Ultra-high Fidelity Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) Simulation for Power Electronics and Microgrids

Significant and growing penetration of smart inverters represents both challenges and incipient opportunities to increase utility grid agility and stability. In addition to inherently fast dynamic control capabilities, these... [ view full abstract ]

Significant and growing penetration of smart inverters represents both challenges and incipient opportunities to increase utility grid agility and stability. In addition to inherently fast dynamic control capabilities, these power electronics systems interact with increasingly diverse physical systems (such as renewable generation technologies) in complex ways. Indeed, grid is becoming a true cyberphysical system with a layered architecture comprising both power processing and control and communications. Classical tools that are used for simulation, testing, and system validation are very limited in both model fidelity and flexibility. In this talk we will present a new approach to power electronics and power system controls testing and validation based on ultra-high fidelity Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) real-time simulation. Our HIL platform enables ultra-high-fidelity real-time simulation of power electronics converters, microgrids, distribution and transmission networks, with down to 500 ns (500 nano seconds) simulation time step, and 20 ns sampling resolution. In addition, our HIL simulation is directly interfaced with real digital controllers, thereby eliminating modeling assumptions and thus providing the most realistic “flight simulator” experiences for power electronics and power system simulations. We will discuss how Typhoon HIL is changing the testing and quality assurance processes in power electronics industry today and how we are helping, in our small way, utilities and system integrators revolutionize the grid.