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Title: Interconnection Standard Grid-Support Function Evaluations Using an Automated Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbed

Abstract

Grid operators are increasingly turning to advanced grid-support functions in distributed energy resources (DER) to assist with distribution circuit voltage regulation, bulk system frequency control, and power system protection. The U.S. DER certification standard, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1741, was revised in September 2016 to add test procedures for multiple grid-support functions. Sandia National Laboratories, SunSpec Alliance, and growing community of collaborators have undertaken a multiyear effort to create an open-source system validation platform (SVP) that automates DER interconnection and interoperability test procedures by communicating with grid simulators, photovoltaic (PV) simulators, data acquisition systems, and interoperable equipment under test. However, the power hardware required for generating the test conditions may be untenable for many organizations. In this paper, we discuss development of the SVP testing capabilities for UL 1741 tests utilizing a controller hardware-in-the-loop testbed that precludes the need for power hardware using a 34.5 kW Austrian Institute of Technology smart grid controller. Finally, analysis of normal ramp rate, soft start ramp rate, specified power factor, volt-VAr, and frequency-watt advanced grid functions, and the effectiveness of the UL 1741 test protocols are included.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. Austrian Inst. of Technology, Vienna (Austria)
  3. SunSpec Alliance, San Jose, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Austrian Inst. of Technology, Vienna (Austria)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); Austrian Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology; Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
OSTI Identifier:
1472265
Report Number(s):
SAND-2018-9714J
Journal ID: ISSN 2156-3381; 667607
Grant/Contract Number:  
NA0003525; FFG 839566; FFG 848915
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 8; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 2156-3381
Publisher:
IEEE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION; laboratories; reactive power; protocols; standards; smart grids; photovoltaic systems; advanced inverter functions; certification testing

Citation Formats

Johnson, Jay, Ablinger, Ron, Bruendlinger, Roland, Fox, Bob, and Flicker, Jack. Interconnection Standard Grid-Support Function Evaluations Using an Automated Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbed. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1109/JPHOTOV.2018.2794884.
Johnson, Jay, Ablinger, Ron, Bruendlinger, Roland, Fox, Bob, & Flicker, Jack. Interconnection Standard Grid-Support Function Evaluations Using an Automated Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbed. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2018.2794884
Johnson, Jay, Ablinger, Ron, Bruendlinger, Roland, Fox, Bob, and Flicker, Jack. Thu . "Interconnection Standard Grid-Support Function Evaluations Using an Automated Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbed". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2018.2794884. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1472265.
@article{osti_1472265,
title = {Interconnection Standard Grid-Support Function Evaluations Using an Automated Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbed},
author = {Johnson, Jay and Ablinger, Ron and Bruendlinger, Roland and Fox, Bob and Flicker, Jack},
abstractNote = {Grid operators are increasingly turning to advanced grid-support functions in distributed energy resources (DER) to assist with distribution circuit voltage regulation, bulk system frequency control, and power system protection. The U.S. DER certification standard, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1741, was revised in September 2016 to add test procedures for multiple grid-support functions. Sandia National Laboratories, SunSpec Alliance, and growing community of collaborators have undertaken a multiyear effort to create an open-source system validation platform (SVP) that automates DER interconnection and interoperability test procedures by communicating with grid simulators, photovoltaic (PV) simulators, data acquisition systems, and interoperable equipment under test. However, the power hardware required for generating the test conditions may be untenable for many organizations. In this paper, we discuss development of the SVP testing capabilities for UL 1741 tests utilizing a controller hardware-in-the-loop testbed that precludes the need for power hardware using a 34.5 kW Austrian Institute of Technology smart grid controller. Finally, analysis of normal ramp rate, soft start ramp rate, specified power factor, volt-VAr, and frequency-watt advanced grid functions, and the effectiveness of the UL 1741 test protocols are included.},
doi = {10.1109/JPHOTOV.2018.2794884},
journal = {IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics},
number = 2,
volume = 8,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Feb 08 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Thu Feb 08 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}

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Free Publicly Available Full Text
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Cited by: 18 works
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Figures / Tables:

Fig. 1 Fig. 1: C-HIL test setup with Typhoon HIL 602 simulator, AIT SGC HIL Connect integrating the AIT Smart Grid Converter Controller, SunSpec Server and SCADA GUI.

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