Model Predictive Controller Design for a Load Management Research Facility in a Distributed Power System

This paper introduces PowerFlexHouse, a research facility for exploring the technical potential of active load management in a distributed power system with a high penetration of renewable energy. A description of the facility based on a distributed power system (SYSLAB) is followed by a discussion of the software platform on which building controllers can be executed. Finally, this paper shows how to design a thermal model predictive controller for the power consumption prediction in this distributed power system. The control of the PowerFlexHouse allows studies to be performed on the reaction of this intelligent house to a hybrid power grid. With this demand side control study, we hope we can not only dramatically improve grid reliability, but also raise energy efficiencies and reduce power cost for users.