Advanced Testing Chain Supporting the Validation of Smart Grid Systems and Technologies

New testing and development procedures and methods are needed to address topics like power system stability, operation and control in the context of grid integration of rapidly developing smart grid technologies. In this context, individual testing of units and components has to be reconsidered and appropriate testing procedures and methods need to be described and implemented. This paper addresses these needs by proposing a holistic and enhanced testing methodology that integrates simulation/software- and hardware-based testing infrastructure. This approach presents the advantage of a testing environment, which is very close to f i eld testing, includes the grid dynamic behavior feedback and is risks-free for the power system, for the equipment under test and for the personnel executing the tests. Furthermore, this paper gives an overview of successful implementation of the proposed testing approach within different testing infrastructure available at the premises of different research institutes in Europe.Comment: 2018 IEEE Workshop on Complexity in Engineering (COMPENG

European White Book on Real-Time Power Hardware in the Loop Testing : DERlab Report No. R- 005.0

The European White Book on Real-Time-Powerhardware-in-the-Loop testing is intended to serve as a reference document on the future of testing of electrical power equipment, with specifi c focus on the emerging hardware-in-the-loop activities and application thereof within testing facilities and procedures. It will provide an outlook of how this powerful tool can be utilised to support the development, testing and validation of specifi cally DER equipment. It aims to report on international experience gained thus far and provides case studies on developments and specifi c technical issues, such as the hardware/software interface. This white book compliments the already existing series of DERlab European white books, covering topics such as grid-inverters and grid-connected storag

Comparison of multiple power amplification types for power hardware-in-the-loop applications

This Paper discusses Power Hardware-in-the-Loop simulations from an important point of view: an intrinsic and integral part of PHIL simulation – the power amplification. In various publications PHIL is discussed either in a very theoretical approach or it is briefly featured as the used method. In neither of these publication types the impact of the power amplification to the total PHIL simulation is discussed deeply. This paper extends this discussion into the comparison of three different power amplification units and their usability for PHIL simulations. Finally in the conclusion it is discussed which type of power amplification is best for which type of PHIL experiment

Asynchronous Integration of Real-Time Simulators for HIL-based Validation of Smart Grids

As the landscape of devices that interact with the electrical grid expands, also the complexity of the scenarios that arise from these interactions increases. Validation methods and tools are typically domain specific and are designed to approach mainly component level testing. For this kind of applications, software and hardware-in-the-loop based simulations as well as lab experiments are all tools that allow testing with different degrees of accuracy at various stages in the development life-cycle. However, things are vastly different when analysing the tools and the methodology available for performing system-level validation. Until now there are no available well-defined approaches for testing complex use cases involving components from different domains. Smart grid applications would typically include a relatively large number of physical devices, software components, as well as communication technology, all working hand in hand. This paper explores the possibilities that are opened in terms of testing by the integration of a real-time simulator into co-simulation environments. Three practical implementations of such systems together with performance metrics are discussed. Two control-related examples are selected in order to show the capabilities of the proposed approach.Comment: IECON 2019 - 45th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Societ

Coupling of Real-Time and Co-Simulation for the Evaluation of the Large Scale Integration of Electric Vehicles into Intelligent Power Systems

This paper addresses the validation of electric vehicle supply equipment by means of a real-time capable co-simulation approach. This setup implies both pure software and real-time simulation tasks with different sampling rates dependent on the type of the performed experiment. In contrast, controller and power hardware-in-the-loop simulations are methodologies which ask for real-time execution of simulation models with well-defined simulation sampling rates. Software and real-time methods are connected one to each other using an embedded software interface. It is able to process signals with different time step sizes and is called "LabLink". Its design implies both common and specific input and output layers (middle layer), as well as a data bus (core). The LabLink enables the application of the co-simulation methodology on the proposed experimental platform targeting the testing of electric vehicle supply equipment. The test setup architecture and representative examples for the implemented co-simulation are presented in this paper. As such, a validation of the usability of this testing platform can be highlighted aiming to support a higher penetration of electric vehicles.Comment: 2017 IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference (VPPC

On Modeling Depths of Power Electronic Circuits for Real-Time Simulation – A Comparative Analysis for Power Systems

Investigations of the dynamic behaviour of power electronic components integrated into electric networks require suitable and established simulation methodologies. Real-time simulation represents a frequently applied methodology for analyzing the steady-state and transient behavior of electric power systems. This work introduces a guideline on how to model power electronics converters in digital real time simulators, taking into account the trade-off between model accuracy and the required computation time. Based on this concept, possible execution approaches with respect to the usage of central processing unit and field-programmable gate array components are highlighted. Simulation test scenario, such as primary frequency regulation and low voltage ride through, have been performed and accuracy indices are discussed for each implemented real-time model and each test scenario, respectively. Finally, a run-time analysis of presented real-time setups is given and real-time simulation results are compared. This manuscript demonstrates important differences in real-time simulation modelling, providing useful guidelines for the decision making of power engineers

On Modeling Depths of Power Electronic Circuits for Real-Time Simulation – A Comparative Analysis for Power Systems

Investigations of the dynamic behaviour of power electronic components integrated into electric networks require suitable and established simulation methodologies. Real-time simulation represents a frequently applied methodology for analyzing the steady-state and transient behavior of electric power systems. This work introduces a guideline on how to model power electronics converters in digital real time simulators, taking into account the trade-off between model accuracy and the required computation time. Based on this concept, possible execution approaches with respect to the usage of central processing unit and field-programmable gate array components are highlighted. Simulation test scenario, such as primary frequency regulation and low voltage ride through, have been performed and accuracy indices are discussed for each implemented real-time model and each test scenario, respectively. Finally, a run-time analysis of presented real-time setups is given and real-time simulation results are compared. This manuscript demonstrates important differences in real-time simulation modelling, providing useful guidelines for the decision making of power engineers

Virtual shifting impedance method for extended range high-fidelity PHIL testing

A novel power hardware-in-the-loop interface algorithm, the Virtual Shifting Impedance, is developed, validated and demonstrated in this paper. Building on existing interface algorithms, this method involves shifting a part of the software impedance to the hardware side to improve the stability and accuracy of power hardware-in-the-loop setups. However, compared to existing approaches, this impedance shifting is realized by modifying the command signals of the power amplifier controller, thus avoiding the requirement for hardware passive components. The mathematical derivation of the Virtual Shifting Impedance interface algorithm is realized step-by-step, while its stability and accuracy properties are thoroughly examined. Finally, the applicability of the proposed method is verified through power hardware-in-the-loop simulation results

PicoTesla absolute field readings with a hybrid 3He/87Rb magnetometer

We demonstrate the use of a hybrid 3He/87 magnetometer to measure absolute magnetic fields in the pT range. The measurements were undertaken by probing time-dependent 3He magnetisation using 87Rb zero-field magnetometers. Measurements were taken to demonstrate the use of the magnetometer in cancelling residual fields within a magnetic shield. It was shown that the absolute field could be reduced to the 10 pT level by using field readings from the magnetometer. Furthermore, the hybrid magnetometer was shown to be applicable for the reduction of gradient fields by optimising the effective 3He T2 time. This procedure represents a convenient and consistent way to provide a near zero magnetic field environment which can be potentially used as a base for generating desired magnetic field configurations for use in precision measurements