POWER-GEN Europe and REWE 2017

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Integration of Diesel Generators with Renewable Sources and Energy Storage Systems (Room Rheinsaal 1)

Distributed power generation for micro-grids was designed in the past with internal combustion engines (ICE) driving electric generators. Reduction of emissions, saving fuel, lowering maintenance, imply the usage of renewable energy sources (like wind and sun). The latter are non-programmable sources. The best option for micro grids implies the integration of renewables with ICE-based generators along with energy storage equipment. Max efficiency, high power quality and uninterruptible service are met. The design implies four topics: the ICE and its electric generator, the renewable generators, the energy storage equipment and the power management system (PMS). Different kinds of ICE are considered: diesel or natural gas. The renewable generators are mainly based on sun and wind. Grid stability improves if energy storage is added. Batteries are used either for short time duty (seconds to minutes) compensating any unbalance of power production vs usage or for long time duty (hours to days) providing time shifting. Primary frequency and voltage regulation are assigned to some generators, letting the others to follow the grid voltage and frequency. The PMS performs secondary frequency and voltage regulations, peak shaving, power dispatching, along with a supervision of the entire plant. The micro grid is an autonomous electric system, serving communities, temporary installations, manufacturing plants, oil fields or mines. Load profiles are calculated vs time and power balance is performed, taking into account the contribution of each generator along with the energy storage. Minimum usage of fuel and max exploitation of the renewables are the scope. Example of an installation for a community is given, where a power source based on diesel-driven generators is integrated with photovoltaic installations along with battery energy storage. The power balance is shown along with the selection of the equipment, ICE, renewable sources, energy storage and PMS.