Georg Lauss

Cornelius Steinbrink, Sebastian Lehnhoff, Sebastian Rohjans et al.

Smart grid systems are characterized by high complexity due to interactions between a traditional passive network and active power electronic components, coupled using communication links. Additionally, automation and information technology plays an important role in order to operate and optimize such cyber-physical energy systems with a high(er) penetration of fluctuating renewable generation and controllable loads. As a result of these developments the validation on the system level becomes much more important during the whole engineering and deployment process, today. In earlier development stages and for larger system configurations laboratory-based testing is not always an option. Due to recent developments, simulation-based approaches are now an appropriate tool to support the development, implementation, and roll-out of smart grid solutions. This paper discusses the current state of simulation-based approaches and outlines the necessary future research and development directions in the domain of power and energy systems.

Van Hoa Nguyen, Yvon Besanger, Quoc Tuan Tran et al.

The integration of distributed renewable energy sources and the multi-domain behaviours inside the cyber-physical energy system (smart grids) draws up major challenges. Their validation and roll out requires careful assessment, in term of modelling, simulation and testing. The traditional approach focusing on a particular object, actual hardware or a detailed model, while drastically simplifying the remainder of the system under test, is no longer sufficient. Real-time simulation and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) techniques emerge as indispensable tools for validating the behaviour of renewable sources as well as their impact/interaction to with the cyber-physical energy system. This paper aims to provide an overview of the present status-quo of real-time and HIL approaches used for smart grids and their readiness for cyber-physical experiments. We investigate the current limitations of HIL techniques and point out necessary future developments. Subsequently, the paper highlights challenges that need specific attention as well as ongoing actions and further research directions.

Ron Brandl, Panos Kotsampopoulos, Georg Lauss et al.

New testing and development procedures and methods are needed to address topics like power system stability, operation and control in the context of grid integration of rapidly developing smart grid technologies. In this context, individual testing of units and components has to be reconsidered and appropriate testing procedures and methods need to be described and implemented. This paper addresses these needs by proposing a holistic and enhanced testing methodology that integrates simulation/software- and hardware-based testing infrastructure. This approach presents the advantage of a testing environment, which is very close to f i eld testing, includes the grid dynamic behavior feedback and is risks-free for the power system, for the equipment under test and for the personnel executing the tests. Furthermore, this paper gives an overview of successful implementation of the proposed testing approach within different testing infrastructure available at the premises of different research institutes in Europe.

Felix Lehfuss, Georg Lauss, Christian Seitl et al.

This paper addresses the validation of electric vehicle supply equipment by means of a real-time capable co-simulation approach. This setup implies both pure software and real-time simulation tasks with different sampling rates dependent on the type of the performed experiment. In contrast, controller and power hardware-in-the-loop simulations are methodologies which ask for real-time execution of simulation models with well-defined simulation sampling rates. Software and real-time methods are connected one to each other using an embedded software interface. It is able to process signals with different time step sizes and is called "LabLink". Its design implies both common and specific input and output layers (middle layer), as well as a data bus (core). The LabLink enables the application of the co-simulation methodology on the proposed experimental platform targeting the testing of electric vehicle supply equipment. The test setup architecture and representative examples for the implemented co-simulation are presented in this paper. As such, a validation of the usability of this testing platform can be highlighted aiming to support a higher penetration of electric vehicles.

Georg Lauss, Filip Pröstl Andrén, Fabian Leimgruber et al.

Real-time simulation methods for investigations on electric networks and integration of grid connected generation units are increasingly in the focus of ongoing research areas. While laboratory testing methods are the predominant method for the verification of safety and quality related features of grid-connected generation units in the past, load flow modeling verification methods have been integrated in state-of-the-art standardization frameworks recently. The next step is comprised in real-time simulation methodologies applied for compliance testing of entire power electronic systems integrated in power distribution networks. The Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop (CHIL) approach is an appropriate methodology that combines numerical simulations with software modeling approaches and classical hardware testing in labs. Control boards represent the hardware device directly connected to the power electronic periphery, which is entirely simulated in a real-time simulation environment. Hereby, input signals from voltage and current measurements and output signals for power system control are exchanged in real-time. Thanks to this setup the testing of the true behavior of entire generation units within the electric network can be emulated precisely. With the application of CHIL a shorter time to market and a lower risk in the development phase can be achieved. However, an analysis from realized CHIL experiments shows the need for more harmonized procedures. This paper addresses this topic and provides an outlook about necessary future CHIL standardization needs.