Clean and efficient energy systems
The Distributed Energy System laboratory hosts demonstration and research platforms of energy systems including production, storage and control at the scale of buildings or of LV distribution grid. Activities at DES Lab focus on distributed energy resources integration into smart grids or microgrids and on an optimal and efficient use of renewable energy.
The DES Lab is equipped with controllable AC and DC power sources, loads and accurate power instrumentation. Functional testing, efficiency assessment and grid code compliance testing of single DER converters can be realized in standards set-ups. More advanced systems, like Energy Management Systems or Smart Grid Applications can be tested with the help of Hardware in the Loop Simulation. The DES Lab can provide following equipment and related support to users:
Hardware and instrumentation:
– Bi-directional DC power sources 0 .. 180A and 0 .. 1500 Vdc for PV plant or battery emulation
– 50 kVA AC grid simulator (REGATRON ACS 50)
– Fast Converter Prototyping platform including 8 inverter legs (IMPERIX)
– Universal electronic loads up to 3.8 kW
– Multi-phases precision Power Analyzers
– 4-Channel Digital oscilloscopes, high precision current and voltage probes
– Data-loggers
Controllers and simulation softwares
- OPAL RT 4510 Real Time target
- IMPERIX B-Box -RCP
- Speed Goat
- Digsilent Power Factory (Load Flow Simulations on electrical grids)
- Plexim PLECS : simulation Software for Power Electronics
- Energy Pro
The Home Energy benchmark hosts two different energy distribution systems connected together with home appliances, renewable energy production and storage at the scale of a small residential building. One system relies on LVAC common distribution bus, the other on LVDC. Both systems can work in connection to the public distribution grid or OFF-Grid. The measuring and control unit allows to run scenarios, with measurement of full charging cycles efficiency for instance. The DES Lab platform was built and is controlled with components available from the market. The Home Energy benchmark is mostly used for education and demonstration purposes.
DES Lab infrastructure includes two LVDC distribution systems : A state of the art commercial LVDC distribution system including 14 kW Active Front End, 10 kWh battery storage energy system and 7 kW PV MPPT from FERROAMP. The SeBNet platform emulates a fast charging hub for electrical vehicles, including Renewable Energy production and local storage. The common distribution system is based on a 700 VDC bus constituting of a LVDC microgrid. The SeBNet platform is built with components available from the market for a total power of 6kW (Down scale 1:100). The Energy Management Systems of the hub is run by an advanced Programmable Logic Controller (Wago PFC 200). The modular concept of the hub emulator allows future integration of further energy conversion and control equipment.
