Behavioral Modeling for Microgrid Simulation

Trends in power system simulation that demand computationally-intensive, physics-based models may impede the acquisition of useful results for applications like condition-based maintenance, electrical plant load analysis (EPLA), and the scheduling and tasking of finite generation and distribution resources. A tool that can quickly evaluate many scenarios, as opposed to intense, high fidelity modeling of a single operating scenario, may best serve these applications. This paper presents a behavioral simulator that can quickly emulate the operation of a relatively large collection of electrical loads, providing “what-if” evaluations of various operating scenarios and conditions for more complete exploration of a design or plant operating envelope. The presented simulator can provide time-series data of power system operation under loading conditions and usage assumptions of interest. Comparisons to field data collected from a microgrid on-board a 270-foot (82 meter) US Coast Guard medium-endurance cutter demonstrate the utility of this tool and approach.