Hardware-In-the-Loop Simulator for Integrated AC-DC Energy Systems of Buildings and Communities

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Electrical energy systems are evolving quickly with rapidly increasing complexity, wider acceptance of power-electronics-based technologies, and integration with communication systems and sensors. Sophisticated computer models are essential for the planning and operation of electric power grids, as well as the design and integration of future renewable energy sources and systems. Thousands of engineers in control centers and research facilities around the world are working full-time developing models and conducting studies. Canada has been a leader in developing the state-of-the-art solution approaches and computerized tools that enable design and operation of electric power systems of various scales. The electromagnetic transient programs (EMTP) e.g., ATP, Microtran, EMTP-RV, PSCAD, RTDS, Opal-RT’s RT-LAB, Matlab’s SimPowerSystems, and Powertech Labs transient stability tools DSATools, etc, all have been originated from and/or developed by Canadian researchers and are now overwhelmingly used throughout the world as industry-standard tools. The requested equipment, software, and instruments are to build the real-time hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulator for studies and optimization of the operational integrated AC-DC Energy Storage System in Kaiser Building and distribution system on the UBC campus. The proposed HIL simulator is envisioned as a platform to extend the research and operational capability of the installed AC-DC power infrastructure, for connecting the real-time simulations and control algorithms with the existing and future power equipment, conducting detailed studies first at a building level and then on a campus-wide system, as well as for emulating additional converters/energy sources/loads/storage and other pieces of distribution system for larger scale studies. The requested equipment and software will provide experimental facility for several existing and future Strategic Partnership Grants/Projects and Discovery Grants currently undertaken by members of the UBC’s Electric Power and Energy System research group (comprises Drs. C. Chen, H. Dommel, W. Dunford, J. Jatskevich, J. Marti, and M. Ordonez). The requested equipment will support the UBC’s long-time tradition in developing computationally efficient models of power systems components and simulation techniques. The HIL simulator will enable integration and utilization of existing experimental facilities for large-scale real-time system studies, as well as stimulate new research initiatives and ideas. The new/advanced models of power components will be verified and tested in together real-time experimental hardware. The results of this research will boost the modeling capabilities of modern and future simulation tools, which will enable the new paradigms of AC/DC microgrids, and alternative energy sources and storage, which together define the evolving future smart grid.