Professor Paul Borza, Professor at Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania
Professor Gady Golan, President at Hermelin Academic College of Engineering, Israel
Kaveri Bhuyan, Researcher at SINTEF, Norway
Vasco Gomes, Researcher at Transylvania University Brasov, Romania
Mohammad Ostadi, PhD candidate at NTNU, Norway, and
Nuno Amaro, PhD candidate at University in Lisbon, Portugal
Smart Grids are the electric grids of the future.
Although everyone in science and technology knows the term, there is not yet a clear definition for it. To help people understand the methodologies involved, our group decided to create a little example of a smart grid.
The created project was named Smart Campus.
The idea is to establish a micro grid system, operating as an energetic island,
in a Smart Grid context. The campus consists of 5 departments/buildings which can
be seen as grid users.
The main goals of this project include:
- Creation of a self-sustained self-managed energy system;
- To demonstrate a holistic energy efficient system;
- To generate consumption and tariff patterns for optimization of energy efficiency;
- Consumer and government education by increasing customer awareness;
- Dissemination and deployment of the Smart Grid concept;
- Building a knowledge base of the smart grid consumers behavior;
- Connecting to the distribution network and other micro grids.
To measure spent energy and to be able to
optimize energy consumption it is necessary to add intelligent devices such as
smart meters and smart energy counters. The considered consumers for this scenario
are comprised of departments and neighboring micro-grids which are faculties.
This brings up the possibility to not only use generated energy in the campus,
but also to trade it with neighbors.
Considering that a university campus has
many different energetic needs, the chosen network topology is a combination of
an AC grid and a DC grid. In this sense, equipment can be connected to one or
both of those grids, considering its needs. In order to not complicate the scenario,
the associated load profiles are only defined for the following appliances: white
goods, HVAC, lighting system, computers, and access and security systems.
To implement and design such a system,
there are a lot of challenges, included in different technological disciplines.
This means that the following specialties need to be considered:
- Electrical engineering – responsible for the simulation and implementation of PV system, wind generation system and all related control aspects.
- Mechanical engineering – responsible for the structural and thermal aspects in the design and operation of wind turbines. These specialists are also responsible for all heat flow systems.
- Science department – in charge of all data analysis, modelling and optimization processes.
- Computer engineering – to implement management algorithms, cyber-security and other ICT challenges.
- Management department – to create a business model, define and run an evaluation process to measure economic efficiency, results, statistics. Also responsible for the project management, policy and regulations.
- Design department – to develop the interface for interactive communication with customers.
- Solar power management;
- Wind power management;
- Smart meter management;
- Smart home emulation scenarios;
- Higher level micro grid management integration;
- Communication among all smart grid components;
- Cyber security – Hierarchic protocol gateways.
To ensure high reliability in the complete
system the following characteristics are required:
- Power quality – to improve quality of power in the network;
- Fault prediction – identification and detection of fault;
- Fault management – mitigate fault;
- Communication software – to achieve an interactive communication with customers and also with higher hierarchy micro grid networks;
- Power management – Manage DC grids, AC grids, connection with the network and assure the continuity and reliability of the power system;
- Software security – to assure cyber security in all network components;
- Energy storage management system.
At the end of the project, an evaluation
and assessment process must be implemented. This process must consider the
following parameters:
- Quality management – power, performance, components and system;
- Validation – comparison of obtained results with the initial goals;
- Academic evaluation;
- Economic evaluation;
- ROI – return on investment;
- Impact on community;
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