Cummins Inc. has opened a new microgrid lab, the Power Integration Center (PIC), at its power systems facility in Fridley, Minnesota. The PIC allows for the configuration, integration, and testing of power system technologies including diesel and natural gas generator sets, photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, battery storage systems, fuel cells, transfer switches, switchgear, and system-level controls.
“The PIC is the realization of a significant investment in engineering technology and innovation that will impact how companies use and build power systems to meet sustainability goals for a greener future,” said Gary Johansen, vice president, power systems engineering and project sponsor.
The PIC spans 20,000 sq.ft. (1858 m2) of lab space including an outdoor test area, main switchgear room, electrical mezzanine, and engineering control room. Assets such as generator sets, energy storage systems, fuel cells, and inverters can be brought in for testing in a wide variety of possible microgrid configurations.
The outdoor test area includes five 500-kW test pads and two 2000-kW test pads, which can be connected as sources or loads. Two 500-kW programmable load banks allow for scenarios to be run using real customer load profile data, at up to 0.8 leading or lagging power factor.
Three indoor switchgear lineups connect the different assets in the lab, as well as tie into the site utility connection. A 500-kW permanently installed, roof-mounted PV system is connected to the lab, as well as PV and energy storage simulators for testing various types of inverters. The engineering control room includes workstations where technicians can access all elements of the microgrid system, and work collaboratively with customers and technical partners.
“We are always looking for ways to react to the needs of the market and improve our business,” added Johansen. “Our customers are placing an even higher value on flexible and well-integrated solutions and this center will help us speed up the time it takes to deliver those new solutions.”
