A Megawatt-Scale Power Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation Setup for Motor Drives

TLDR

The study reports the deployment of a 5‑MW variable voltage source amplifier converter for power hardware‑in‑the‑loop experiments with megawatt‑scale motor drives, describing the PHIL facility and outlining the challenges of operating such high‑power drives from a controlled converter. The authors connect a commercial 2.5‑MW variable‑speed motor drive with an active front end to a virtual power system via the VVS, interface it with a simulated 4‑MW gas turbine generator and loads using current feedback, and apply mechanical loading through an identical 2.5‑MW dynamometer on the same shaft. Experimental results indicate that megawatt‑scale PHIL simulations are feasible and can validate drive‑system models, although interface accuracy still presents challenges.

Abstract

We report on the application of a 5-MW variable voltage source (VVS) amplifier converter for utilization in power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) experiments with megawatt-scale motor drives. In particular, a commercial 2.5-MW variable speed motor drive (VSD) with active front end was connected to a virtual power system using the VVS for integrating the drive with a simulated power system. An illustrative example is given, whereby a 4-MW gas turbine generator system, including various loads, is simulated and interfaced with the VSD hardware in the lab through the VVS using current feedback to the simulation. Mechanical loading is applied to the motor via an identical 2.5-MW dynamometer connected to the same shaft. This paper first describes the PHIL facility, illustrates the challenges of powering a motor drive from a controlled voltage source converter at the multimegawatt scale, and provides experimental results from dynamic simulations. While certain challenges remain with the accuracy of the interface, it is concluded that PHIL simulations at the megawatt power level are possible and may prove useful for validating models of drive systems in the future.