A methodology for characterizing and modeling inverters for grid integration studies using Power Hardware-in-the-Loop

Abstract

This thesis directed by Professor Dragan MaksimovicA methodology is proposed and executed to characterize and model inverters for grid integration studies using Power Hardware-in-the-Loop. A Hardware-in-the-Loop system is configured using a Real-Time Data System (RTDS), grid simulator, load bank, photovoltaic inverter and bus system. A characterization scheme is developed on the RTDS that is based on the abnormal grid conditions and tests outlined in IEEE 1547 Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems. The RTDS is then used to control both the grid simulator and load bank. It was found that it is possible to characterize the inverter's grid protection controller's response to abnormal voltage, abnormal frequency and islanding conditions without prior knowledge of intimate control algorithms or hardware configuration.A model of the system was then created in Matlab Simulink using the data obtained from the characterization process. The inverter is modeled on a high level as a controlled current source and a controller for the inverter model is developed such that the detection and response to the stated abnormal grid conditions of the model directly mimics that of the actual inverter.

Reconfigurable Real-Time Power Grid Emulator for Systems With High Penetration of Renewables

“…With the advancement of microprocessors, real-time digital simulators, such as RTDS [4] and Opal-RT [5], have been developed to connect digital simulations and physical tests together to form a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) emulation [6]- [8]. HIL systems have been applied to diverse scenarios, such as motor drive system test [9], wind turbine low-voltage ride through [10], [11], and microgrid synchronization schemes [12]. With deliberately designed network solutions and parallel computing techniques, these tools can emulate a large system with fixed time-step on a real-time basis.…”

An Advanced Platform for Development and Evaluation of Grid Interconnection Systems Using Hardware-in-the-Loop: Part III -- Grid Interconnection System Evaluator

“…This report describes an addition to this platform-a grid interconnection system evaluator (GISE). The ground work for this concept was established in a previous NREL effort [6] [7] and an initial version was described as a Grid Interconnection Evaluator [5]. This initial version was then renamed and improved upon to create the GISE, a fully-integrated tool with a unified user interface for grid interconnection evaluation tests.…”

Power-Hardware-in-the-loop simulation of a D-STATCOM equipped MV network interfaced to an actual PV inverter

“…In a PHIL environment, a real device is possible to be tested in different simulated systems and under conditions very close to the real operating conditions. Several applications have been reported concerning DG devices such as Photovoltaic Energy Systems [5], [6], [7].…”