Evaluation of the Interface Accuracy for Power Hardware-in-the-Loop Experiments

Abstract

Selecting an accurate interface algorithm is a primary goal in order to have a successful operation of power hardware-in-the-loop. The purpose of this paper is to utilize the modified damping impedance method for testing the accuracy of the interface algorithm in power hardware-in-the-loop applications in comparison to the traditional damping impedance method and ideal transformer model interfaces. The hardware-in-the-loop test-bed (a power-electronic-based system) is utilized to experimentally analyze and validate the expected advantages of the modified damping impedance method. In addition, to evaluate the power hardware-in-the-loop accuracy, a transfer function perturbation-based approach is considered to validate the results of experimentation analytically and quantitatively.

Keywords:

• converters
• power hardware-in-the-loop
• power conversion
• power systems
• interface algorithm
• inverters
• reactive power control
• real-time digital signal processing
• voltage control

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the funding support provided by the Office of Naval Research under award number N00014-10-1-0973, N00014-08-01-0080, N000014-14-1-0718, and additional facilities provided for the Florida State University – Center for Advanced Power Systems.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sanaz Paran

Sanaz Paran received her B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Shiraz University/Iran in 2009. She joined the Center for Advanced Power Systems, Florida State University, in 2011. She had been a research assistant for the Energy Conversion and Integration Thrust at the Center for Advanced Power Systems at Florida State University under the supervision of Dr. Chris S. Edrington. She finished her Masters in June 2013. She completed her Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at the Florida State University in June 2016. Her research interests include power hardware-in-the-loop applications, applied power electronics, intelligent control of distributed energy resources, and automotive and adaptive energy/power management for AC/DC Microgrids.

Tuyen V. Vu

Tuyen V. Vu was born in Hung Yen, Vietnam. He received his B.S. degree from Hanoi University of Science Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2012, and the Ph.D. degree from Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA, in 2016, both in electrical engineering. From 2013 to 2016, he was a Graduate Research Assistant in the Center for Advanced Power Systems, Florida State University, where since August 2016, he has been a Postdoctoral Associate. His research interests include modeling, advanced controls, and management of power electronics, motor drives, microgrids, and power distribution systems.

Fernand Diaz Franco

Fernand Diaz Franco received his B.S. degree in Physics engineering from University of Cauca, Colombia in 2005, and his M.S. degree in Mechatronics Systems from the University of Brasilia, Brazil in 2008. He was an Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering at Huila University Corporation. He currently is a Ph.D. candidate on Electrical Engineering at Florida State University. He is a member of the Energy Conversion and Integration thrust for the Florida State University's Center for Advanced Power Systems. His research interests include simulation, and control of power electronics applied to solar energy, and integration of renewable energy.

Chris S. Edrington

Chris S. Edrington received his B.S. degree in engineering from Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, USA, in 1999, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly University of Missouri–Rolla), Rolla, MO, USA, in 2001 and 2004, respectively. He is currently a Professor of electrical and computer engineering at Florida A&M University – Florida State University College of Engineering, Tallahassee, FL, USA, and is the Lead in Energy Conversion and Integration Thrust, Center for Advanced Power Systems, Florida State University, Tallahassee. Prof. Edrington was a U.S. Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need and National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Fellow at Missouri University of Science and Technology. His research interests include modeling, simulation, and control of electromechanical drive systems; applied power electronics; distributed control; and integration of renewable energy, storage, and pulse power loads.