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