Mahesh Thaker, Director of EngineeringAMETEK – Programmable Power / VTI Instruments
Power Systems for GRID Simulation
Agenda AMETEK Programable Power introduction
Evolution of Grid Power Simulation
Growth over PV power
Need for Grid Simulation as a load
Early Industry Grid Simulator approach
Power simulation equipment and setup supporting the Smart Building Energy Management System
Simulation applications and use cases
Effect of smart inverters on Utility/Grid
Effect of large VFD systems on utility under fault conditions
PV/RE inverter performance validation and compliance to National standards
(UL 1741, IEC/UL 62109, IEEE 1541)
Development of “Grid Connect” standards
AMETEK Programmable Power We provide the most advanced Power and Instrumentation solutions for Precision Stimulus, Process Power and
Measurement and Switching applications
Based in San Diego and Irvine California, 500 employees, 13,500 m2 facilities with all key functions onsite (including manufacturing)
Programmable Power is a business unit of AMETEK Inc., a $4.0B company with ~15,000 employees working at ~150 locations worldwide
DC SuppliesBench-top, and full selection of
low and high power DC
sources
Electronic LoadsRange of high power Air and Water cooled
electronic loads
Custom Products Power sub-
systems and turn-key customer
solutions
AC SourcesExceptionally wide range of
low/high power AC sources
Data Acquisition (DAQ) hardware & software, and
ATE modular instrumentation
Historical Grid Simulation Applications
AC power sources/variable power sources with external controllers
Used for performance verification of Grid connected equipment
Design Validation and Manufacturing test verification applications
AC-DC power supplies; Consumer appliances; grid-tied components
(Relays, breakers etc.)
Basic Fault simulation (Brownout, startup, surge and sags)
Evolution of AC Power System for Grid Simulation
Drivers for AC Grid Simulation as “Load” 2009
Renewable energy initiatives generate demand for alternate Power Generation Sources (Primarily PV/Wind inverters)
Required alternative grid simulation capability as a “load” for inverters
Scope changed from “ Grid variation influence on equipment performance” to “Inverter performance influence on Grid operation/stability”
Testing required to comply to prevailing inverter standards (UL 1741, IEEE 1541)
Required frequency and voltage deviations to test for compliance
AC source used to simulate grid conditions
Passive load (resistors) used as load
Deficiencies
Large footprint (multiple racks)
Passive load dissipating full inverter power generating heat
Limited resolution for varying test conditions
Not suitable for large PV inverters (10 KVA)
Simulation Methods
Test setup for large inverters (> 300 KVA)
Power Grid used as load for inverter
Power transformer with taps used to vary grid parameters
Does not for frequency variation/simulation
Primarily used for full power parametric and Burn in applications
Simulation Methods Continued
UUT
UTILITY GRID
ISOLATION TRANSFORMER
Adapt AC source for “Bidirectional capability”
Resultant product capabilities
Efficient transfer of power to the Grid with high resolution for voltage and frequency settings
Modular design allows small footprint, scalable (45KVA to 2.0 MVA) setup
Provides monitoring and waveform simulation and analysis capabilities
Allows flexibility to simulate grid variables (phase dropout/sags/PF variations)
Provide repeatable and controlled test capability
External Drive capability for real time waveform simulation validated with high performance controllers (OPAL-RT)
AMETEK’s Solution
Enhanced Controls With OPAL-RT example
External Drive Capability
Allows for accurate method of real-time control of the RS Series.
Allows for simulation of complex high speed transient conditions
Allows advanced capability for frequency modulation
Allows simulation of HIL
Allows feasibility analysis
reduces development time and cost
Utility characterization with non linear loading (VFD large air-conditioners) under abnormal conditions (SCE); Setup and summary findings.
Effect on Grid Power Quality using legacy Vs “Smart Inverters”. (SCE) set up and summary findings)
ESS test lab installation (KIER); (Add Kier block diagram)
PV Inverter test lab installation (NREL, CPRI) add CPRI layout)
ESS smart microgrid (LGE)
Other commercial Inverter manufacturer’s
Case Studies
Performed by Southern California Utility
Characterization of industrial and household appliance under abnormal conditions to determine influence on Grid with a view to
Loads evaluated
Large Variable Frequency Drive AC
Window air conditioners
Refrigerators
Televisions
Microwave ovens
Light fixtures
Results next slide
Case Study 1:
Load Performance Under Abnormal Conditions
Case Study 1:
SCU Air Conditioner With VFD
Performed by Southern California Utility
Evaluation of Advanced PV Inverter performance under abnormal grid conditions
The results of our tests indicate that certain advanced features could benefit the operation of the grid, Proposing that they are incorporated into IEEE 1547 and California Rule 21.
Case Study 2:
Benefits of Advanced Inverters
Case Study 3:
Smart Building Energy Management Simulation
Various National Laboratories, Universities and institutions
Established test Infrastructure to Validate and Certify commercial and Utility Inverters for compliance to National Standards (UL 1741, IEEE 1541, IEC/UL 62109 etc)
Test Infrastructures range from 540KVA to 2.16MVA
Commercial Inverter manufacturer’s
Product Design Verification and manufacturing test for micro Inverters, string Inverters as well as utility inverters.
Other Case Studies
Development of mathematical model for CAD simulation
Joint Effort with FSU, NREL & AMETEK to characterize RS 90 Grid Simulator Power System and develop mathematical models to support PHIL analytics.
Models were tested over a range of conditions through simulation of selected laboratory experiments, and were confirmed to provide reliable predictable system behavior.
The different types of models provided support simulation of laboratory setups at different levels of fidelity and accuracy.
The time domain models are based on the physical amplifier structure and design, and support detailed studies.
The transfer function models are simplified, input-output behavior models and partly parameterized based on load current level.
Both modeling approaches allow the use of simulations to predict possible behavior and help determine stability boundaries before any actual hardware testing takes place.
Enhance simulation capabilities
Implement Programmable Impedance characteristics
Expand Interface capabilities to smart controllers (OPAL-RT) to support advanced analytics
Support test requirements of Advanced Inverter and Smart Grid initiatives.
Emulate characteristics for Battery & PV Sources to support Energy Storage System (ESS).
Next Steps
SCE-Loads-and-Generation-Performance-Research-rev3.pdf
Solar-International-AMETEK-Article-May-2014-wc.pdf
AMETEK-KIER-EMS-system-White-paper-110624.pdf
NREL_CAPS_RS90_FinalReport.pdf
OPAL-RT-Simulation.pdf
Appendix
THANK YOU