Combined control and power hardware in‐the‐loop simulation for testing smart grid control algorithms

TLDR

Distribution networks are increasingly complex with power electronics, ICT, and smart meters, making advanced control strategies essential and requiring thorough testing before deployment. The study proposes a testing chain that progressively evaluates smart grid control algorithms across all development stages using increasingly advanced laboratory setups. The testing chain is illustrated through an optimal centralized coordinated voltage control algorithm, including a storage‑management component, and culminates in a control‑hardware‑in‑the‑loop simulation stage. The results show that the multi‑stage testing chain, despite its complexity, effectively and realistically validates the control algorithm and identifies interfacing challenges.

Abstract

Distribution networks are becoming increasingly ‘smarter’, as well as more complex, with the addition of power electronic devices, information and communication technologies, smart meters, and more. As a result, advanced control strategies to manage such networks are becoming necessary. These strategies need to be thoroughly tested and validated, before they can be implemented in a real network. For this reason, a smart grid control algorithm testing chain is proposed, that aims to gradually test control algorithms, in all their development stages, using increasingly advanced laboratory setups. In addition, the interfacing options and challenges of each stage of the chain are highlighted. The proposed testing chain is substantiated in an optimal centralised coordinated voltage control (CVC) algorithm and the final stage of the chain, namely the combination of control and power hardware‐in‐the‐loop simulation, is presented in this study. As a specific example, the management technique for a storage system is implemented as part of the CVC algorithm. The laboratory results demonstrate that the proposed setup, despite its high complexity, enables the algorithm to be effectively and realistically tested as part of the overall system.