P-HIL – Playground for REGATRON’s Cutting Edge AC and DC Technologies

Modern storage technologies, intelligent electrical grids and electromobility have experienced an unprecedented spread in recent years. More and more so-called P-HIL setups are being used to test and optimize such systems: A virtual model controls the power elements such as vehicle converters, grid inverters or DC power elements in their real position within the system, while the output variables are fed back into the model to form a closed loop system.

Power Hardware-in-the-Loop P-HIL is an advanced simulation technique that has become essential for the development and testing of modern electrical systems. In a P-HIL environment, real hardware is integrated in a real-time simulation, allowing for a more accurate and reliable evaluation of system behavior under real-world conditions. P-HIL addresses this need by enabling researchers and developers to analyze how physical components interact with a simulated model of the complete system, reducing risk and optimizing performance before real-world implementation. The P-HIL methodology not only allows the hardware to be tested up to the overload range, but also enables to detect and record the time behavior, stability and reaction of the model to influential factors of various origins.

 

Legend: P-HIL allows a physical component to directly interact with a simulated model, providing a more accurate evaluation of how that component will perform in a real system. The basic concept of P-HIL involves a real-time simulator generating signals that represent the power system environment. These signals are then amplified using a power amplifier, such as REGATRON bidirectional converters, and applied to the Hardware Under Test (HUT). The behavior of the HUT is monitored in real-time and fed back to the simulator, closing the simulation loop.

 

Relevant applications of P-HIL

P-HIL is applied in various areas within electrical and energy engineering:

• Renewable Energy: Evaluating the behavior of photovoltaic inverters and wind power systems under variable grid conditions.
• Smart Grids: Simulating complex grid scenarios, such as load fluctuations, overload conditions or the integration of distributed energy resources.
• Energy Storage: Testing battery systems and converters under different charge and discharge conditions.
• Electric Vehicles: Assessing the performance of chargers and traction systems in electric vehicles under various operating conditions, running drive cycles.

 

The REGATRON contribution

In a P-HIL environment, the power amplifier is a critical component that must meet strict specifications to ensure the simulation’s accuracy and realism. REGATRON’s equipment, such as the TC.ACS (bidirectional AC source) and G5.RSS series (bidirectional DC sources) stands out in this role due to their distinctive features:

• High Precision in Current and Voltage Control
• Fast Response Capability: In P-HIL testing, the power amplifier’s response speed is crucial. REGATRON’s devices are designed to react in unrivaled manner to level changes in input signals, enabling real-time simulation without noticeable delays. This is especially important in applications where conditions change rapidly, such as smart grids or electric traction systems.
• Regenerative Capability: REGATRON’s equipment can recover and reuse energy, which is a significant advantage in prolonged P-HIL tests, where operational costs and environmental impact can be reduce.
• Wide Power Range and Flexibility: From several kW/kVA up to the MW/MVA range at always the same unaffected step response speed.
• Robustness and Reliability: The robust construction and high reliability of REGATRON’s equipment ensure consistent performance even in demanding testing environments.

 

Legend: Typical delays and step response of REGATRON's TC.ACS and G5 products

 

Power Supplies from REGATRON: Versatile – Reliable – Intelligent

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The powerful and comprehensive power supply programme from REGATRON

Universal Programmable DC Power Supplies and DC Loads	Universal Programmable AC Power Supplies and AC Loads
Regenerative Source-Sink DC Power Supply Series G5.RSS ∙ G5.UNV ∙ TC.GSS DC Power Supply Series G5.SRC ∙ TopCon Quadro Regenerative DC Electronic Load Series G5.RLD ∙ TC.GXS	Regenerative 4-Quadrant 1-to-3-Phase AC Power Source Series TC.ACS Regenerative 1-to-3-Phase AC Electronic Loads Regenerative 4-Quadrant 1-to-3-Phase Power Amplifiers CV/CC (optimized for P-HIL applications)

Application Specific Prepared DC Power Test Solutions	Application Specific Prepared AC Power Test Solutions
Battery Tester Series G5.BT Charger Tester Series G5.CT Drivetrain Tester Series G5.DT Battery Simulator Series G5.BAS Solar Array Simulator Series G5.SAS ∙ TopCon Quadro ∙ TFE ∙ SASControl	Grid Simulators, 1-to-3-Phase, 4-Wire EMC Full-Compliance Test Systems    Emission IEC/EN 61000-3-X     Immunity IEC/EN 61000-4-X  Anti-Islanding Test Systems Programmable RLC AC Load Simulation OBC Test Systems Simple Motor Simulations

All REGATRON Power Supplies and Power Test Solutions are available in standardized or customized cabinet solutions.

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