Highlights:
HIL streamlined Honda R&D control development and testing.
The complexity of embedded systems requires more development effort and time.
With an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, first-time HIL users can start simulating immediately.
Fast model compilation with HIL resulted in significantly reduced verification time.
The case study featured here is a 3 MW doubly fed induction motor (DFIM) drive used for mining applications. The DFIM drive controls were designed, built, and tested by Indrivetec AG, at the request of CSE-Uniserve. Indrivetec AG is a Zurich-based power electronics, drives, and energy storage company and is an early adopter of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) technology with a research lab primarily based on HIL for control design and testing.
The stator of this motor is connected to the medium voltage grid, and the rotor is connected to a liquid resistor of the system integrator CSE-Uniserve and an Indrivetec Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) converter. Here, the resistor is used for starting and running at a constant speed, while the converter is used for variable speed operation.
While automotive and aerospace industries have already adopted model based HIL testing, power electronics industry is only playing a catch up. The good news is that the 4th generation HIL is delivering the unprecedented model fidelity needed for the most advanced motor drives and automotive power electronics applications.
This article is the first in a series from the Microgrid Conference Panel 2019 – Making Sure Your Microgrid Will Work: Risk Reduction with Controller Hardware In the Loop (C-HIL) and Model-based Engineering.
Paul Roege, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Typhoon HIL, introduced panelists from Schneider Electric, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Eaton, Raytheon and EPC Power. He adeptly described major problems with the current approach to microgrid development.
And how C-HIL and model-based engineering allows for a more integrated approach to microgrid design and testing throughout the entire project lifecycle.
“If we didn't have this, we'd be stuck using a platform that we couldn't change and therefore optimize. It really helps with confidence.
-Solon Mardapittas, CTO of Powerstar
For this next spotlight, we got a chance to speak with Powerstar’s CTO, Solon Mardapittas, on developing Powerstar’s intelligent energy management system (EMS) with real-time Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) technology.
Based in the UK, Powerstar’s integrated energy system combines its voltage optimization technology with energy storage solution. This not only secures power but lowers energy costs and provides demand side response services to the grid.
Here is the insightful interview with Solon Mardapittas on Powerstar’s rigorous quality assurance process for its leading-edge technology:
For this next spotlight, we got a chance to travel on-site and meet the brilliant team behind Schneider Electric’s active harmonic filters division in the quiet town of Salem, Oregon. This division develops solutions for active harmonic filtering in industrial installations.
Nicolas LaRue, global offer manager for Schneider Electric’s AccuSine products, talks about how Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) technology gives his customers peace of mind.
For the uninitiated, HIL is a model-based design and testing tool that simulates power electronics and power systems in real-time at ultra-high fidelity. It tests the actual controller which is directly interfaced with the model-based simulation.
We also got to speak with Nanda Marwali, engineering manager, and John Batch, firmware engineer, on how Schneider used HIL to push the limits of their controller throughout the entire product lifecycle.
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As Europe’s premiere research and technology organization, the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), bridges the gap between industry and research by utilizing innovative solutions to key infrastructure issues.
Zoran Miletic, Senior Research Engineer and Power Electronics Design specialist at AIT, talks about how AIT developed its powerful pre-certification toolbox to design and test smart grid converters for grid code compliance using controller Hardware-in-the-Loop (C-HIL) technology.
