Hardware-in-the-Loop Implementation of ROMAtrix, a Smart Transformer for Future Power Grids

The evolution of power generation brings about extensive changes in other parts of the grid, especially in the transmission and distribution components. Within the scope of the Internet of Energy (IoE), electric power flows more flexibly between different parts of the grid. DC power will play an ess...

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Main Authors: Amir Ostadrahimi, Stefano Bifaretti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Machines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/11/2/308
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author Amir Ostadrahimi
Stefano Bifaretti
author_facet Amir Ostadrahimi
Stefano Bifaretti
author_sort Amir Ostadrahimi
collection DOAJ
description The evolution of power generation brings about extensive changes in other parts of the grid, especially in the transmission and distribution components. Within the scope of the Internet of Energy (IoE), electric power flows more flexibly between different parts of the grid. DC power will play an essential role in IoE. Decentralized photovoltaic panels, energy storage, electric vehicle charging stations, and data centers are some of the significant components of future grids dealing with DC power. As a result, power transformers must be appropriately modified to manage power among the different parts of the grid. A power electronic transformer (PET), also known as a solid-state transformer (SST) or smart transformer (ST), is a solution enabling a power grid to deal with this growing complexity. ROMAtrix, as a matrix-converter-based ST, is a developing project targeting future power grids. ROMAtrix realizes the application of a medium voltage (MV) transformer using commercially available power electronic semiconductors. Due to the distinctive features of ROMAtrix and a high number of switches, the implementation of the control system using a single control board is highly demanding. This paper aims to illustrate the implementation, on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), of pulse width modulation (SVMPWM) applied to the ROMAtrix, considering specific switching patterns. The proposed switching procedure was simulated with PLECS and validated with the hardware-in-the-loop using the OPAL-RT solver.
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spelling doaj.art-baba67f428be44958119f009e54334d42023-11-16T21:46:45ZengMDPI AGMachines2075-17022023-02-0111230810.3390/machines11020308Hardware-in-the-Loop Implementation of ROMAtrix, a Smart Transformer for Future Power GridsAmir Ostadrahimi0Stefano Bifaretti1Department of Industrial Engineering, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Cracovia n.50, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Cracovia n.50, 00133 Rome, ItalyThe evolution of power generation brings about extensive changes in other parts of the grid, especially in the transmission and distribution components. Within the scope of the Internet of Energy (IoE), electric power flows more flexibly between different parts of the grid. DC power will play an essential role in IoE. Decentralized photovoltaic panels, energy storage, electric vehicle charging stations, and data centers are some of the significant components of future grids dealing with DC power. As a result, power transformers must be appropriately modified to manage power among the different parts of the grid. A power electronic transformer (PET), also known as a solid-state transformer (SST) or smart transformer (ST), is a solution enabling a power grid to deal with this growing complexity. ROMAtrix, as a matrix-converter-based ST, is a developing project targeting future power grids. ROMAtrix realizes the application of a medium voltage (MV) transformer using commercially available power electronic semiconductors. Due to the distinctive features of ROMAtrix and a high number of switches, the implementation of the control system using a single control board is highly demanding. This paper aims to illustrate the implementation, on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), of pulse width modulation (SVMPWM) applied to the ROMAtrix, considering specific switching patterns. The proposed switching procedure was simulated with PLECS and validated with the hardware-in-the-loop using the OPAL-RT solver.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/11/2/308hardware-in-the-loop (HIL)LabVIEWmatrix converter (MC)ROMAtrixsmart transformer (ST)solid-state transformer (SST)
spellingShingle Amir Ostadrahimi
Stefano Bifaretti
Hardware-in-the-Loop Implementation of ROMAtrix, a Smart Transformer for Future Power Grids
Machines
hardware-in-the-loop (HIL)
LabVIEW
matrix converter (MC)
ROMAtrix
smart transformer (ST)
solid-state transformer (SST)
title Hardware-in-the-Loop Implementation of ROMAtrix, a Smart Transformer for Future Power Grids
title_full Hardware-in-the-Loop Implementation of ROMAtrix, a Smart Transformer for Future Power Grids
title_fullStr Hardware-in-the-Loop Implementation of ROMAtrix, a Smart Transformer for Future Power Grids
title_full_unstemmed Hardware-in-the-Loop Implementation of ROMAtrix, a Smart Transformer for Future Power Grids
title_short Hardware-in-the-Loop Implementation of ROMAtrix, a Smart Transformer for Future Power Grids
title_sort hardware in the loop implementation of romatrix a smart transformer for future power grids
topic hardware-in-the-loop (HIL)
LabVIEW
matrix converter (MC)
ROMAtrix
smart transformer (ST)
solid-state transformer (SST)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/11/2/308
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