Lesson 3 - Generators

The goal of this lesson is to familiarize you with the various ways of modeling generators in GridLAB-D. The specific learning objectives are the following

1. How to connect a diesel generator.
2. How to connect a solar generator.
3. How to connect a wind turbine.

Generators

To define generators, you must include the generators module using the module generators; GLM directive.

Generators can be connected to any single phase or 3-phase nodes on a network. Some generators such as diesel generators can be directly connected to the network. Renewables resources such as wind and solar must be connected through meters. Some renewables, such as solar panels, must also be connected through inverters.

When a generator's output depends on weather, then the weather data and the time must be specified.

Tasks

The following tasks are illustrated in main.glm:

1. Load the generators module (see main.glm@7).
2. Add a 1 cylinder, 2 stroke, 3-phase diesel generator running at 360 rpm with 680 N.m of torque to node_8 (see main.glm@8).
3. Add a 4 kW 100 sf solar panel with 13.5% efficiency titled at 45 deg facing south to node_10 (see main.glm@21).
   1. Get and load the weather data (main.glm@22).
   2. Set the time to use for the weather data (main.glm@26).
   3. Connect a meter to load_10 (main.glm@32).
   4. Connect an inverter to the meter (main.glm@39).
   5. Connect the solar panel to the inverter (main.glm@46).
4. Add a 100 kW generic small induction wind turbine to load_28 (see main.glm@57).
   1. Connect a meter to load_28 (main.glm@57).
   2. Connect the wind turbine to the meter (main.glm@57).

Exercises

1. Change the diesel generator to a single phase (A) connected to and with the same power as load_9. (Hint: $power = \frac{2 \pi}{60} \frac{rpm \times torque}{stroke \times cylinders}$).
2. Increase the size of the solar panel to 1000 sf, and increase the capacity of the panel and inverter to support the potential output of the panel.

More Information

• Generator Module
  • Diesel Generators
  • Solar Panels
  • Wind Turbines
  • Microturbines

Next Lesson

• Lesson 4 - Energy Storage