Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
$25,000.00
Integration, Characterization, and Optimal Operation of Fuel Cells in a Smart Microgrid
FY 2014-15
Summary
The proposed research involves the demonstration of a micro-grid involving a solar energy system and ahydrogen fuel cell to be undertaken within Sheridan College's Faculty of Applied Science and Technology atthe Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies in Brampton, Ontario. Industry partnerBallard Power Systems seeks to investigate the capability to store energy in the form of hydrogen as it isexpected to provide significant operational flexibilities for a microgrid that involves intermittent renewableenergy sources, such as solar and wind energy. A solar photovoltaic (PV) system hybridized with fuel cells canstore excess electricity produced from the PV system during low-demand periods to augment the PV systemduring peak demand hours.While several theoretical models and numerical simulations have been presented in literature related to asmart-grid involving fuel cells and solar photovoltaic systems, little has been demonstrated and tested at a labscale micro-grid (5-10 kW). The goal of this project is to demonstrate and characterize a smart microgridinvolving fuel cells and solar photovoltaic systems. Successful implementation requires demonstration keycapabilities: (a) ability to control the fuel cell and vary the electricity produced from it, (b) real-time capacity toallocate the electricity produced from the PV system, and (c) development of a power management system thatwould charge and discharge the energy system, and yet meet the electricity demand. An on-campus TimHorton's outlet will be the temporarily islanded load. The goal is to meet the electricity demand of the islandedload over a certain time using a microgrid that consist of a 4-kW PV system, a 1.2-kW FC, a hydrogengenerator integrated with hydrogen storage, and a 12-kWh electricity storage (i.e. batteries). The researchfacility already exists at Sheridan's renewable energy lab in Brampton, and integrated with an energymanagement system (EMS). A supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is used to monitor andcontrol the EMS and the entire system.
Program
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
468109-2014
Name nom
Lawless, Darren
Department département
Head Office
Organization id
22156
Institution établissement
Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2014
Competition year année de concours
2014
Award amount
25000
Program id
CARD1
Program name en
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée - niveau 1
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1561
Committee name en
Applied Research and Development Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée
Area of application code
300
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy resources (including production, exploration, processing, distribution and use)
Area of application fr
Ressources d'énergie (production, exploration, traitement, distribution et utilisation de l'énergie)
Research subject code
2303
Research subject group en
Fuel and energy technology
Research subject group fr
Combustibles et technologie de l'énergie
Research subject en
Other sources of energy (solar, wind, etc.)
Research subject fr
Autres sources d'énergie (combustibles solaire, éolien, etc).
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Integration, Characterization, and Optimal Operation of Fuel Cells in a Smart Microgrid
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The proposed research involves the demonstration of a micro-grid involving a solar energy system and ahydrogen fuel cell to be undertaken within Sheridan College's Faculty of Applied Science and Technology atthe Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies in Brampton, Ontario. Industry partnerBallard Power Systems seeks to investigate the capability to store energy in the form of hydrogen as it isexpected to provide significant operational flexibilities for a microgrid that involves intermittent renewableenergy sources, such as solar and wind energy. A solar photovoltaic (PV) system hybridized with fuel cells canstore excess electricity produced from the PV system during low-demand periods to augment the PV systemduring peak demand hours.While several theoretical models and numerical simulations have been presented in literature related to asmart-grid involving fuel cells and solar photovoltaic systems, little has been demonstrated and tested at a labscale micro-grid (5-10 kW). The goal of this project is to demonstrate and characterize a smart microgridinvolving fuel cells and solar photovoltaic systems. Successful implementation requires demonstration keycapabilities: (a) ability to control the fuel cell and vary the electricity produced from it, (b) real-time capacity toallocate the electricity produced from the PV system, and (c) development of a power management system thatwould charge and discharge the energy system, and yet meet the electricity demand. An on-campus TimHorton's outlet will be the temporarily islanded load. The goal is to meet the electricity demand of the islandedload over a certain time using a microgrid that consist of a 4-kW PV system, a 1.2-kW FC, a hydrogengenerator integrated with hydrogen storage, and a 12-kWh electricity storage (i.e. batteries). The researchfacility already exists at Sheridan's renewable energy lab in Brampton, and integrated with an energymanagement system (EMS). A supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is used to monitor andcontrol the EMS and the entire system.
