FPGA design methodology for industrial control systems—a review

This paper reviews the state of the art of fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) design methodologies with a focus on industrial control system applications. This paper starts with an overview of FPGA technology development, followed by a presentation of design methodologies, development tools and relevant CAD environments, including the use of portable hardware description languages and system level programming/design tools. They enable a holistic functional approach with the major advantage of setting up a unique modeling and evaluation environment for complete industrial electronics systems. Three main design rules are then presented. These are algorithm refinement, modularity, and systematic search for the best compromise between the control performance and the architectural constraints. An overview of contributions and limits of FPGAs is also given, followed by a short survey of FPGA-based intelligent controllers for modern industrial systems. Finally, two complete and timely case studies are presented to illustrate the benefits of an FPGA implementation when using the proposed system modeling and design methodology. These consist of the direct torque control for induction motor drives and the control of a diesel-driven synchronous stand-alone generator with the help of fuzzy logic

Control Theory in Engineering

The subject matter of this book ranges from new control design methods to control theory applications in electrical and mechanical engineering and computers. The book covers certain aspects of control theory, including new methodologies, techniques, and applications. It promotes control theory in practical applications of these engineering domains and shows the way to disseminate researchers’ contributions in the field. This project presents applications that improve the properties and performance of control systems in analysis and design using a higher technical level of scientific attainment. The authors have included worked examples and case studies resulting from their research in the field. Readers will benefit from new solutions and answers to questions related to the emerging realm of control theory in engineering applications and its implementation

DALILA - Design architectures in a Living Lab

Real-time testing of a Multi-Microgrid system emulated in Matlab Simulink. The experimental tests were undercarried on real hardware components through a analog/digital converter (Power Harware in The Loop).This thesis provides an overview of Microgrids and Multi-Microgrids control architectures and validates control functionalities through the combined efforts of numerical simulation and practical tests in a real laboratory by using Power Hardware In the Loop (PHIL) technology. The thesis is divided in five major topics. The first topic is related with Microgrids, Multi-Microgrids and Smartgrids. It starts by describing the context of such concepts and their implications on power systems: the operational challenges they brought along are laid out in order to make sense out of the proposed solutions. Afterwards it details what characterizes these concepts and the essential components behind them. The devices that enable main functionalities such as autonomous operation, active demand response, voltage/var control, blackstart, etc. This involves explaining the models of microgeneration units, storage devices, electric vehicles and system coordinators. Lastly, there is mentioning to some international reference projects.The second topic is related with Living Labs. In order to conduct experiments regarding Microgrids/Smartgrids, it is necessary to identify key laboratory infrastructures and their main experimental objectives. Therefore, a brief outlook of the most notorious international laboratories and their topics of research is presented.The third topic revolves around the simulation mechanics and the software utilized to study power systems behaviour, which in this case was \textit{Matlab Simulink}. A base case of a Multi-Microgrid system scenario was built based on an existing rural grid and is presented. The MicroSource modelling and the control strategy implemented are described and test results are driven and analysed. The fourth topic details the theory associated with the PHIL converter and describes the series of steps to be followed that allow interaction with \textit{Simulink} and proper operation. Finally, the last topic describes the experimental tests that were under carried in the laboratory and their respective results. These results will serve to validate the ones obtained in the simulation environment. This serves the purpose of demonstrating microgrid operation and testing

Modelling load balance type static var compensator control system response

As power system interconnection becomes more prevalent, there has been an increase in use of thyristor controlled shunt connected compensation devices for dynamic power system compensation and power transmission capacity increase. A Static Var Compensator (SVC) functions as a variable reactance capable of operating in both the inductive and capacitive region as required on a cycle by cycle basis to provide compensation at the point of connection to the power system. Voltage regulation is the operational objective of most SVCs. Therefore, transient response of SVC control systems impacts overall power system performance and inappropriate settings may lead to voltage instability. SVCs are also commonly used to convert single phase load into balanced three phase load, thereby reducing negative phase sequence voltages and currents within the power transmission system. As most load balancing SVCs are consistently operated to their capacity, removal from service to apply and test control system setting changes impacts system regulation and stability. Therefore, model development of a load balancing type SVC control system to predict response to setting changes may provide an alternative to lengthy outages of SVC plant. This paper examines the theoretical basis of thyristor controlled shunt compensation, establishing conditions for voltage support and unbalanced load compensation. Load balancing type SVC control system model development and validation is documented

Modelling, analysis and design of LCLC resonant power converters.

The thesis investigates the modelling, analysis, design and control of 4th -order LCLC resonant power converters. Both voltage-output and current-output variants, are considered. Key research outcomes are the derivation of new frequency- and time-domain models of the converters, based on normalised component ratios, and including the effects that parasitic elements have on circuit behaviour, and a detailed account of multi-resonant characteristics; extensions to the use of cyclicmode modelling methods for application to LCLC converters, to provide rapid steady-state analysis, thereby facilitating the use of the derived methodologies as part of an interactive design tool; the formulation of analytical methods to predict the electrical stresses on tank components-an important consideration when designing resonant converters, as they are often higher than for hard-switched converter counterparts; the characterisation of both continuous and discontinuous modes of operation and the boundary conditions that separate them; and a substantial treatment of the modelling, analysis and design of LCLC converters that can provide multiple regulated outputs by the integrated control of both excitation frequency and pulse-width-modulation. The proposed methodologies are employed, for validation purposes, in the realisation of two proof-of concept demonstrator converters. The first, to satisfy the requirements for delivering 65V (rms) to an electrode-less, SW, fluorescent lamp, to improve energy efficiency and lifetime, and operating at a nominal frequency of 2.65 MHz, is used to demonstrate capacitively-coupled operation through the lamp tube, thereby mitigating the normally detrimental effects of excitation via the electrodes. The second prototype considers the realization of an LCLC resonant power supply that can provide multiple regulated outputs without the need for post-regulation circuitry. The two outputs of the supply are independently, closed-loop regulated, to provide asymmetrical output voltage distributions, using a combination of frequency- and duty-control. Although, an analysis of the supply shows that the behaviour is extremely complex, due, in particular, to the highly non-linear interaction between the mUltiple outputs and parasitic inductances, and rectifier, an analysis to provide optimum performance characteristics, is proposed. Moreover, a PICIFPGA-based digital controller is developed that allows control of the transient performance of both outputs under start-up and steady-state conditions

Power System Digital Twins and Real-Time Simulations in Modern Grids

Power systems are in a state of constant change with new hardware, software and applications affecting their planning, operation, and maintenance. Power system control centers are also evolving through new technologies and functionalities to adapt to current needs. System control rooms have moved from fully manual to automated operations, from analog to digital, and have become an embedded and complex information, communication, computation and control system. Digital twins are virtual representations of physical systems, assets and/or processes. They are enabled through software, hardware and data integration, and allow real-time monitoring, controlling, prediction, optimization, and improved decision-making. Consequently, digital twins arise as a technology capable of incorporating existing control systems along with new ones to collect, classify, store, retrieve and disseminate data for the future generation of control centers. Power system digital twins (PSDTs) can uplift how data from power grids and their equipment is processed, providing operators new ways to visualize and understand the information. Nevertheless, complexity and size of modern power systems narrow the scope a current digital twin can have. Furthermore, the services provided are limited to only certain phenomena and/or applications. This thesis addresses the need for a flexible and versatile solution that is also robust and adaptable for monitoring, operating and planning future power systems. The modular design for implementation of the next generation of PSDTs is proposed based on grid applications and/or services they can provide. From a modeling perspective, this thesis also distinguishes how real-time simulations enable the design, development, and operation of a PSDT. First, the need for enhanced power system modeling and simulation techniques is established. Moreover, the necessity of expanding to a more complete and varied open-source library of power system models is identified. The thesis continues by designing, developing, and testing models of inverter-based resources that can be used by the industry and researchers when developing PSDTs. Furthermore, the first-of-its-kind synthetic grid with a longitudinal structure, the S-NEM2300-bus benchmark model, based on the Australian National Electricity Market is created. The synthetic grid is, finally, used to illustrate the first steps towards implementing a practical PSDT

Measurements, Models, Systems and Design

531 s.