Controller Hardware-In-the-Loop validation of a magnetic core saturation algorithm for fault ride-through evaluations

Abstract

In conjunction with the development of a wind turbine drivetrain testing facility, a fully configurable 15 MVA Hardware-In-the-Loop medium-voltage electric grid system capable of four-quadrant operation is being designed and installed. To successfully operate this system when performing fault ride-through evaluations, a control algorithm has been developed to prevent saturation of the interface transformer's magnetic core. Prior to full implementation of this grid system, the high power components of the system are being evaluated using a real-time digital simulation (RTDS®) environment in order to identify any potential control or interface issues. In this paper, the various modeled components are discussed, the implementation of the feed-forward control algorithm to prevent interface transformer saturation is presented, and finally, the results of a test scenario are shown with and without the saturation control algorithm in place.