3D Visualization of Microgrid

Sixuan Duan, Purdue University

Abstract

As environment pollution becomes more serious, the use of renewable energy is becoming more and more important. Microgrid is a smart grid that supports intermittent low-carbon energy, designed to provide electricity to the local communities and to connect or disconnect from the main grid. At the same time, considering solar panel and wind turbine as generators. The goal of the microgrid system is to provide each customer with more economical, efficient and reliable power and help customers withstand extreme weather [1]. 3D visualization is to increase the students’ interests in the power engineering and vividly shows how the microgrid works. This thesis first applies the droop control to the existing base MATLAB Simulink model, then designed a 3D visualization of microgrid using 3ds Max and Unity3D software combined with C# language. This is the first time that the 3D virtualization of power system is introduced and realized. 3D models of Solar Panel, Wind turbine, Energy storage system (ESS), Microgrid motor control center (MCC), etc. are built through 3ds Max modeling software and are imported to the Unity3D software. The operation environment of the microgrid system are displayed in three dimensions through Unity3D. Moreover, the interface and virtual system instructions are designed to further fascinate the students learning and increase their interests. The built 3D visualization of microgrid can vividly show the details and function of each component in the microgrid. In addition, it can demonstrate the operation of Microgrid with the real-time interaction. The first-time application of Unity3D in the microgrid system laid the foundation for the feasibility of virtual technology in the application of engineering education.

Degree

M.Sc.

Advisors

Xu, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Design|Alternative Energy|Atmospheric sciences|Computer science|Energy|Information Technology|Marketing

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