Rapid Control Prototyping Enabling Development of Control for Novel Converter Topologies and HVDC Networks at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Academia, Energy
09 / 27 / 2016
The Company
Imperial College London is a world-leading university for science, technology, engineering, medicine and business (STEMB). Founded in 1907, the university is known for its commitment to understanding the universe and improving people’s lives through scientific research.
The Control and Power research group at Imperial College London is interested in developing the technology to enable future electricity networks, including multi-terminal HVDC systems.
The Challenges
- Complex Converter Control: MMC and AAC converter topologies require significantly higher control complexity and a larger number of I/O channels than previous generations of voltage source converters.
- Reusable Research Platforms: Converter demonstrators and controllers must remain usable and adaptable for future research projects.
- Hardware Validation Requirements: Simulation alone may not capture real-world effects such as noise and measurement error, making hardware verification essential.
The OPAL-RT Solution
- Rapid Control Prototyping: OPAL-RT OP5600 systems control modular multilevel converter demonstrators and enable rapid implementation of new control strategies.
- Experimental Verification of Simulation: Using OP5600 HIL systems and RT-LAB, control algorithms can be transferred from MATLAB/Simulink/SimPowerSystems models to hardware demonstrators for testing.
- Lab-Scale Multi-Terminal HVDC Network: Converter demonstrators are interconnected through hardware emulation to support HVDC network studies, including DC-side fault investigations and network control research.
The Results
- Hardware Verification of Novel Controls: Lab-scale modular multilevel converters were constructed to validate novel control algorithms and converter topologies.
- Rapid Transition from Simulation to Hardware: OPAL-RT enabled a rapid transition between software simulation and hardware demonstration.
- Multi-Terminal HVDC Network Research: A scaled four-terminal DC network supports ongoing studies of converter interactions and network control.
- Future HVDC Development: The platform supports continued research into HVDC converter topologies, networks, and renewable energy interconnection.
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