Campus Facilities Microgrid Expansion

This project aims to provide tactful insight and models on how to expand the existing microgrid on campus to include the future generation capabilities of steam turbines and a PV solar array to support critical loads and maximize efficiency within the microgrid.​ Our analysis will reveal pertinent issues associated with the expansion of the microgrid and will expose the pros and cons pertaining to the capacity, connectivity, protection, and overall efficiency of the grid. We will also highlight the best suited technology for these applications.

=Introduction=

Background
A capital project to install steam turbines to the campus energy plant for power generation is currently underway thanks to the help of multiple senior design projects. The turbines will be the basis for the first microgrid on campus to reduce energy costs and support critical loads during power outages. The overall UI microgrid scope includes the entire campus, with a total of 143 floors, excluding Northern farms. The current generation for the campus microgrid includes the steam turbines and the solar panels that will be placed on the roof of IRIC. This project will expand the microgrid further to include a utility scale solar PV array of approximately 1.0 MW in size. With these sources of generation connected into a microgrid, we will be able to keep critical infrastructure on campus running in the event of the grid going down.

Problem Definition

 * Microgrid should be able to sectionalize different portions of the grid based on prioritization, load demand, and available generation
 * Determine the type and location of equipment needed to expand the microgrid
 * Analyze microgrid performance associated with the peak energy available from sources accounting for seasonal changes in capacity ​
 * Conduct an economic analysis

Design Goals
1. Expand the current campus microgrid design to integrate the new solar generation from the 1 MW array, the IRIC array, as well as the critical load of the wells.



2. Relays, switches, and controls will be tactfully integrated to ensure effective grid diagnostics and controllability. (Islanding/Load Shedding)

3. Determine which loads can be supported given available generation and under specific use case scenarios.

4. Account for seasonal changes and their effects on energy efficiency.​

=Microgrid Design=

Design Considerations

 * We are using Powerworld to simulate the expansion of the microgrid
 * We are including the PV solar array from the Solar Backup Power Generation senior design team.
 * We are taking advantage of the backup generators within buildings
 * The current setup of the microgrid includes the UI Steam Plant, McClure, CNR, GJL, and BEL.
 * The current generation in consideration for the microgrid includes the UI Steam turbines and the solar panels to be placed on the roof of the IRIC.
 * We will need to include the Solar Backup Power Generation's PV array and additional backup generators at certain locations

Specifications

 * Generation for use:
 * UI Steam Plant Turbines
 * IRIC Solar Array
 * Solar Backup Power Generation Array
 * Backup Generators


 * Loads to consider:
 * Janssen Engineering Building
 * College of Natural Resources
 * Buchannan Engineering Lab​
 * McClure Hall
 * Wells
 * IRIC

Powerworld Simulation
We will be using PowerWorld to simulate the expanded microgrid. The decision to choose PowerWorld instead of following what the previous team did, using the Real Time Digital Simulator with SEL relays and an RTAC, was done because of how much more can be accomplished with PowerWorld. We will be able to verify the previous team's design while also including different types of analysis. This program will also allow us to easily add onto our design and to change the data within the simulations. We will be able to test different use cases within PowerWorld including a worst case scenario and steady state operation.


 * The following are the various different simulations that we wish to complete.
 * Power flow analysis
 * Load shedding simulation
 * To verify what the previous team has done and to also include the new critical load
 * N-1 contingency analysis
 * An analysis of what would occur in the microgrid if one element was lost
 * Fault analysis
 * Seasonal analysis
 * Optimization of equipment allocation

=Validation=

=Team Members=

=Additional Documentation=

Project Schedule

Meeting Minutes



Presentations