Hybrid Microgrid Energy Storage for Priority Load Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy storage systems in hydrometallurgical plants fail to ensure continuous production during power grid interruptions, leading to safety hazards and economic losses due to the time required for self-contained generators to restart and support high-energy-consuming machinery.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid load-energy storage system with grid-forming and conventional on-grid/off-grid energy storage configurations, connected via circuit breakers, prioritizes critical electrical equipment and provides rapid voltage and frequency support during power failures, ensuring stable operation by dividing equipment based on usage priority.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional on-grid and off-grid energy storage systems are used, then energy supply is provided during power grid interruptions, but the response time is insufficient and voltage/frequency support is delayed causing equipment shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is segmented into two distinct functional modules: grid-forming energy storage equipment that provides rapid voltage and frequency support, and conventional on-grid/off-grid energy storage equipment that provides energy supply. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in its function, with the grid-forming module responding immediately to power interruptions to establish stable electrical parameters before the energy storage module delivers power, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and response time.
2Reliability
If self-contained generator sets are used for backup power, then power supply is restored after grid interruption, but the startup time is too long causing high-energy-consuming machinery to shut down
Solution Approach 1:
The grid-forming energy storage equipment performs preliminary action by immediately establishing voltage and frequency support upon detecting power grid interruption. This preliminary stabilization of electrical parameters creates the necessary conditions for subsequent power delivery, eliminating the startup delay inherent in generator sets and preventing equipment shutdown while maintaining production continuity.
3Ease of operation
If all electrical equipment is connected to the same energy storage system, then simplified control is achieved, but critical equipment cannot be prioritized during power limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by assigning different connection strategies to different equipment based on their criticality. Second electrical equipment (critical) is connected through the grid-forming energy storage equipment that guarantees stable voltage and frequency, while first electrical equipment (non-critical) is connected through the conventional energy storage system. This differentiated approach enables priority management during power limitations while maintaining reasonable control complexity through modular architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid load-energy storage system applicable to a microgrid of a hydrometallurgical plant, includes: a plurality of first electrical equipment, a plurality of second electrical equipment, first energy storage equipment, and second energy storage equipment. An electric usage priority of the first electrical equipment is lower than that of the second electrical equipment. The first energy storage equipment is on-grid and off-grid energy storage equipment, and the second energy storage equipment is grid-forming energy storage equipment. The first electrical equipment is connected to the first energy storage equipment via branches provided with first circuit breakers, and the second electrical equipment is connected to the second energy storage equipment via branches provided with second circuit breakers. The first second energy storage equipment are respectively connected to an AC bus via branches provided with a third and a fourth circuit breakers, and the AC bus is connected to an external power grid.