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Role of the Smart Grid in Alleviating Electrical Power System Stress Conditions Through Demand Response Sponsor: National Science Foundation Duration: Sept. 2011 - Aug 2013 PI: S. Rahman co-PI: M. Pipattanasomporn, James Bohland
This Partnership for Innovation Project is based on collaboration among Virginia Tech, three small businesses and a utility partner. The proposed partnership focuses on the design and evaluation of smart grid sensing and control hardware and software that enable demand response programs to offer customer choices for efficient use of electricity at all levels. This is accomplished through the development of a platform consisting of optimization-control algorithms and product conceptual designs based on electric utility requirements and customer preferences. The hardware designs include a smart power management system and wireless sensor-control devices for 240-Volt end-use appliances, which are necessary to implement efficient and flexible electricity demand control programs. The intellectual merit of this research is the design of advanced control and sensing technologies and algorithms that can serve as the interface between a utility and its customers to enable the implementation of cost-effective demand response programs while providing customer choice. The broader impacts of this research are: (1) a potential stronger local economy as a result of the innovative design of new alpha-prototype products that could lead to electric energy saving products in the future; (2) a local job creation opportunity through the development of a new line of businesses or strengthening existing ones for the partner companies and others; and most importantly, (3) a viable improvement in economy nationally as a result of more efficient operation of the power grid by coordinating supply and demand in an optimal manner. The proposed platform will allow the electric utility to operate their assets more efficiently, and at the same time, allow its customers to manage their power consumption without compromising their lifestyle or way of life. In addition, this project has received strong support from the Arlington County government and the Center for Advanced Research and Engineering (CAER) - a public sector organization – both in Virginia. The County of Arlington is in the process of developing a Community Energy Plan, which is expected to recommend extensive use of energy efficient devices and smart grid technologies to optimize the use of electricity in homes and businesses thus reducing the county’s carbon footprint. The outcome of this research complements this local need. |
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US-Egypt Cooperative Research: Sponsor: National Science Foundation Duration: Aug. 2011 - July 2013 PI: S. Rahman
As large wind power parks, or wind farms, rapidly expand around the world, electric power systems operators face new challenges. While it is desirable to use the zero-emission wind energy, managing large wind parks integration is very difficult due to the intermittency and fluctuation of their power production. Therefore, it is of the interest of the United States, Egypt, and other countries with wind generation to seek solutions for integration of large wind farms without compromising their power grid stability and reliability. This joint research proposes using an energy storage technology and demand response techniques for managing the grid integration of large wind parks. Specifically, it aims to develop novel sizing, scheduling and control methods to enable an application based on compressed-air energy storage (CAES) technology for partial smoothing of the high-rate fluctuations of multiple wind parks output. Furthermore, it develops a new operation scheme for combining the load regulation capability of demand response techniques with the energy storage to increase wind power utilization and thereby reduce wind curtailment. The application is also designed with added functions to provide real and reactive power support for stabilizing the power grid and coping with grid emergency situations. Overall, the research contributes innovative tools to ensure safe operation of power grids, increase wind power usage thereby reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. These factors foster the sustainable economic development of Egypt and the United States. |
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Bi-Level Demand Sensitive LED Street Lighting Systems Sponsor: Department of Defense (ESTCP program)
The objective of the proposed search is to design, develop and deploy an energy efficient LED street lighting system as a retrofit to an existing system at the NAVFAC Wash (NFW) facility in Carderock, MD. The technology being proposed is based on light emitting diodes (LED) that allow dimming as well as traffic sensing capability through a centralized controller. The smart server and a network management center are an integral part of the proposed demand-sensitive street lighting system to allow power consumption monitoring, control, and failure identification of each light fixture. It is expected that the proposed bi-level demand-sensitive LED street lighting system will deliver at least 50% reduction in electricity usage and carbon footprint as compared to the existing streetlight systems, as well as providing lower cost of ownership over the lifetime. Additionally, the research outcomes will include a set of guidelines, which are intended for use in planning and evaluation to identify the feasibility and viability of bi-level LED streetlight projects in other NAVY facilities around the country.
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A Test Bed for Analyzing the Security and Resilience of the DG-Integrated Electric Power Distribution Network Sponsor: US National Science Foundation
The objective of the proposed research is to develop a simulation test bed which can be used to quantify and analyze the impact of future demand and supply side alternatives on the security and resilience of the DG-integrated electric power distribution network. This research applies the knowledge of power systems, agent-based technologies, IP-based network and game theory to address the interface of the electric power microgrid with various DG devices and loads. Research outcomes are expected to be transformative and potentially revolutionize current planning and decision-making practices for electric power distribution networks, through introduction of the simulation test bed that allows integration of distributed control, advanced communications, distributed generation and demand management components. The test bed to be developed is intended for use by researchers and policy makers to analyze the security and resiliency implications of installing DG devices under different demand and supply scenarios. With respect to educational benefits, the research outcomes will contribute to the development of a microgrid simulation test bed located at the Advanced Research Institute of Virginia Tech. The test bed will broaden student exposure beyond the academic environment through laboratory work.
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Feasibility and Guidelines for the Development of Microgrids in Campus Type Facilities Sponsor: US Army Corps of Engineers (DoD SERDP program)
The objective of this research project is to explore the feasibility of and provide guidelines for the development of microgrids. This will be carried out through the development of a methodology including technology assessment, modeling and simulation. The work is divided into two phases. The first phase is to develop a microgrid simulation test bench at Virginia Tech. This will allow the project team to realistically simulate and validate any proposed microgrid generation and load control algorithms, and quantify the risks and the impact of implementing the proposed control algorithms before the actual field implementation. The second phase is to identify a set of technical, operational and economic criteria for developing a microgrid on a military base, including the introduction of renewable energy sources. These criteria will also be applied to quantify the environmental benefits of a microgrid that hosts energy efficient equipment along with renewable energy sources. The research outcomes will include a set of guidelines and a microgrid simulation tool which can be used for planning and evaluation of microgrid deployment in a campus-type facility. With this model, and the experience of evaluating the benefits of a microgrid in one facility, DoD will have the tools to plan, analyze and evaluate the operational benefits and risks of deploying such microgrids on many of their bases.
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Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse Sponsor: US Department of Energy
This project is a cooperative effort among Virginia Tech, the IEEE Power & Energy Society and EnerNex Corporation to design, populate, manage and maintain a public Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse (SGIC) portal. Contents in the SGIC portal will include demonstration projects, use cases, standards, legislation, policy and regulation, lessons learned and best practices, and advanced topics dealing with research and development. It is envisioned that the SGIC portal will be the essential gateway that connects a smart grid community to the relevant sources of information that are currently scattered and distributed on the worldwide web. The SGIC database will highlight smart grid related information from organizations – both in the US and abroad – that are active in technology, standards, policy and educational aspects of this rapidly evolving opportunity to use electricity in an environmentally responsible way. The Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse (SGIC) is designed to serve as a repository for public smart grid information and to direct its users to other pertinent sources or databases for additional data, case studies, etc. It will facilitate direct sharing and dissemination of smart grid information among various stakeholders on knowledge gained, lessons learned and best practices. It will also serve as a decision support tool for both state and federal regulators in their deliberations for rule-making and evaluating the impact of their investments in the smart grid technologies and software. This will serve as a public forum for information outreach to all interested parties. For further information, please email: smartgrid@vt.edu Website: http://www.sgiclearinghouse.org
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Modeling and Simulation of a DG-Integrated Intelligent Microgrid Sponsor: US Army Corps of Engineers (DoD SERDP program)
This is a one-year effort for the simulation of an intelligent and autonomous power system. Physical devices, such as distributed energy resources (DER), distribution network and loads are to be modeled in Distributed Engineering Workstation (DEW) for steady-state analysis and in Matlab/Simulink for transient simulation. Communications among physical devices will be established using agent-based technologies. Information exchanges among DERs, loads and agents will be accomplished via addressable communication interfaces, such as TCP/UDP/IP. The IDAPS microgrid will be simulated and evaluated using data from Virginia Tech Electric Services.
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Intelligent Distributed Autonomous Power Systems (IDAPS): A Framework for a Resilient and Environmentally-friendly Microgrid. Sponsor: the US National Science Foundation
The objective of this exploratory research proposal is to build a broad framework of an Intelligent Distributed Autonomous Power System (IDAPS) at a conceptual level. The proposed concept takes into account the availability of cleaner, efficient and cost effective small-scale generation sources, as well as advanced IP-based communication technologies in building a resilient electric power system with demand-side participation.
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A Digital Library Network for Engineering and Technology (DLNET). Sponsor: the National Science Foundation
The objective of DLNET is to develop a Web-based collection of engineering and technology-related content targeted at the professional community so as to facilitate "lifelong learning," by engineering practitioners. DLNET will bridge the gap between cutting-edge technical development and professional practice, providing an easy and efficient way to collect, review, package and deliver information from "the knowledge developer" to "the end user".
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A Case Study to Identify Bottlenecks and Opportunities for Higher-Level SBIR Funding of Virginia Companies. Sponsor: Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT)
This project surveyed Virginia companies who have received Phase I or II awards from federal SBIR programs in the past three years, to identify barriers to successful phase progression and commercialization of these projects.
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Innovative Approaches to Providing Electric Power as a Critical Infrastructure Element for High-Technology Economic Growth in Virginia. Sponsor: Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT)
This project focuses on Virginia's ability to provide the high-quality power and security of electricity supply demanded by mission critical facilities of high-tech industry. Due to the high concentration of information technology businesses in Northern Virginia, our approach is directed at solving immediate challenges in this region, while at the same time working out a protocol for status assessment, information exchange, and strategic planning, which can be replicated throughout the state.
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"Renewable Energy and the Global Environment" - A Modular, Web-Based Interdisciplinary Course for Undergraduates. Sponsor: the U.S. Department of Energy
This project is aimed at mid-level undergraduate college students and their professors. It will provide distance-learning content about renewable energy technologies and associated energy storage, transmission, and distribution systems; their economic and environmental benefits, and their deployment through green power markets and related policies. Many of today's undergraduates will become business or government leaders who can influence the adoption and use of renewable energy technologies in the coming decades, and all will be voters and energy consumers. The materials developed by this project are intended to ensure that today's students have the knowledge to ask the right questions and make informed choices.
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Greenhouse Gas Pollution Prevention Project. Sponsor: the Louis Berger Group, Inc.
CEAGE assisted this client in a USAID-sponsored mission to India by conducting an on-site Training Needs Assessment (TNA) at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, the premier training institution for higher civil services in India, on opportunities for integrating energy development and climate change goals. The mission also conducted a TNA for two Non-Government Organizations to build their capacity for identifying climate-based project ideas and assisting project developers.
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Virginia Million Solar Roofs and PV4VA: Combining Resources for Solar Energy Education, Research, and Outreach. Sponsor: the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
As a new State Partnerships in the DOE Million Solar Roofs Initiative, Virginia has committed to installing 500 solar energy systems on buildings throughout the state by the year 2010. The Photovoltaics for Virginia (PV4VA) Working Group was established by DMME to facilitate the installation of PV systems in Virginia, thereby helping sustain revenues and jobs created by the PV manufacturers in our state, while at the same time promoting innovative ways to address Virginia's energy needs and environmental challenges. This project combines DOE and DMME funding for CEAGE to execute a first-year implementation plan of education, research, and outreach to support these two highly compatible programs.
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Geothermal Heat Pumps for Energy$mart Schools in Virginia. Sponsor: the U.S. Department of Energy
This project promotes the installation of ground-source heat pump systems for the heating and cooling of K-12 school buildings throughout Virginia. A dedicated project Web site provides educational materials and calculation results whereby site visitors can evaluate the costs and benefits of a geothermal heat pump project at their schools. Video- workshops will be held for the most promising schools, with the assistance of our project partners, the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium in Washington, DC.
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