RAPID: Powering through the hurricane: self-organizing power electronics intelligence at the network edge

随着德克萨斯州遭遇50多年来最强烈的飓风，社区正在不知疲倦地重建家园和基础设施。作为现代公民社会的命脉，由于大容量电力基础设施的修复时间较长，许多社区的电力尚未完全恢复。该RAPID项目旨在收集受飓风哈维影响地区的电力需求数据，并在网络边缘开发快速可重构电力电子智能（PINE）。目标是使最终用户能够在恢复阶段快速恢复优先电力负荷。该方法是整合现有的分布式能源资源，并赋予配电网基于边缘的电力电子控制，以便至少为当地社区提供其电力需求的关键部分。智力价值：该项目的智力价值是三方面的。首先，该项目将迅速收集有关受飓风哈维影响的社区电力短缺的数据。其次，基于这些数据，将以分布式方式制定和计算能量受限的微电网调度。更广泛的影响：大约45%的德克萨斯A M主校区和100%的德克萨斯A M加尔维斯顿校区的学生受到飓风哈维的影响。该项目为处于重建阶段的学生及其家庭提供了直接利益。该项目还为许多偏远地区提供了救济，这些地区可能需要等待数周甚至数月才能完全恢复大容量电力基础设施。该团队将积极参与全州范围内的重建德克萨斯倡议。研究成果将通过出版物和讲座笔记传播，这将使许多其他遭受自然灾害风险的社区受益。

SummaryAs Texas experiences the strongest hurricane in more than 50 years, communities are working tirelessly to rebuild homes and infrastructure. As the lifeblood of modern civil society, electricity has not been fully restored in many neighborhoods because of the long repair time for the bulk power infrastructure.This RAPID project aims at collecting data of electricity needs in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey, and developing fast reconfigurable power electronics intelligence at the network edge (PINE). The objective is to enable end users to quickly restore prioritized electric loads during the recovery phase. The approach is to integrate distributed energy resources that are readily available, as well as to endow the distribution grid with edge-based power electronics control, so as to provide local communities with at least the critical portion of their electricity needs.Intellectual Merit:The intellectual merit of this project is three-fold. First, this project will quickly collect data about the shortage of power in communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. Second, based on the data, energy-constrained microgrid scheduling will be formulated and computed in a distributed manner. Third, the power-limiting control of power electronics interface at the end user level will be designed and tested.Broader Impacts:Approximately 45% of the Texas A&M main campus and 100% of Texas A&M Galveston campus students were affected by the Hurricane Harvey. This project provides direct benefits to the students and their families in this rebuilding phase. This project also provides relief to many remote areas which may have to wait for weeks or even months before the full restoration of the bulk power infrastructure. This team will actively participate in this state-wide Rebuild Texas Initiative. The research results will be disseminated through publication and lecturenotes, which can benefit many other communities that are subject to the risk of natural disasters.