Abstract

The structure and resiliency of the emerging electrical grid will rely heavily on energy storage (ES) to provide uninterrupted service to the customer. The usage of ES continues to grow due to its capability in restoring system voltage and frequency following an outage ‎[1]‎-[4]. As the modern electrical grid continues to increase in its complexity, so does the inclusion of renewable ES, which are inherently intermittent. A grid which derives a large fraction of its energy from solar photovoltaics, wind turbine generators, and/or fuel cells have the major drawback of not being dispatchable [5]. Without the aid of ES devices, energy must be either drawn from a traditional non-renewable source on-demand, or ES units must be prepared and deployed effectively [6]. This tactic becomes critical when applied to localized microgrids such as on a ship, aircraft, or electric vehicle. This presentation was centered around a dissertation proposal to define the problem, objectives, and anticipated studies to be conducted in my doctoral research. The aim is to develop a new infrastructure to effectively manage multiple types of ES in a hybrid power system through a master modular regulator known as the Energy Storage Modular Controller (ESMC). An effective ESMC will be engineered to handle a wide range of ES with protection circuitry under multiple voltage, current, and capacity configurations. Meanwhile, advanced maintenance balancing techniques will be developed through the seamless integration of software and hardware capabilities ensuring efficient and safe operation with an intimate understanding of unique ES dynamics. Once the ESMC design has been finalized, the developed system will be deployed over a notional power system model. This model can be generalized for a utility, shipboard, or electric vehicle grid where energy is required from multiple locations. Each location or zone contains its own dynamic loads where the configuration of the ESMC will be deployed with respect to a distinctive selection of ES.