RT22 | Experimental Microgrid Testbed Based on Op4510 For The Universidad Distrital Of Bogotá

One of the main components that allow the integration of distributed energy resources, with heterogeneous characteristics, within microgrids is the power electronics converters. The power converters enable an appropriate coupling between the source and the power grid. In this sense, research platforms for evaluating the operation, control, and performance of power converters within microgrids become necessary. The experimental platforms must be flexible and reliable for testing several configurations and control approaches. Also, it is essential that the experimental platform allows an easy transition from the conception of an idea to its experimental validation. This proposal presents the experiences derived from the deployment of AC and DC microgrids testbeds based on Power Hardware in the Loop (PHIL) configuration at the Universidad Distrital of Bogota Colombia. The operations of the power converters within the microgrids are managed and controlled by an OP4510 real-time simulator enabling an easy deployment of Simulink models that manages and control the interaction between the power converters. The OP4510 closes the PHIL microgrid testbed by acquiring the current and voltage signals from the power converters which are used for computing the control and management actions that at the end generate the PWM signals that control the power converters based on teaching platforms of SEMIKRON. Two microgrids testbeds have been implemented, one for AC and one for DC microgrids. The AC platform allows: to test the control of three-phase inverters, evaluate the operation of power-sharing strategies such as droop controllers, emulate the injection of power from renewable energy sources to the power grid, as well as the interaction between grid-forming and grid-follower units. Along with this, the DC platform enables the control of DC converters to evaluate their interaction under power-sharing, the interaction between voltage and current controlled converters, and the interaction between hybrid energy storage systems based on supercapacitors and batteries. Several experimental configurations used for the research and teaching of microgrids at the Universidad Distrital in Bogota Colombia will be shown in the presentation.