Acquisition of Test Equipment to Advance Research and Education in Distributed Energy Systems (DES)

分布式能源系统(DES)是一种在用电地点发电的系统。在过去的五年里，人们对使用分布式发电和存储的兴趣大大增加，因为它有可能为客户提供更高的可靠性和更低的电力输送成本。电力行业竞争的到来和客户的选择，在一定程度上刺激了这种兴趣的增加。推动这一趋势的还有小型模块化发电技术的发展，如燃料电池、微型涡轮机、光伏系统、风能系统和柴油发动机。此外，飞轮式储能/放电系统有望在现有的UPS系统中提供直通并提高电池寿命。业内估计，到2010年，分布式资源(DR)将占到新发电总量的30%。以可再生资源、热电结合和混合系统为特色的DR对环境的好处是巨大的。在支持用户选择方面，分布式电源可能是电力行业长期竞争的基础，虽然分布式发电和分布式存储的应用可以带来许多好处，但为了实现这些好处，避免对系统电能质量、可靠性和安全性造成负面影响，必须发展将它们适当地整合到现有电力系统中的技术和运营理念。目前的配电系统没有设计成在配电一级容纳有源发电和储能，特别是向其他配电客户供应能源。允许这种类型的操作的技术问题是重要的。有鉴于此，本项目建议购买先进的设备，这些设备将致力于支持和加强分布式能源系统领域的研究。新的DES实验室将拥有在以下领域进行研究、教育和培训的必要设施：微型涡轮机、燃料电池、风能和飞轮型能源系统。该项目将促进开发创新的电力转换器拓扑结构、先进的发电机和公用事业互联所需的电子设备，以及DES的控制和运行。它将有助于为DES的安全和可靠运行开发新的保护系统。它还将有助于改进调查方法，以提高DES的可靠性。该实验室还将协助开发新的独立混合DES，例如：用于住宅电力系统的燃料电池和电池组合，以及用于建筑物等关键负载的微型涡轮机和飞轮类型的连续电力系统。为下一代DES开发模块化电力电子转换器和模块化发电机将是购置设备的一项重要活动。拟议中的DES实验室还将在这一重要领域协助本科生、研究生和行业人员的教育。拟议中的DES实验室将与DES技术公司、当地公用事业公司、电力电子和电机行业合作发展。TAMU的电力电子和电机研究项目与领先的公用事业公司和行业建立了长期的合作研究项目。通过合作，拟议中的实验室将为先进的DES开发和教育铺平道路。

0116205EnjetiA distributed energy system (DES) is one in which electricity is generated at the location where it is consumed. Interest in the use of distributed generation and storage has increased substantially over the past five years because of the potential to provide increased reliability and lower cost of power delivery to the customer. The advent of competition in the electric power industry and customer choice have, in part, been the stimulus for this increased interest. Also contributing to this trend has been the development of small modular generation technologies, such as fuel cells, microturbines, photovoltaic systems, wind energy systems and diesel engines. In addition, flywheel type energy storage/discharge systems hold promise to provide ride-through and enhance battery life in existing UPS systems. Industry estimates are that distributed resources (DR) will account for up to 30% of new power generation by the year 2010. The environmental benefits of DR that feature renewable resources, combined heat and power, and hybrid systems are substantial. In supporting customer choice, distributed power may be the long-term foundation of competition in electric power industry.Although the application of distributed generation and storage can bring many benefits, the technologies and operational concepts to properly integrate them into existing power systems must be developed to realize these benefits and avoid negative impacts on system power quality, reliability and safety. The current power distribution system was not designed to accommodate active generation and storage at the distribution level particularly to supply energy to other distribution customers. The technical issues to allow this type of operation are significant.In view of all of the above, this project proposes to purchase advanced equipment, which will be dedicated to supporting and enhancing research in the distributed energy systems area. The new DES laboratory will have necessary facilities to conduct research, education and training in the following areas: Microturbines, Fuel Cells, Wind and Flywheel type energy systems. This project will foster the development of innovative power converter topologies, advanced electric generators and electronics needed for utility interconnection and the control and operation of DES. It will aid in the development of new protection systems for the safe and reliable operation of DES. It will also aid in investigative methods to improve the reliability of DES. The laboratory will also assist in the development of new stand alone hybrid DES such as: Fuel Cell & Battery combination for residential power systems and Microturbine & Flywheel type continuous power systems for critical loads such as buildings. Development of modular power electronic converters along with modular electric generators for the next generation of DES will be an important activity pursued with the acquired equipment. The proposed DES laboratory will also assist in the education of undergraduate, graduate students and industry personnel in this important area.The proposed DES laboratory will be developed in cooperation with DES technology companies, local utilities, power electronics & electric machine industries. The power electronics and electric machines research program at TAMU has established long standing cooperative research programs with leading utility companies and industries. Working together, the proposed laboratory will pave the way for advanced DES development and education.