Integration of Blockchain, Supercapacitors, and Dynamic Reactive Compensation for Smart Load Management in Smart Campus Buildings

Abstract

This research aims to design and develop an intelligent load management system for an educational building under the Smart Campus concept. A novel approach is proposed by integrating advanced technologies: Blockchain for transparent data recording, Supercapacitor for rapid energy storage and discharge during peak load conditions, and Dynamic Reactive Compensation (DRC) to stabilize power quality. The system was implemented in the educational building of the College of Industrial Technology, RMUTSV. The developed system represents a groundbreaking innovation by integrating Internet of Things (IoT) and Blockchain technologies for the first time in the context of an educational building to achieve real-time, efficient, and transparent load management. Real-time current data were collected via IoT devices from December 2024 to February 2025. Experimental results comparing the system performance before and after installation showed that the phase load imbalance was reduced from 12.8% to just 3.4%, and the power factor improved from 0.82 to 0.97, leading to a 28.7% reduction in reactive power losses. The Supercapacitor was able to supply up to 11.4 kW within 0.7 seconds, mitigating voltage sag during peak load periods by more than 65%. The Blockchain system recorded load data every second without data loss, with an access latency of less than 0.6 seconds. Overall electrical system efficiency in the building increased from 88.2% to 96.5% within three months. The results demonstrate significant improvements to the building’s electrical system, indicating its potential to be scaled up to a fully intelligent building or Smart Campus in the future.