas.edu/research/cem/