Sargent & LundyIPRO 497-215: Smart Microgrids

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ObjectiveOur mission is to transform the Bronzeville power system, which is heavily

reliant on power transmitted from ComEd, to a smart microgrid system by implementing new ideas for generation, distribution, and reliability through research towards innovative energy solutions.

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Team Structure

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Timeline

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Agenda● Introduction of Microgrid● Capacity● Cost of Generation● A Resilient Microgrid● Self-Healing Microgrid● Interconnection of IIT and Bronzeville ● Energy Storage ● Future Work

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Introduction of Microgrid

6http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2013-4-july-august/innovate/power-microgrids

Microgrid Vs. Traditional Power GridSimilarities

● Generation● Distribution● Controls

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Differences

● Microgrids increases efficiency by decreasing transmissions

● Microgrids also integrate with renewable energy sources such as solar, wind power, geothermal, and combined heat and power (CHP) systems.

Microgrid Benefits● Energy Security

○ Increases Reliability○ General Grid○ Islanding○ Self Healing

● Cost Efficient○ Less Power Outages○ Less Transmission Loss

● Environmentally Friendly○ Renewable Energy○ Reduces Carbon Footprint○ Decreases Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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http://www.microgridinstitute.org/about-microgrids.html

ComEd and the 6 proposed microgrids● Chicago Rockford International Airport● Chicago Heights water pumping and treatment facility● Medical District in Chicago● Dupage County government complex● Aurora FAA facility● Bronzeville community

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Funding and Plan ● Bill introduced for $300 million for the 6 microgrids● $4 million grant from US Department of Energy● $1.2 million grant in 2014 to work on the master controller● Install the microgrids over a five year period● Help bolster the distribution system

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Constructing a Microgrid in Bronzeville“Bronzeville was chosen as a starting point because it houses infrastructure that would be vital to keep running during a mass power outage, like medical centers and police headquarters.” - (Marotti,”ComEd gets $4 million to build microgrid in Bronzeville”)

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Bronzeville ● Area: 1.67 sq. mi● Total Population : 119,284

○ 62% live below the poverty line

○ Population Density :71,472 persons per square mile

● Total households : 56,245○ 2.05 people per household

● Main Institutions and Buildings○ Illinois Tech○ Chicago Bee Building○ Supreme Life Building

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CapacityWe currently are in the process of researching the capacity of power generation for Bronzeville, but we have information on the capacity for the IIT campus.

● Main IIT campus only has the capability to generate essential needs

● Cogeneration facility is only cost effective in producing hot water

● The peak load of IIT’s microgrid is 10 MW consisting of two 4 MW combined cycle gas units, PV devices and a small wind turbine.

● IIT’s microgrid has a smaller capacity than that of Bronzeville

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Cost of Generation● In the process of researching the cost of generation for all of Bronzeville● IIT Microgrid (2008-2014) (not including 8 MW natural gas plant and 4 MW backup generators)

○ Design cost: $1.25 M○ Total equipment and installation cost: $7.8 M○ Project Management Cost: $450 k○ Total capital cost: $9.5 M○ R&D: $4.1 M○ Total project cost: $13.6 M○ Unit cost: $1.1 M / MW○ Annual O&M: $50 k

14*Data obtained from IIT Technical Report

Type of Renewable Energy

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Solar● Solar panels (PV devices) take energy from

the sun and convert it into electricity● Electricity can be used to power the microgrid

when the sun is shining● Excess electricity can be fed back into the

local grid and reduce the electricity bill or stored for future use

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SolarPros● cleanest and most abundant

renewable energy source● Solar PV cost per Kwh are

constantly decreasing○ Currently cost an average of $0.72

per watt for a solar panel

Cons● expensive initial cost and storage

○ 5 kW solar panel system has an 8 year

payback period in Illinois (ranked 18th among states)

● power only generated during daytime

● large area required for setup ○ Bronzeville does not have large open

spaces for solar panels

○ PV devices must be placed on top of buildings

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Wind● wind turbines capture kinetic

energy from the blowing wind and convert it to electricity

● Electricity generated can be used to power the microgrid or stored for future use

○ Electricity can also be sent into the utility grid to lessen the electricity bill

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WindPros● Renewable and will not run out● Low maintenance cost● cost-effective: prices expected to

continue to decrease○ Current price is 8.2 cents per kilowatt

hour

Cons● Wind is not constant● Expensive manufacturing and

installation costs● Turbines are threats to wildlife● Large area required for set up

○ Bronzeville does not have large

spaces for turbines and it is not practical to place them on buildings

○ Turbines may have to be placed in a

remote location near Bronzeville and electricity needs to be transported

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CHP (Combined Heat and Power)● Distributed generation (on-site generation)● Not an energy source

○ Way of getting more usable energy out of each unit of fuel

● Provides:○ Electricity or mechanical power○ Useful thermal energy (heating or cooling)○ Single source of energy (typically natural

gas)● Recovers heat normally lost in power

generation process○ Provides needed heating or cooling

● 65-75% total system efficiency compared to 50% when separate

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CHP (Combined Heat and Power)Pros:

● Increased Efficiency○ Saves energy○ Saves money○ Reduces CO2 emissions up to 30%

● Can enhance efficiency of sustainable energy systems

○ When used with renewable energy sources

Cons:● Not energy source● Heating or cooling demand must be

continuous● Not a sustainable solution for long term

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CHP (Combined Heat and Power)How does CHP fit in with microgrids?

● Can be used to power critical infrastructures (CI)

○ Can be islanded in anticipation of emergency

● Can be complemented with intermittent distributed energy sources

● South Oaks Hospital in Amityville, NY● Micro-CHP (MCHP) for residences

○ Produces < 50 kW○ Small fuel cell or heat engine○ If heat isn’t needed, power comes from

grid○ Expensive initial investment ($25,000 in

2009)22

Geothermal HVACHow it works:

● Outdoor temperatures fluctuates with changing seasons, but underground temperatures don’t change as dramatically.

● 4 - 6 Feet below ground - Temperatures stay relatively constant year-round (Approximately 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit)

● Uses heat from the ground instead of the air outside

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Geothermal HVACPros:

● Save 30-60 % on heating

● Save 20-50% on cooling

● Uses Clean, Renewable Energy

● Low maintenance

● Long lifespan (15 - 50 years)

Cons:

● Expensive initial investment

● Range from: $10,000 - 30,000 (household)

○ Soil Condition

○ Plot Size

○ System Configuration

○ Site Accessibility

○ Amount of digging and drilling

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A Resilient Microgrid in Bronzeville● Integration of renewable energy sources● Safety of backup energy storage● Able to sense loads and faults and reroute power● Ability to operate on its own (Islanding)

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Important Measures● Stability during and after

emergencies● Interaction with large scale

generation● Reduction in outage times● Support critical loads during

power outages

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http://www.dreamstime.com

Priorities● Hospitals (Mercy Hospital)● Medical Centers● Police (Chicago Police

Headquarters)● Fire Departments● Municipal Buildings

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Power Outage

28http://hpac.com/building-controls/getting-macro-benefits-microgrids

29http://www.kohlergenerators.com/common/pdf/RES_Infographic.pdf

Interruption Cost Estimate Calculator● Department of Energy funded project● Allows for calculation of power outage estimates● Calculations are done based on average:

○ Outage duration - 90min○ Outage frequency - 1.1 per year○ Cost of electricity

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Power Outage Cost 1000/200For 1000 residential and 200 commercial customers

Sector # customers cost per outage

cost per average kW

total cost of interruptions

Medium and Large C&I

16 $8,140.1 $45.3 $143,266

Small C&I 184 $914.7 $191.2 $185,126

Residential 1000 $4.8 $4.5 $5,275

All customers

1200 $252.8 $63.0 $333,669

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* Data from Interruption Cost Estimate Calculatorhttp://www.icecalculator.com/

Self-Healing MicrogridSelf-healing is a power system concept that enables the identification and isolation

of faulted system component and restore power by using local generation.

Island mode allows for a local distribution to switch from primary source of power

to local generation or other power sources.

http://www.feis.unesp.br/Home/departamentos/engenhariaeletrica/self-healing.pdf

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Benefits of Self-Healing Microgrid● improves reliability

○ It narrows the location of

faults

○ reduces fault investigation

time

○ lessens the burden on the power grid

http://www.survalent.com/news-events/press-releases/469-survalent-technology-flisr-solution-helps-central-georgia-electric-membership-corporation-dramatically-reduce-customer-outage-time-and-enhance-competitiveness

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Requirements for Self-Healing Microgrid● alternative power source

● local distribution

● ability to automatically switch to

“island mode” via FLISR

https://www.nema.org/Storm-Disaster-Recovery/Microgrids-and-Energy-Storage/Pages/Energy-Reliability-with-Microgrids.aspx

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FLISR Technology● Fault location, Isolation, and

service restoration ● Automatic line switching

device● Allows power to be restored

faster● Island mode is dependent on

FLISR technology

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Estimated Time for Power to be Restored

http://www.feis.unesp.br/Home/departamentos/engenhariaeletrica/self-healing.pdf 36

FLISR commercial uses

● Sustainable Power System’s Universal Microgrid Controller○ can be optimized to use 100% renewable energy○ provides cybersecurity○ Logs warnings and shutdowns potential faults

● SPIREA’s Bluefin microcontroller○ can monitor and display dynamic topology of the microgrid

http://www.spirae.com/products/blue-fin-platform/microgrid-controls/http://www.sustainablepowersystems.com/universal-microgrid-controllertm/

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Interconnection of Microgrid in IIT to BronzevilleEquipment needed:● Automated switches● Transformers● Larger load pocket● Master Controller● DMS(Distribution management

system)--control and management of distribution systems instead of simple micro-grid controller

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Master Controller (MC)

● Maintaining specified voltage and frequency at the load end ● Ensure energy optimization for the microgrid● Operate in automatic mode with provision for manual intervention when

necessary● each MC must execute its control in close coordination with neighboring

MCs

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DMS(Distribution management system)

● Interact with MCs

● Is aware of potential wheeling paths in the microgrid

● When in fault condition, disconnection from the power source and switch to emergency support

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Benefits of the connected microgrids

● Reliability -- An interconnected microgrid increases stability and control capability with a distributed

control structure. -- Can have more redundancy to ensure better supply reliability.

● Resilience -- Reduction in outage time of critical loads

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Illinois Institute of Technology’s Microgrid

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http://iitmicrogrid.net/microgrid/index_all.htm

Phasor Measurement Units

● 12 Locations● Report electricity consumption, instantaneous voltage, and current of DER

units to the master controller.● Sampling rate of one signal per cycle● Update every 15 minutes

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http://iitmicrogrid.net/microgrid/index_PMU_photo.htm

High Reliability Distribution Systems

● 7 feeder loops to isolate faults○ Underground closed-loop fault-clearing S&C Vista switchgear○ SEL-351 directional overcurrent protection relays

● Fiber optic cables & VISTA switches

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http://iitmicrogrid.net/microgrid/index_HRDS_photo.htm

45http://iitmicrogrid.net/microgrid/imgs/all/fig3.png

Charging Stations

● Natural-Gas Turbine Synchronous○ 8 MW power plant; two 4MW Rolls Royce gas-turbines

● Solar PV○ 300 kW; 280 kW from three rooftops and 20 kW solar canopy

● Wind Turbine○ 8 kW

● 4,034 KW backup generator46

http://iitmicrogrid.net/microgrid/index_solar_photo.htm

Energy Storage

● 500 kWh ZBB (zinc-bromine) flow battery storage○ 10 individual sets of stacks each rated at 50kWh

● Max discharge rate is 2 hours (250 kW)

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http://iitmicrogrid.net/microgrid/index_storage_photo.htm

Types of Batteries● Lead Acid (Pba)

● Nickel Cadmium (NiCad)

● Lithium Ion (Li-Ion)

● Sodium Sulfur (NaS)

● Vanadium Redox (VRB)

● Zinc Bromine (ZnBr)

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https://www.ngk.co.jp/nas/specs/ 49

Example of a system

*PCS is a type of AC/DC power conversion system

https://www.ngk.co.jp/nas/specs/ 50

● R&D began in 1984 with the first commercial battery in 2002● Many US locations, most ranging in system size from 1 to 4 MWs● Biggest one is in northern Japan at 34 MWs, discussed on the next slide

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● Japan decided to increase its proportion of renewable energy to 3% by 2010.● Therefore in one of the best wind areas, they built a 51 MW wind farm● The battery is able to charge during the night when the demand is low and discharge during the day● 17 units of 2MW each, constant power utilizing wind forecasts

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Sodium SulfurPros

● High Temperature (300C - 350C)

● Efficiency of this battery is 90%

● Effective at stabilizing renewable energy

● Better for larger areas

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Cons

● The high temperature is difficult to store

● Corrosion of the insulators● Damaging chemicals to the

environment

Possible Design Solution● ComEd is committed to high-power

solar photovoltaics and energy storage● Connection to IIT’s microgrid via a tie

point● Has to be built big enough to supply

power to critical buildings● Master Controller will look for patterns

and adjust accordingly

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Solar/Storage● Price of solar has gone down

significantly● Same for energy storage● Provides emergency power during

both the day and night● Eases congestion in places with

high demand● Reduces greenhouse gases since

power plants can operate more efficiently

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http://www.forbes.com

Direction● Try to determine the future design of the Bronzeville microgrid (ComEd)● Present an idealised approach to creating a microgrid for Bronzeville (Ipro)

○ Potential for PV on rooftops○ Potential for wind/localized or offshore○ Potential for HVAC geothermal○ Potential for CHP○ Potential for energy storage ○ Potential for energy efficiency○ Research in progress on microgrid controller design○ Understanding electricity trending and its impact on electricity supply efficiency○ Compare with S&L Feedback

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Future Deliverables●Final Presentation (April TBD): a presentation that will be separate from

IPRO day to display and present our work from the semester to Sargent & Lundy. The day has not been set yet.

●IPRO Day (April 22nd): presentation day where the Illinois Institute of

Technology community will view our work and judge based on a set of criteria.

●Final Report (May 5th): the last report of the semester to summarize findings and developments. Also we will examine which goals were obtained.

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