Hardware-in-the-Loop Implementation of ROMAtrix, a Smart Transformer for Future Power Grids

Abstract

The evolution of power generation brings about extensive changes in other parts of the grid, especially in the transmission and distribution components. Within the scope of the Internet of Energy (IoE), electric power flows more flexibly between different parts of the grid. DC power will play an essential role in IoE. Decentralized photovoltaic panels, energy storage, electric vehicle charging stations, and data centers are some of the significant components of future grids dealing with DC power. As a result, power transformers must be appropriately modified to manage power among the different parts of the grid. A power electronic transformer (PET), also known as a solid-state transformer (SST) or smart transformer (ST), is a solution enabling a power grid to deal with this growing complexity. ROMAtrix, as a matrix-converter-based ST, is a developing project targeting future power grids. ROMAtrix realizes the application of a medium voltage (MV) transformer using commercially available power electronic semiconductors. Due to the distinctive features of ROMAtrix and a high number of switches, the implementation of the control system using a single control board is highly demanding. This paper aims to illustrate the implementation, on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), of pulse width modulation (SVMPWM) applied to the ROMAtrix, considering specific switching patterns. The proposed switching procedure was simulated with PLECS and validated with the hardware-in-the-loop using the OPAL-RT solver.