Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
36 Microgrids
Ao Dong
Bohao Zhang
Kaijie Xu
Yuqiu Zhang
design_document2.pdf
final_paper2.pdf
proposal2.pdf
Lin Qiu
TEAM MEMBERS:

●Kaiijie Xu (kaijiex3@illinois.edu),

●Bohao Zhang (bohaoz2@illinois.edu),

●Ao Dong (aodong2@illinois.edu),

●Yuqiu Zhang (yuqiuz2@illinois.edu)


Microgrids

PROBLEM:

In recent years, the power system has faced challenges stemming from increasing load and transmission capacity, as well as high costs, operational difficulties, and weak regulation of large interconnected power grids with centralized generation and long-distance transmission. However, advances in new power electronics technology have led to the proliferation of distributed generation based on renewable sources such as wind, solar, and storage. Distributed power generation offers various advantages, including high energy utilization, low environmental pollution, high power supply flexibility, and low input cost. Developing and utilizing efficient, economical, flexible, and reliable distributed power generation technology presents an effective approach to addressing the energy crisis and environmental issues. The concept of microgrid, which aims to mitigate the impact of large-scale distributed power supply to the grid and leverage the benefits of distributed power generation technology, was introduced. The microgrid represents a promising solution to address the limited carrying capacity of the power system for the extensive penetration of distributed power supply.

SOLUTION OVERVIEW:

To verify the feasibility of the microgrid, we plan to build a small microgrid on a PCB board. This microgrid contains a power generation part (solar panels), a transmission part (wires), a power consumption part (light bulbs, fans, etc.), an energy storage device (batteries), and a device connected in parallel with the larger grid. The microgrid can perform most of the power system functions independently. It can also be connected to the larger grid and switched from islanding mode to parallel mode.

SOLUTION COMPONENTS:

Power Generation: The proposed solution involves integrating a solar panel with a printed circuit board (PCB) to serve as a primary power source for the microgrid. The solar panel will primarily generate energy to power the microgrid. In the event that power generation is insufficient to meet the microgrid's energy demands, it will be possible to draw electricity from the larger grid by establishing a connection between the microgrid and the grid. This hybrid power supply arrangement will ensure a stable and reliable power supply for the microgrid, even under variable weather conditions that may affect the solar panel's output.

Energy Storage: To enable energy storage for the microgrid, a battery will be integrated into the PCB board. The battery will function as an energy storage device that can capture and store excess energy generated by the solar panel when the power generation exceeds the system load. Conversely, when the power generation is lower than the system load, the battery will discharge stored energy to supplement the power supply. This mechanism will contribute to a more stable and reliable power supply for the microgrid, reducing the potential for power outages or disruptions. Additionally, the battery's capacity and performance characteristics will be optimized to ensure efficient energy storage and discharge, and to prolong the battery's operational lifespan.

Load: The intended loads for the microgrid are primarily light bulbs and electric fans, with the possibility of integrating cell phone charging devices at a later stage if budget and technological feasibility permit. These loads have been selected based on their low power requirements and the ability to provide immediate benefits to end-users. Additionally, they are expected to be relatively easy to implement, and can serve as a starting point for the development of more complex microgrid applications in the future. Nonetheless, the potential inclusion of cell phone charging devices as part of the microgrid's load profile requires a careful assessment of the system's technical capabilities, as well as a thorough evaluation of the costs and benefits associated with such an expansion.

Control system: The control module employed for the microgrid is the DSP28377 chip, which receives analog control signals from other modules. To facilitate the desired control functionality, a C program will be implemented on the DSP28377 chip. This program will enable the control module to execute the necessary control algorithms to regulate the microgrid's power supply in accordance with the received signals. The use of the DSP28377 chip offers numerous advantages, including high performance, low power consumption, and flexible configurability. Moreover, the C programming language is well-suited for embedded systems, and can be used to develop efficient and reliable control programs that are tailored to specific system requirements.

Connection with large power grid: The microgrid will be designed to enable seamless switching between islanding mode and parallel mode, with the objective of enhancing the system's flexibility and reliability. To facilitate this transformation, a phase-locked loop (PLL) will be employed as the conversion device. The PLL will serve to match the frequency and phase of the larger grid within a relatively short timeframe, thereby enabling safe and reliable connection of the microgrid to the grid. This technology offers numerous benefits, including efficient frequency synchronization and robust performance characteristics. Additionally, it offers the flexibility to accommodate varying grid conditions, including changes in frequency and phase, ensuring that the microgrid remains operational and stable under different operating scenarios.


CRITERION FOR SUCCESS:

The bus voltage is a critical parameter for our microgrid system, as it determines the feasibility of incorporating larger circuit components. To this end, the minimum bus voltage requirement has been established at 50 volts. This voltage level will enable the integration of larger circuit components and facilitate the implementation of more complex microgrid functionalities. Additionally, it will contribute to a more stable and reliable microgrid operation by ensuring that the voltage level remains above the minimum threshold required by the components.

The power requirement for the microgrid circuitry is another important consideration, as it directly affects the feasibility of realizing the microgrid's intended functionalities. To meet this requirement, a minimum power threshold of 100 watts has been established. This power level will enable the majority of the microgrid's components to be satisfied and will facilitate the implementation of the basic microgrid functions. By meeting this threshold, the microgrid will be able to operate effectively and efficiently, providing a reliable source of energy to end-users.

The state transition time is a critical performance metric for the microgrid, particularly with respect to its ability to connect to the unity grid. To achieve this objective, a carrier state transition time of less than 200 milliseconds has been established as a performance requirement. This time constraint reflects the need for a rapid and reliable state transition process, which will enable the microgrid to connect to the unity grid seamlessly and without disruption. By meeting this requirement, the microgrid will be able to operate in both islanding and parallel modes, providing a stable and reliable power supply to end-users.

DISTRIBUTION OF WORK:

EE STUDENT 1 Xu Kaijie:

●Develop and implement the design of PCB for micro-grid and power electronics converter.
●Implement the connection between different systems inculding power point tracking control and Basic battery management

EE STUDENT 2 Zhang Bohao:

●Model the micro-grid system and converter in Simulink to verify the feasibility of system.
●Implement the data-driven maximum power point tracking control.

EE STUDENT 3 Dong Ao:

●implement and test Basic battery management hardware to realize V2G system.
●build up the evaluation system to evaluate the efficiency and safety of entire system.

ME STUDENT Zhang Yuqiu:

●Design the mechanical structure to combine several components of our micro-grid system including power converter and Basic battery management hardware
●Implement the basic structure and shape of our converter with CAD

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