Grid Solutions

Power Solutions

Program Overview

CEM has over a decade of grid level power system modeling experience assembled over numerous projects for the U.S. Navy, Army, and civilian applications.  Power system research and supporting technologies has grown due to concerns surrounding reliable power delivery.  These concerns have grown due to a variety circumstances.  The continued growth and proliferation of renewable power generation sources have contributed to a growing concern about the affect these sources will have on grid stability and power delivery.  Inclement weather has devastated coastlines, iced over power lines, flooded vast areas of the country affecting underground power cabling, all of these events have raised concern over widespread power outages over extended periods of time.  Military bases throughout the US conduct power system reviews to insure they are operational independent of standard utility grids. Integration of power sources from nuclear to renewable are being considered to provide bases more independence from standard local power plants in the case of an attack or disaster. Microgrid research being conducted at CEM can help military personnel understand the impact of various power source options and assist in planning and selection of power sources given individual base circumstances.  In addition, as electricity must increasingly support more societal needs, from banking to transportation, it is imperative to research methods to decrease system vulnerabilities to both physical and cyber-attack.

CEM Approach

CEM is leveraging a decade of experience conducting modeling and simulation and physical test experiments guiding power systems design for the Navy Electric Ship program and more recently terrestrial grid experiments to advance 21st Century Grid technologies.  CEM’s research focuses on system level applications, particular to understanding the potential benefits of new conceptual system designs.  Modeling and simulation are the effective tools for such research. But, CEM also leverages its in-house microgrid facility, real-time simulation, and HIL testing environment to fully validate hardware in parallel with power system control designs.  To execute effective system modeling and testing, an in-depth knowledge of components is required.  This is an expertise CEM has developed through a history of designing, building, and testing high power equipment prototypes.

Contact

Dr. Robert Hebner

Dr. Robert Hebner - r.hebner@cem.utexas.edu
512-232-1628

Projects

electrical sensor

Smart Sensor – Fault Mitigation

The Center for Electromechanics (CEM) through a Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored Smart Sensor Demonstration Project “Advanced Intelligent Sensor Development for Future Distribution Systems with High Penetration Distributed Energy Resources (DERS)” – is developing a first-of-its-kind self powered smart sensor capable of “living” across a distributed utility network to enable fault detection and mitigation.

electric ship

Electric Ship

The Center for Electromechanics has a major research program to improve electric ship technology.

EM Launch

Microgrid EM Launch Integration

Emerging high-power electric weapons and sensors are creating significant challenges for naval power systems.

Opal-RT

HIL Testing

Experience with microgrid technology demonstration programs revealed the need for an integrated high speed hardware.