Dynamic Load Model Placement and Development with Case Study of Microgrid in Nome, Alaska

• Main Author: Cicilio, Phylicia
• Other Authors: Cotilla-Sanchez, Eduardo, Bobba, Rakesh, Brekken, Ted, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University. Graduate School
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English; unknown
• Published: Oregon State University
• Subjects: Nome; Alaska
• Online Access: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/cn69m891r

Dynamic modeling is key to the successful operation and reliability of electrical grids by evaluating transient stability. Developing dynamic load models and identifying where they are necessary is a challenging task as loads are an aggregation of individual devices that change throughout the year. This thesis investigates how to develop those load models and provides preliminary guidelines for where to prioritize placement of dynamic load models in the system. A case study in Nome, Alaska is performed on developing a dynamic load model for their microgrid. Electricity cost in Alaska's rural communities reaches up to five times higher than the national average. Theses rural communities' microgrids are powered primarily by diesel generators causing high electricity costs. This thesis examines the community of Nome, Alaska which has installed wind turbines to combat their dependency on diesel. Intermittent generation from the wind turbines can compromise the grid's resiliency and reliability. Dynamic modeling and reliability analysis are necessary to analyze possible solutions for stabilizing the grid. Adequate fidelity for the load model is necessary to perform dynamic simulations. A static ZIP load model and composite load model are created in this paper and are compared for improved modelling. Additionally, this load benchmark is used to evaluate the integration of an energy storage device to Nome's microgrid for improved transient stability. Using the composite load model in the microgrid model, a battery is modeled using the PSS E CBEST energy storage model, demonstrating the transient stability improvement provided by installing an energy storage device to the grid. Any microgrid utility, such as in Nome, Alaska, can adapt and use this load model development process depending on available computation resources and necessary data resolution for a particular generation and demand portfolio. Keywords: microgrid, dynamic modeling, reliability, power systems, dynamic load model, energy storage