The work of the Electric Power Systems Lab addresses grid operation in connection with decentralization and restructuring in the energy generation sector. The focus at the transmission and distribution grid level is on the simulator-supported investigation of grid operation issues relating to system management and grid reconstruction. An operationally realistic network training simulator (PowerSystemSimulator PSS) is being further developed and used for the investigations. For research at the low-voltage level, an existing MicroGrid in the 50...200 kW power class will be upgraded and developed into a SmartGrid real laboratory. Within this research laboratory, a real system infrastructure will be available that allows combining the electricity, heating, cooling and mobility sectors in order to investigate technologies and their cross-sector interconnection in real operation.
The Electric Power Systems Laboratory investigates the design and insulation of high-voltage switchgear, as increasing inverter-fed power generation changes the insulation requirements of the equipment. Regarding plant-oriented laboratories, such as the high-voltage hall and the climatic chamber, extensions or replacement constructions are planned in order to scientifically investigate the behavior of future high-voltage equipment with new types of environmentally friendly insulating materials (instead of SF6 and mineral oils) under climatic and pollution conditions. A broad area of basic research will be facilitated.
FOCAL POINTS
GRID OPERATIONS
- Simulator-based investigation of grid operation issues in the transmission grid level
- System management and grid reconstruction under the conditions of coal and nuclear phase-out
SECTOR COUPLING IN THE MICROGRID
- Operation management strategies in a decentralized environment
- interconnected operation of electricity, heating, cooling and mobility
INSULATION OF HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR
- endurance of the insulation of network equipment under continuous exposure to network contamination
- Replacement of environmentally harmful insulating materials (sulfur hexafluoride SF6, mineral oils)
- Adaptation of testing parameters for insulating materials to practical conditions
- Consulting for development and design specifications
INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE LAB
NETWORK TRAINING SIMULATOR
- Retrofit of the existing system (upgrade models for process simulation, new commercial control technology)
- Coupling to third-party systems (LEAG power plant simulator and grid control technology of the SmartGrid real laboratory)
- Design and testing of grid reconstruction concepts for transmission and distribution grids
- Operationally realistic network training with network and power plant simulator on identical operating scenarios
SMART GRID REAL LAB
- Retrofit of the EVH-MicroGrid to a Smart Grid Real Laboratory
- Creation of an interdisciplinary test environment by retrofitting the plant and grid control technology
- Sampling of the system´s behavior of Smart Grid components
- Energy management for optimized sector connection based on grid-friendly operation management strategies
- Integration of isolated SmartGrids into bottom-up grid reconstruction strategies
CLIMATE CHAMBER WITH POWER-QUALITY MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY
- Replacement of the climatic chamber in the high-voltage test field with upgrade of the power quality measurement technology
- Basic research for equipment and insulating material testing in the plant-oriented test laboratory
- Testing of new types of substitute insulating materials under extreme climatic, contamination and EMC conditions
- Measurement campaigns to determine power electronic mains voltage distortions
Participating departments of the BTU
Chair of Energy distribution and high voltage engineeringHead of Chair
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Schwarz