Energy Storage & Power Electronics SGST 9340

This course includes a detailed look at power electronics and energy storage, which are key elements of smart grid systems and technologies. This course will build the skills and knowledge required to make use of these technologies in grid-connected applications. The emphasis on the power-electronics portion of the course will be on systems-integration of power conversion “building blocks”, including DC-DC, DC-AC, and AC-DC converters. The focus of this course will be on gridconnected applications of power electronics, which includes the interfacing of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as renewables and energy storage systems (ESS) to the power grid; or, power quality and power flow improvements using power electronic devices. Despite the focus on systems-integration, the course will also introduce students to key details of each building block including: the selection of semiconductor devices; selection and modeling of low-level converter topologies; electromagnetic compatibility issues; commonly used communications protocols for devices as well as high- and low-level power electronics control systems. Basic control theory will also be introduced to allow students to implement high and low-level converter control schemes on digital platforms. The energy storage portion of the course will introduce students to available energy storage technologies including but not limited to pumped storage, various battery (electrochemical) technologies, fuel-cells and flywheels. Greater focus will be given to electrochemical energy storage and the corresponding battery management systems which are necessary for their operation. The theory will be supported by case studies, and the course will include a ‘selected topics’ module which will be updated frequently as advancements are made in the area of power electronics and energy storage. To contribute to their portfolio of work in SGST, this course will involve an individual project requiring students to design a power conversion or energy storage system to enhance the smart microgrid implementation under consideration throughout the program. This may include the implementation of a system or device which corrects power quality issues and load imbalances in a power system, or an energy storage system which improves the load-characteristics of a utility interconnection through load-leveling. If pre-requisite knowledge is sufficient, students may undertake a low-level design project such as a converter build-project or battery management system development. Students will develop a report which demonstrates and documents the results of their project.