Grid of the future demonstration system

A smart grid laboratory demonstration system has been designed and built. The system includes renewable energy resources such as solar and wind energy generators, as well as battery and compressed air energy storage elements. Residential, commercial and industrial load complexes model their real-world counterparts. A capacitor bank is used to control power factor. The electrical network is 18 V rms AC, and is equipped with current/voltage sensors and electromechanical relays. All sensors/relays interface with Rockwell's Allen Bradley PLCs. A scenario generation PLC is used to develop scenarios for the grid, which are programmed using a touch screen user interface. DC sources interface to the grid using custom built grid-tie DC to AC inverters. The system will serve as an educational tool, and a platform for the development of advanced smart grid sensing, communication and control technologies, including Agent-based distributed control software developed by Rockwell Automation.