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Integration of Energy Analytics and Smart Energy Microgrid into Mobile Medicine Operations for the 2012 Democratic National Convention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 November 2014

Peter W. McCahill ,
Erin E. Noste ,
AJ Rossman  and
David W. Callaway
Peter W. McCahill*
Affiliation:
Carolinas Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Charlotte, North Carolina USA
Erin E. Noste
Affiliation:
Carolinas Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Charlotte, North Carolina USA
AJ Rossman
Affiliation:
Sun, Earth, Wind, Water (SEWW) Energy, Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina USA
David W. Callaway
Affiliation:
Carolinas Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Charlotte, North Carolina USA
*
Correspondence: Peter W. McCahill, MD Carolinas Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine 1000 Blythe Blvd. Charlotte, North Carolina 28203 USA E-mail [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction

Disasters create major strain on energy infrastructure in affected communities. Advances in microgrid technology offer the potential to improve “off-grid” mobile disaster medical response capabilities beyond traditional diesel generation. The Carolinas Medical Center's mobile emergency medical unit (MED-1) Green Project (M1G) is a multi-phase project designed to demonstrate the benefits of integrating distributive generation (DG), high-efficiency batteries, and “smart” energy utilization in support of major out-of-hospital medical response operations.

Methods

Carolinas MED-1 is a mobile medical facility composed of a fleet of vehicles and trailers that provides comprehensive medical care capacities to support disaster response and special-event operations. The M1G project partnered with local energy companies to deploy energy analytics and an energy microgrid in support of mobile clinical operations for the 2012 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte, North Carolina (USA). Energy use data recorded throughout the DNC were analyzed to create energy utilization models that integrate advanced battery technology, solar photovoltaic (PV), and energy conservation measures (ECM) to improve future disaster response operations.

Results

The generators that supply power for MED-1 have a minimum loading ratio (MLR) of 30 kVA. This means that loads below 30 kW lead to diesel fuel consumption at the same rate as a 30 kW load. Data gathered from the two DNC training and support deployments showed the maximum load of MED-1 to be around 20 kW. This discrepancy in MLR versus actual load leads to significant energy waste. The lack of an energy storage system reduces generator efficiency and limits integration of alternative energy generation strategies. A storage system would also allow for alternative generation sources, such as PV, to be incorporated. Modeling with a 450 kWh battery bank and 13.5 kW PV array showed a 2-fold increase in potential deployment times using the same amount of fuel versus the current conventional system.

Conclusions

The M1G Project demonstrated that the incorporation of a microgrid energy management system and a modern battery system maximize the MED-1 generators’ output. Using a 450 kWh battery bank and 13.5 kW PV array, deployment operations time could be more than doubled before refueling. This marks a dramatic increase in patient care capabilities and has significant public health implications. The results highlight the value of smart-microgrid technology in developing energy independent mobile medical capabilities and expanding cost-effective, high-quality medical response.

McCahillPW , NosteEE , RossmanAJ , CallawayDW . Integration of Energy Analytics and Smart Energy Microgrid into Mobile Medicine Operations for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(6):1-8.

Keywords

disaster planningdisastersefficiencyrelief worktechnology
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 29 , Issue 6 , December 2014 , pp. 600 - 607
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2014 

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