Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL): A Review to Advance Smart Inverter-Based Grid-Edge Solutions

Abstract

Over the past decade, the world’s electrical grid infrastructure has experienced rapid growth in the integration of grid-edge inverter-based distributed energy resources (DERs). This has led to operating concerns associated with reduced system inertia, stability and intermittent renewable power generation. However, advanced or “smart” inverters can provide grid services such as volt-VAR, frequency-Watt, and constant power factor capabilities to help sustain reliable grid and microgrid operations. To address the challenges and accelerate the benefits of smart inverter integration, new approaches are needed to test both the impacts of inverter-based resources (IBRs) on the grid as well as the impacts of changing grid conditions on the operation of IBRs. Power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) stands out as a strong testing solution, enabling a real-time simulated power system to be interfaced to hardware devices such as inverters which can be implemented to determine interactions between multiple inverters at multiple points of common coupling on the grid and microgrids. This paper presents a review of PHIL for grid and microgrid applications including recent advancements and requirements such as real-time simulators, hardware interfaces and communication and stability considerations. An illuminating case study is summarized followed by exemplary PHIL testbed developments around the world, concluding with a proposed research paradigm to advance the integration of smart grid-following and grid-forming inverters.

New Approach for Validation of a Directional Overcurrent Protection Scheme in a Ring Distribution Network with Integration of Distributed Energy Resources Using Digital Twins

“…This is accomplished by using real-time simulation software, which is distinguished by accurately simulating a physical system or process with sample times that match the real phenomena exactly; that is, one simulation second corresponds to precisely one real phenomenon second. This feature makes it feasible for physical components or devices to directly interact with the simulated networks [20,39]. This is not possible with offline simulation tools, since in that scenario, the sample time differs from the actual phenomena.…”

A New Digital Twins-Based Overcurrent Protection Scheme for Distributed Energy Resources Integrated Distribution Networks

“…Therefore, some authors have started to use this technique in power systems. For example, Reference [14] reviewed the use of PHIL for power systems, key aspects, recent advances, and some testbed developments. The authors of [15] reviewed the concept of the digital twin and explored different applications in MGs and future trends; they also analyzed the potential enhancement of technology and a conceptual model for resilient operation management of microgrids.…”