Parallel Operation of Compact, Efficient Turbogenerators for Robust Tactical Energy Independence

The need for clean, reliable electrical power is increasing in both the military and commercial sectors, which places high priority on technologies that provide flexibility and increased energy independence. The potential for reduced maintenance, high reliability, and increased durability is currently being demonstrated in actual turbogenerator applications, making the possibility of using microturbines for effective power generation feasible. Currently all-electric-output turbogenerators are large in scale; however, advances are being made in the development of more compact microturbine auxiliary power units (APUs) that build upon the advances of miniature 30-100 pound thrust turbojet engines. The IS4S/MillenWorks (IS4S/MW) team proposes to investigate and develop the controls necessary to take compact 10-30 kW microturbine generators and link them to form a stable and reliable microgrid supplying up to 500 kW. The team will model, simulate, and optimize the output of multiple microturbine generators operating as a microgrid. The developed system will add management of the efficient export capabilities of a microgrid system containing microturbine elements in reaction to real time variations in load.