Hybrid2

Download

Download notes: the password for the Hybrid2 software package is hibrida and the software is unsupported but free to use. Hybrid2 will probably not work on Windows platforms later than Windows XP

The Hybrid2 software package is a user friendly tool to perform detailed long term performance and economic analysis on a wide variety of hybrid power systems. Hybrid2 is a probabilistic/time series computer model, using time series data for loads, wind speed, solar insolation, temperature and the power system designed or selected by the user, to predict the performance of the hybrid power system. Variations in wind speed and in load within each time step are factored into the preformance predictions. The code does not consider short term system fluctuations caused by system dynamics or component transients

Hybrid2 was designed to study a wide variety of hybrid power systems. The hybrid systems may include three types of electrical loads, multiple wind turbines of different types, photovoltaics, multiple diesel generators, battery storage, and four types of power conversion devices. Systems can be modeled on the AC, DC, or both buses. A variety of different control strategies/options may be implemented which incorporate detailed diesel dispatch as well as interactions between diesel gensets and batteries. An economic analysis tool is also included that calculates the economic worth of the project using many economic and performance parameters.

The Hybrid2 code employs a user-friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI) and a glossary of terms commonly associated with hybrid power systems. Hybrid2 is also packaged with a library of equipment to assist the user in designing hybrid power systems. Each piece of equipment is commercially available and uses the manufacturers’ specifications. In addition the library includes sample power systems and projects that the user can use as a template. Two levels of output are provided, a summary and a detailed time step by time step description of power flows. A Graphical Results Interface (GRI) allows for easy and in-depth review of the detailed simulation results.

Basic features

Probabilistic/time series model: The model is based on time series data but uses statistical methods to account for inter time step variations in the wind and load. This allows for a more accurate prediction of diesel operation and dispatching.

Very diverse system architecture allowed

Systems based on three buses containing wind turbines, PV array, diesels, battery storage, power converters, and a dump load.

Detailed dispatching options

Over 180 different configurations allowed as well as a library of 12 different commonly used dispatch options. Based on decisions relating to how batteries and diesels will operate if included in the power system. The user is allowed to specify when the diesels are started, in what order, how they operate in relation to a battery bank, and when they are shut off.

Online library of manufactures equipment and data files

Allows the user to easily create projects and power systems using pull down menus of commercially available components and power systems as well as resource data files. The library contains approximately 150 different wind turbines, PV modules, diesels, batteries, power systems, as well as resource data files.

Uses commonly accessible data to define components and systems

All components are easily defined from manufactures specification data so that users can enter components not included in the NREL library. New entries become part of the library for use in other projects and systems.

Very detailed economic analysis

Allows the user to do detailed analysis on potential systems taking into account a wide variety of inputs from taxes to load information.

Online glossary

A glossary of commonly used terms to assist the year in defining projects and hybrid power systems

For further information please contact

Ian Baring-Gould
NREL/NWTC
1617 Cole Blvd.
Golden, CO 80401-3393
Phone: (303) 384-7041
Fax: (303) 384-6901
E-mail: hybrid2@nrel.gov
or
Renewable Energy Research Laboratory
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
Phone: (413) 545-3916
Fax: (413) 545-1027
E-mail: wec@umass.edu