2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

As the challenging and controversial energy crisis continues, the design, operation, and practical use of microgrids has become an increasingly vital role for future energy alternatives.
Microgrids include the use and storage of multiple renewable energy resources to provide electrical power to the end users. This is a senior design project completed by three students in 2023-24 academic year in an engineering technology program. The main objective of this project is to design, construct, and test a small-scale tabletop demonstration of a microgrid’s power system to be facilitated as an educational tool in the training and community engagement center of Blattner Wind Energy (Quanta) company. This project showcases distributed energy generation by integrating miniature wind and solar farms for a small community. Additionally, this project also includes model transmission lines and a battery storage unit. The model developed in this project included a scaled energy storage module in the form of a lithium-ion battery. The requirements for a microgrid project are divided into three categories: performance, safety, and education.
Performance requirement is that the system meets the expected quantitative and qualitative needs to ensure reliable generation, storage, and distribution within the table-top demonstration. Safety requirements encompass safety protocols that must be integrated to prevent potential hazards. Lastly, this project conveys educational content, facilitating the engagement and understanding with the concepts of electrical power distribution and efficient microgrid operation.
The envisioned tabletop design incorporates three model wind turbines and two solar farms. Two wind turbines are in fully working conditions and one turbine signifies under construction. Similarly, one solar farm is operational while the other is in the construction phase. To optimize layout efficiency, the battery energy storage system (BESS) and a model substation are positioned between the two solar farms. In addition, tar roads flank either side of the solar farms, with a connecting road situated between them. This road network enhances accessibility and connectivity within the visual representation of the microgrid system established in a rural area.
These planned features aimed to provide a comprehensive and visually engaging demonstration of the microgrid infrastructure and its operational dynamics. Furthermore, on the tabletop bench, a farmhouse with model animals is included. To signify the operational status of the wind and solar farms, multiple streetlights are incorporated into the farmhouse, indicating their functionality. Furthermore, the table's design must effectively simulate potential hazards, such as the presence of animals entering the construction site. Ensuring the preservation of land and habitat remains a key priority throughout the representation.
Additionally, the tabletop microgrid power system needs to incorporate essential components like transmission lines, a substation, a battery energy storage system (BESS), a river, railroad tracks, a crane, and roads to accurately depict the project's infrastructure and logistics. Faculty members, other students, and the Industrial Advisory Board members stated their appreciation to senior students who worked on this project. Students and faculty advisor met biweekly with Blattner engineers to discuss the project objectives and progress both in fall and spring semesters. The tabletop microgrid demonstration project was fully sponsored by Blattner (Quanta) Energy company, and the final product was delivered to company's training and demonstration center in Denver, Colorado.

The envisioned table design incorporates three model wind turbines and two solar farms. Two wind turbines are in fully working conditions and one turbine signifies under construction. Similarly, one solar farm is operational while the other is in the construction phase. To optimize layout efficiency, the battery energy storage system (BESS) and a model substation are positioned between the two solar farms. In addition, tar roads flank either side
of the solar farms, with a connecting road situated between them. This road network enhances accessibility and connectivity within the visual representation of the microgrid system.
These planned features aimed to provide a comprehensive and visually engaging demonstration of
the microgrid infrastructure and its operational dynamics. Furthermore, on the tabletop bench, a farmhouse with model animals is included. To signify the operational status of the wind and solar farms, multiple streetlights are incorporated into the farmhouse, indicating their functionality.