Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of British Columbia
$130,823.00
Advanced Grid Emulation and Monitoring for Building-Scale Energy Systems
FY 2012-13
Summary
The equipment will support the research program on energy storage and grid-tie power injection within the Campus as a Living Lab, UBC. Our laboratory secured an in-kind contribution of a custom, fully-controllable energy system that includes a 30 kW active rectifier battery charger for a large 250kWh Li-Ion battery system, and a DC bus distribution system coupled with a grid-tie inverter. The objective of the research program is to investigate building-scale energy systems to address: a) building peak shaving and power factor correction; b) efficiency of battery charging/discharging and life cycle; c) grid-tie power flow control and harmonics injection; and d) supply and backup for the facility with AC and high efficiency DC distribution buses (380V, 48V and 24V). This is a joint effort by the professors in the power/energy area at UBC and aims to develop technology/techniques to reduce building-scale electricity cost by increasing power quality and efficiency.
The requested testing equipment will enable measurement capabilities and full-scale grid emulation for the building-scale energy system at UBC. The multi-channel waveform-recording instrument is unique in its type and can measure, store, and display simultaneously waveforms of this complex multi-stage energy system. The requested bidirectional 30kVA source/sink AC+DC power supply will emulate the grid in steady-state and transient behavior within the laboratory environment to fully characterize the grid-connected converter and battery charger under controlled operating conditions. With unprecedented potential for expansion, power conversion for energy system is becoming an emerging driver for BC's economy with 5 companies already among the top 100 high-tech employers in the province - Alpha Technologies, Ballard Power Systems, Schneider/Xantrex, Powertech Labs, and Delta-Q Technologies. The RTI equipment, along with the active participation of three of these companies will provide a unique R&D environment and HQP training opportunity.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
440179-2013
Name nom
Ordonez, Martin
Department département
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2012
Competition year année de concours
2013
Award amount
130823
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1510
Committee name en
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie électrique et informatique
Area of application code
305
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy storage and conversion
Area of application fr
Stockage et transformation de l'énergie
Research subject code
2516
Research subject group en
Electrical and electronic engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie électrique et électronique
Research subject en
Energy conversion and distribution
Research subject fr
Conversion et distribution de l'énergie
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Advanced Grid Emulation and Monitoring for Building-Scale Energy Systems
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The equipment will support the research program on energy storage and grid-tie power injection within the Campus as a Living Lab, UBC. Our laboratory secured an in-kind contribution of a custom, fully-controllable energy system that includes a 30 kW active rectifier battery charger for a large 250kWh Li-Ion battery system, and a DC bus distribution system coupled with a grid-tie inverter. The objective of the research program is to investigate building-scale energy systems to address: a) building peak shaving and power factor correction; b) efficiency of battery charging/discharging and life cycle; c) grid-tie power flow control and harmonics injection; and d) supply and backup for the facility with AC and high efficiency DC distribution buses (380V, 48V and 24V). This is a joint effort by the professors in the power/energy area at UBC and aims to develop technology/techniques to reduce building-scale electricity cost by increasing power quality and efficiency.
The requested testing equipment will enable measurement capabilities and full-scale grid emulation for the building-scale energy system at UBC. The multi-channel waveform-recording instrument is unique in its type and can measure, store, and display simultaneously waveforms of this complex multi-stage energy system. The requested bidirectional 30kVA source/sink AC+DC power supply will emulate the grid in steady-state and transient behavior within the laboratory environment to fully characterize the grid-connected converter and battery charger under controlled operating conditions. With unprecedented potential for expansion, power conversion for energy system is becoming an emerging driver for BC's economy with 5 companies already among the top 100 high-tech employers in the province - Alpha Technologies, Ballard Power Systems, Schneider/Xantrex, Powertech Labs, and Delta-Q Technologies. The RTI equipment, along with the active participation of three of these companies will provide a unique R&D environment and HQP training opportunity.
