WeForming hardware building blocks and technological enablers (real-time controller, processing hubs) (1st technology release)

Changing the paradigm of efficiently managing energy in buildings is the main WeForming project’s goal. The project aims to enhance the role of buildings in the energy ecosystem using Intelligent Grid-Forming Buildings (iGFBs). This report is contributing to the iGFBs’ evolvement by developing hardware building blocks and technological enablers. The current document delivers a comprehensive overview and detailed development and analysis and of three key concepts in the WeForming project: Real-Time Controller (RTC), Power Processing Hub (PPH) and Carnot Battey (CB).

This report elaborates on the importance of the RTCs in the operation of iGFBs and explains the role of RTC in the seamless execution of operation schedules generated by the iGFB’s Energy Management System (EMS). It expands the RTC’s general structure, candidate algorithms, possible hardware, communication protocols and controllable assets. To evaluate the performance of such a concept, two test cases are developed and experiments are carried out in the Karlsruhe and Luxembourg demo laboratories. In each experiment, the target asset is a battery storage system that is controlled in real-time and subsequently, the RTC performance regarding the safe and reliable operation of batteries is evaluated.

The development of a multi-port power processing hub entailing battery energy storage systems and electric vehicle chargers is discussed in this report. Proposed assets for the hub are enumerated and the implementation challenges due to technical and local regulatory issues are discussed. Several numerical models are developed to represent the behaviour of the converters included in the power processing hub.

The development of a bidirectional power-heat technology known as Carnot Battery (CB) is scrutinized and its applications are highlighted. The system is described in detail with possible architecture and employed technologies. The operation principle of all components is explained and the numerical models are developed subsequently. Several simulations are conducted where the results highlight the CB’s potentials and efficiency in different operating and boundary conditions.

In general, this document entails the first release of WeForming technological enablers development and emphasizes the significant and functional roles of the current work outcome in fulfilling the project goals. Therefore, future technology releases will implement the current findings, improve the capabilities and develop further operative solutions of iGFBs.