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Microgrids
Adrien Geni, Petar Gartner, Danilo Medjo, Mladen Dini
Development department
Typhoon HIL
Novi Sad, Serbia
adrien@typhoon-hil.com
Abstract The paper presents a multi-layer hardware-in-theloop (HIL) based testbed for development, evaluation and testing
of microgrid operation. The testbed is a configurable setup which
can match any microgrid structure. The presented microgrid
consists of 15 distributed energy resources (DERs). It includes 4
distributed generators (DGs): a solar plant, diesel generator, 2
constant power sources, 10 distributed loads (DLs): a direct-online induction machines, constant power load, 7 passive loads, a
three phase rectifier with an active filter and a battery storage
system (BSS). Power system and power electronics parts were
simulated by a real time simulator. Controllers for the PE
converters were real, industrial controllers connected to the realtime simulator. Supervisory control and data acquisition system
(SCADA) for the microgrid was designed and connected to the
system. The system behavior was analyzed in a number of
different scenarios.
KeywordsHardware-in-the-Loop; microgrid; testbed;
I. INTRODUCTION
The grid, as it is now, is designed to be centralized, small
number of sources and significantly larger number of loads
spread across the large distribution network. With fast
penetration of renewable energy sources such as wind farms
and solar plants, sources are geographically distributed across
the grid. In order to handle all the additional sources, grid is
changing and becoming smarter. Basic building blocks of the
future smart grids are microgrids. Microgrids are small scale
girds that can be connected to a larger system or they can
operate completely autonomously. Today, microgrids have
numerous applications such as power system of large ships,
aircrafts [1], hospitals, temporary settlements and so on.
Because of large number of smart DERs, microgrids require
new control algorithms, protection algorithms and energy
management systems. Locally controllers for the DERs
require advanced control algorithms and have to support novel
communication protocols [2].
It is a challenge to develop, test and commission a
complex microgrid which is composed of large number of
complex DERs. In order to make it possible, new development
and test methodologies and tools need to be introduced. The
first step in development of microgrids is an offline computer
simulation. There are simulation tools that can simulate the
todays grid very well, but the model accuracy is not good
enough for girds with lot of smart DERs. DERs are composed
of a power electronics converter controlled by computer
software. It is hard to model the software, the smartness of the
DERs. While this segment off the microgrid and smart energy
resources have to be tested the most.
Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and development is a
known methodology for more than two decades in automotive
industry. In this approach, part of the entire system is
simulated in real time, while another part of the system
remains the original, real one. In automotive industry, this
methodology is a standard. Nowadays, in power electronics
industry, HIL is more and more used in full product
development cycle, starting from early research all the way to
the regression testing. In power electronics application the
power part is simulated in real time, while the controller, the
brain of the converter, remains the exact same that will be
embed in the real system. This type of HIL is called control
hardware in the loop (CHIL) [3], [4], [5], [6]. HIL
development and testing methodology is at its early stage in
the field of microgrids. It is a challenge for real-time
simulation tools to match the requirements for full microgrids
with high fidelity models of smart DERs included. With new
tools emerging and improving, complex microgrid HIL
systems are enabled.
Multi-layer hardware-in-the loop based testbed for
development, evaluation and testing of microgrid operation is
presented in the paper. In the second section, multi-layer HIL
methodology is presented and defined. In third section
microgrid model used through the paper is introduced. In
section four the developed SCADA system is described in
details. Testbed is presented in section five. In section six HIL
experimental results are shown for various test scenarios that
demonstrate the feasibility of the testbed.
II. MULTI-LAYER HIL METHODOLOGY FOR MICROGRIDS
In HIL test methodology, one part of the system is
replaced with a model simulated in real time, while the other
one, usually the part under test, remains real. In power
electronics, CHIL approach is very common. In CHIL, the
high power part of a converter is simulated in real time, while
K. Cable sections
Busses in the microgrid are connected through cables of
different lengths. Length for cable is noted on Fig. 2 and Fig.
4. All cable sections are modeled as coupled R-L circuits.
IV. MICROGRID SCADA SYSTEM
Supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA),
shown in Fig. 8, was developed for the presented microgrid
system. The same software environment used for real time
simulation has an embedded tool for custom SCADA systems
development [10]. It is based on python programing language
which opens a possibility for complete customization of the
SCADA system. SCADA communicates with the real time
simulator through USB interface. It sets the inputs such as grid
voltages, solar panel irradiation, active and reactive power
references for constant power loads and sources, operates the
circuit breakers, reads and displays the voltage, current and
power in different points of the system. It also communicates
with the real controllers connected to the real time simulator
by setting the references and activating or deactivating them
through serial RS232 interface.
Left part of the SCADA window shows a single line
diagram of the microgrid. RMS voltage measurements show
the voltages on all 6 busses. The measurements are located
next to the busses on the single line diagram. Active and
reactive powers are measured through the main lines of
busses. Power measurement units are located on the single line
diagram next to the busses. At each circuit breaker in the
microgrid there is an option for direct control from the
SCADA. Next to each controllable DER there is an LED
indicator that lights up when the corresponding DER is active.
Load of the three phase rectifier can be changed directly from
the SCADA from low to high and vice versa.
Right part of the SCADA contains additional control and
supervisory options for some DERs. First sub panel is the
control part for the single phase constant power load. There is
a LED that indicate if the load is active. Reference values for
active and reactive powers can be set in this sub panel. Second
and third subpanels are the reference inputs for three phase
constant power sources DERs 9 and 13.
Fig. 11. Disturbed grid currents, currents of both active filters; both active
filters disabled
Fig. 12. Compensated grid currents, currents of both active filters; both active
filters enabled
VII. CONCLUSIONS
Multi-layer HIL methodology for development and testing
of complex microgrids is proposed in this paper. A microgrid
testbed composed of real time simulators, industrial double
active filter controller and solar inverter controller was built.
Custom SCADA system was developed for monitoring and
control of the presented microgrid. The modeled microgrid
was a 100 kVA, 400 V network with 6 busses and 15 DERs.
DERs included solar inverter, diesel generator, battery storage
system, active filters, nonlinear load, passive linear loads,
constant power sources and loads and an induction machine
driving a fan. Experimental results of various test scenarios
were presented. The power stage of the microgrid was
simulated with 2 s time step in real time. Active filter and
solar inverter controllers remained the real ones.
During the testbed development, more complex DERs
were tested separately. Active filters and solar inverter CHIL
were verified by industrial partners according to their results
from the field. Real time simulation results of BSS and
rectifier were compared to results obtained using offline
simulation tools. The whole microgrid was compared to
results from offline simulation tool. In offline simulation tool
average models for smart DERs where used.
The presented HIL approach showed significant flexibility
from microgrid modeling point of view. It is possible to model
DERs with different level of complexity and accuracy. In the
presented system there are simple active power sources with
and without droop control functionally, this represented an
average model of converters. Second level of complexity was
a battery storage system, which had a detailed model of the
power stage with a simulated control algorithm. Third level of
converter model complexity was presented in case of the solar
inverter and double active filters. Power stages were modeled
in details in the simulator, while the controllers remained the
real. Controllers were connected to the simulator as a CHIL
REFERENCES
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