Program Name or Ancillary Text eere.energy.gov 

# Physical Characterization Capabilities at ESIF

Kevin Lynn Director, EERE Grid Integration Kevin.Lynn@ee.doe.goveere.energy.gov 2 

### Addressing the challenges of large

- scale integration of clean energy technologies i 

### nto the energy systems infrastructure 

# NREL Energy Systems Integration Facility

http ://www.nrel.gov/eis/ facilities_esif.html 

## Offices HPC - DC Laboratories

• NREL’s largest R&D facility ( 182,500 ft 2 / 

### 20,000 m 2 

### )

• Space for ~200 NREL staff and research partners

• Petascale HPC and Data Center supports all research at NREL

• Labs focus on R&D of integrated energy systems

• Electricity

• Fuels

• Transportation

• Buildings & Campus

• Integrated electrical, thermal, fuel, and data infrastructure “This new facility will allow for an even stronger partnership with manufacturers, utilities and researchers to help integrate more clean, renewable energy into a smarter, more reliable and more resilient power grid. ”

- Energy Secretary Ernest Monizeere.energy.gov 3 

# ESIF’s Unique Advanced Capabilities

• Multiple parallel AC and DC experimental busses (MW power level) with grid simulation

• Flexible interconnection points for electricity, thermal, and fuels

• Medium voltage (15kV) microgrid test bed

• Virtual utility operations center and visualization rooms

• Smart grid testing lab for advanced communications and control

• Petascale HPC and data mgmt system in showcase energy efficient data center

• Hardware

- in

- the

- loop (HIL) simulation capability to test grid scenarios with high penetration of RE and EE technologieseere.energy.gov 4 

# ESIF Laboratories

High Performance Computing, Data Analysis, and Visualization 16. ESIF Control Room 17. Energy Integration Visualization 18. Secure Data Center 19. High Performance Computing Data Center 20. Insight Center Visualization 21. Insight Center Collaboration Fuel Systems Laboratories 9. Energy Systems Fabrication 10. Manufacturing 11. Materials Characterization 12. Electrochemical Characterization 13. Energy Systems Sensor 14. Fuel Cell Development & Test 15. Energy Systems High Pressure Test Thermal Systems Laboratories 6. Thermal Storage Process and Components 7. Thermal Storage Materials 8. Optical Characterization Electrical Systems Laboratories 1. Power Systems Integration 2. Smart Power 3. Energy Storage 4. Electrical Characterization 5. Energy Systems Integration 

# T he future of energy is integrated systemseere.energy.gov 5 

# ESIF Research Infrastructure

Research Electrical Distribution Bus

– REDB (AC 3ph, 600V, 1200A 

### and DC +/

- 500V, 1200A 

### ) Thermal Distribution Bus Fuel Distribution Bus Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)

1MW Grid Simulator 250A DC 1600A DC

250A AC 1600A ACeere.energy.gov 6 Visualization

Interface 

### Simulation and Visualization at ESIF

HIL I/O Interface 

# Hardware
- in
- the
- Loop: Connecting E xperiments to Simulations

Actual hardware at ESIF

Subdevelopment with PV at end of circuit Utility Substation



### Simulation loop closed with actual hardware Replicated into Larger Simulation 

### Simulation validated with real field data

Load Banks

Grid Simulator Device Under Test (e.g. inverter, energy storage, EV, load, etc.) Grid Simulator Solar Simulator

6 

### 1.5MW

1 MW 1 MWeere.energy.gov 7 

# High Performance and Highly Efficient Computing

3D Simulation model of Polymeric organic nitroxide radical (PTMA) film for battery applications This computer

- generated simulation shows the turbulent nature of wind turbine wakes. The simulation helped uncover potential differences in output between downstream 'waked' turbines and upstream turbines

. • High performance computing (1.2 peteflops ) provides a multi

- faceted basis for simulating future integrated energy innovations that would otherwise be too expensive, too lengthy, too dangerous, or otherwise impossible to study by direct experimentation

• Highly Energy Efficient (PUE under 1.06)

• HPC also has integrated energy control (run scheduling) and waste heat capture

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

12:00 AM 6:00 AM 12:00 PM 6:00 PM 12:00 AMPower (kW)

Time of Day 

### HPC Demand Controller: 12.5 % Limit of Previous Month's Peak

Peak Load reductioneere.energy.gov 8 

## Lab Functions

• Main test lab for conducting MW

- scale electrical system integration activities.

• Research explores a variety of operating configurations including: grid connected stand

- alone, microgrids, and hybrid power systems.

• House infrastructure for DG research (AC and DC power supplies for REDB, chiller and boiler) Major Lab Equipment

• 1 MW grid simulator

• 1.5MW PV Array Simulator

• 100kW PV Array Simulator

• Several 250kW DC power supplies • 100 ton research chiller

• 750MBH research boiler

• Connections to Research Electrical, Thermal, Fuel Buses 

# ESIF
– Power Systems Integration Lab
Research in the Power Systems Integration Laboratory focuses on the development and testing of large

- scale distributed energy systems for grid

- connected, standalone, and microgrid applications. The laboratory can accommodate large power system components, such as inverters for PV and wind systems, diesel and natural gas generators, battery packs, microgrid interconnection switchgear, and vehicles.eere.energy.gov 9 

## Lab Functions

• Residential scale distributed resources, smart appliances, and HVAC evaluations

• Interoperability and communications testing

• Individual Test labs for development and testing of the power electronics components and circuits used in renewable energy integration

• Instrument development area for basic electronics work 

# ESIF
– Smart Power Lab

Research in the Smart Power Laboratory focuses on the development and integration of smart, connected technologies, including distributed and renewable energy resources and smart energy management. The 5,300

- ft 2 

### laboratory is designed to be highly flexible and configurable to enable a range of smart power activities

— from developing advanced inverters and power converters to testing residential

- and commercial

- scale meters and control technologies.

Major Lab Equipment

• AC power supplies

• 45kW and 15kW grid simulators

• Opal RT and RTDS Hardware

- in

- the

- Loop Systems

• Connections to REDB • 3 Smart home appliances (refrigerators, water heaters, dish washers, etc.)

• 2 environmental chambers to test small HVAC systemseere.energy.gov 10 

# Smart Homes and Appliances

Hardwired PV

EV, EVSEs, & battery storage Distribution Transforme rs

Environmental Chambers for realistic HVAC loading Thermal Energy Storage

Major Appliances Hot Water use under simulated occupancyeere.energy.gov 11 

## Lab Functions

• Testing energy storage components when integrated with renewable energy electrical systems:

• Performance

• Efficiency

• Safety

• Model validation

• Long duration reliably 

# ESIF
– Energy Storage Lab
At the Energy Storage Laboratory, research focuses on the integration of energy storage systems (stationary and vehicle

- mounted) and their interconnection with the utility grid. Includes batteries, ultra

- capacitors, flywheels, compressed air, etc

.

Major Lab Equipment

• DC Power Testing station 250 kW, up to 900 Vdc

• Grid Simulator connections

• REDB Connections • Research Chiller & Boiler

• 600kW PV Simulator

• EV Chargerseere.energy.gov 12 

## Lab Functions

• Assessment of the technical readiness, performance characterization, and research to help industry move these systems towards optimal renewable

- based production and efficient utilization of hydrogen

• T esting of electrolyzers , fuel cells, compression equipment, delivery systems 

# ESIF
– Energy Systems Integration Lab

The Energy Systems Integration Laboratory provides a flexible, renewable

- ready platform for research, development, and testing of state

- of

- the

- art hydrogen based and other energy storage systems. Focus on Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers.

Major Lab Equipment

• Gas Chromatograph

• Ion Chromatograph

• PEM electrolyzer

• Alkaline electrolyzer

• Fuel cell • H2 high pressure compressor

• Two high pressure testing bays fully rated for testing systems to 15,000 psigeere.energy.gov 13 

# ESIF
– 

# Outdoor Test Areas

MV Major Lab Equipment

• 1MVA 13.2kV to 480 Y

- Y transformers

• Connections to REDB, Utility

• Distribution transformers

• EV Chargers 

### LV Major Lab Equipment

• 80kW and 125kW Gensets

• 100kW, 250kW load banks

• Capstone M icroturbine

• Connections to REDB 

### ESIL Major Lab Equipment

• H 2 storage vessel s

• H 2 IC engine testing

• H 2 Vehicle fueling station 

### The outdoor test areas at the ESIF allow for testing either at 480 Volts or 13.2kV kiloVoltseere.energy.gov 14 

# Integrated System Experimentation

Smart Power Lab Buildings & Loads

Power Systems Integration Lab PV Simulator Energy Systems

Integration Lab Fuel Cells, Electrolyzers

Outdoor Test Area EVs, Power Transformers Rooftop PV Energy Storage Lab Battery, EVs, Thermaleere.energy.gov 15 

# ESIF
– Summary

ESIF Provides

• End

- to
- end System Experimentation

• Across electrical, thermal, fuel, and communications systems

• Evaluation of MW scale systems

• High performance c omputing and advanced analytics

• Integration of hardware and simulation environments