Power hardware-in-the-loop implementation for multi-infeed grid-connected voltage source converters

With the increasing complexity of modern power systems, mainly due to the high penetration of power electronics, it is necessary to have available adequate tools and testing environments to analyse different oscillatory phenomena. Due to the costs and risks involved for testing real equipment, a common approach is the use of real-time simulations. In this context, this paper presents in detail the experience of setting up a power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) facility to study multi-infeed voltage source converter (VSC) based networks. Moreover, it shows the effectiveness of the testing environment to observe oscillatory phenomena. For this purpose, a case study was implemented by connecting VSCs with grid following control structures through long impedance paths to the network. The PHIL configuration enabled the observation of oscillatory phenomena and the identification of its causes, as described in the literature, through the analysis of the frequency spectrum of the logged measurements at the point of common coupling, where the real-time simulator interfaces the real equipment.