Stability Analysis of Power Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulations for Grid Applications

Abstract

Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHiL) simulation is an emerging testing methodology of real hardware equipment within an emulated virtual environment. The closed loop interfacing between the Hardware under Test (HuT) and the Real Time Simulation (RTS) enables a realistic simulation but can also result in an unstable system. In addition to fundamentals in PHiL simulation and interfacing, this paper therefore provides a consistent and comprehensive study of PHiL stability. An analytic analysis is compared with a simulative approach and is supplemented by practical validations of the stability limits in PHiL simulation. Special focus is given on the differences between a switching and a linear amplifier as power interface (PI). Stability limits and the respective factors of influence (e.g., Feedback Current Filtering) are elaborated with a minimal example circuit with voltage-type Ideal Transformer Model (ITM) PHiL interface algorithm (IA). Finally, the findings are transferred to a real low-voltage grid PHiL application with residential load and photovoltaic system.

New Power Interface Based on Multi-Dimensional Golden Section Search Algorithm for Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop Applications

“…The intermediate points are also four, which are A (x 1 , y 1 ), B (x 2 , y 1 ), C (x 1 , y 2 ), and D (x 2 , y 2 ). Re-arranging (6) and extending them to the ycoordinate, the values of x 1 , x 2 , y 1 , and y 2 can be obtained:…”

“…This includes ideal transformer model (ITM), time-variant first order approximation (TVFOA), transmission line model (TLM), partial circuit duplication (PCD), and the damping impedance method (DIM). Among them, ITM is the most commonly used due to its ease of implementation [5], [6]. The problem of ITM is that the ratio between the RTDPNS and PDuT impedances needs to be maintained in order to preserve stability.…”

Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulations: A Historical Overview of Engineering Challenges

“…To summarize, in the case of safety-critical applications in the industry, functional safety and HIL simulation are the most significant methods for reliable production. The following text will discuss the historical overview of different HIL simulation fields through particular examples within the automotive industry [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36], electric drive control [37][38][39][40], power electronics converters [41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49], electric grid applications [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59], railway traction systems [60][61][62], and education [63][64][65][66]…”

“…A demanding drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector requires a fundamental transition of the energy supply, affecting the grid's stability [53,54]. Today, we face a significant increase in distributed energy resources (DERs), such as wind power plants, solar PV, and battery energy storage systems (BESS), into the electric grid.…”

FPGA-Based Real-Time Simulation of Dual-Port Submodule MMC–HVDC System

“…The control and protection system has an important function in the secure and reliable operation of the power grid. The hardware-in-loop (HIL) test based on real-time simulation is used to verify the correctness of the protection devices' action and the effectiveness of the control strategy in HVDC flexible transmission [4][5][6]. As the transmission voltage level increases, the switching element groups sometimes need to be used in parallel.…”