Reconfigurable Power System Emulator Matrix for Stable Grid Emulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical power system emulators face challenges with scalability, flexibility, and accuracy, particularly in dealing with multi-timescale models and numerical stability issues, and exhibit model fidelity issues when scaled.
Innovation Solution
A software-configurable and scalable electric power system emulator platform using power electronics converter circuits, organized in a matrix structure with interconnectable modules, allowing for easy configuration of various topologies and emulation of both AC and DC transmission lines, sources, and loads, with integrated control circuits for precise control and bypass functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If digital simulators are used for power system emulation, then cost is reduced and reconfigurability is improved, but numerical stability and convergence issues arise and multi-timescale models are difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power system into multiple nodes arranged in a two-dimensional array, where each node can be independently configured and controlled. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reconfigurability while improving numerical stability by breaking down complex multi-timescale models into manageable node-level simulations that can be processed independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Transmission path emulator circuits are introduced as intermediary components between nodes to represent transmission lines and transformers. These intermediary elements handle the complex electrical behavior and multi-timescale dynamics, isolating the numerical complexity from the control system and improving overall numerical stability while maintaining system reconfigurability.
2Reliability
If analog hardware-based emulators are used, then realism is improved and actual communication and sensors are available, but the system becomes bulky and inflexible and exhibits model fidelity issues when scaled
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamically reconfigurable transmission path emulator circuits that can change their electrical characteristics in real-time to represent different transmission line and transformer configurations. This dynamic capability allows the system to maintain realism through accurate electrical behavior while achieving flexibility through software-controlled reconfiguration, eliminating the bulk and inflexibility of fixed analog hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The emulator circuits utilize parameter changes in power electronics converters to accurately represent the electrical behavior of transmission paths. By dynamically adjusting circuit parameters such as impedance, admittance, and transformation ratios, the system maintains high realism and model fidelity across different operating conditions and scales, while avoiding the physical limitations of traditional analog hardware.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mixed digital-analog signal emulators are used, then flexibility is improved compared to scaled analog hardware, but model fidelity issues arise especially with unscalable line emulation methods
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission path emulator circuits are designed as universal, multi-functional units that can represent various transmission line types (overhead, underground, HVAC, HVDC) and transformer configurations through software configuration. This universality maintains model fidelity by using consistent, scalable emulation methods across all line types while preserving the flexibility to adapt to different power system configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional mechanical analog circuit implementations with software-configurable power electronics-based emulation. This substitution eliminates the scaling limitations and model fidelity issues of unscalable line emulation methods by using digital control to precisely regulate the electrical behavior, maintaining high model fidelity while preserving flexibility.
4Reliability
If power electronics-based converter emulators are used, then realistic behavior is improved and flexibility is enhanced, but scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a nested modular architecture where multiple emulator circuits are organized in a two-dimensional array of nodes, with each node containing nested power electronics converter circuits. This nesting allows the system to scale by adding or removing entire node modules, maintaining realistic behavior through consistent power electronics-based emulation while achieving scalability through the hierarchical modular structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The emulator circuits are arranged in a two-dimensional array rather than a single-dimensional linear configuration. This dimensional change enables more efficient scaling by allowing parallel expansion in both dimensions, improving scalability while maintaining the realistic behavior characteristics of power electronics-based conversion through consistent circuit implementation across all nodes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides greater test fidelity with improved scalability and accuracy, reducing numerical stability issues and enabling emulation of both small-scale and large-scale power systems with ease, while being cost-effective and size-efficient compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
The transmission path emulator circuits may include respective power electronics converter circuits. In some embodiments, each of the power electronics converter circuits may include first, second and third power electronics converter circuits and a DC bus coupling DC ports of the first, second and third power electronics converter circuits.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric power system emulator apparatus includes a plurality of nodes arrayed in first and second dimensions and a plurality of transmission path emulator circuits, respective ones of which are configured to be connected between adjacent ones of the nodes in the first and second dimensions. The apparatus further includes a control circuit configured to control the transmission path emulator circuits to emulate transmission paths of an electric power system. The control circuit may be configured to control the transmission path emulator circuits to emulate transmission lines and/or transformers. The transmission path emulator circuits may include respective power electronics converter circuits. The apparatus may further include source/load emulator circuits configured to be coupled to the nodes.