DNV GL has opened the first control hardware in loop (CHIL) test facility for renewable energy generation plants.
The facility connects physical power plant controllers to a real-time simulator, allowing the controller to be fully tested and validated without the need for an actual generation facility or power grid, DNV GL said.
In the case of the CHIL test bench, the physical controller is connected to a real-time simulator that emulates the wind farm, solar farm, biomass plant etc. as well as the grid connection. Furthermore, a communication layer is included for the master SCADA simulating the grid operator. This setup allows the controller’s behaviour in any situation it may face in service to be explored, and any unwanted interactions to be identified, according to DNV GL.
“Until now, testing controllers meant downtime for the generation farm and huge effort coordinating many different players,” said Andreas Schröter , Executive Vice President Central Europe and Mediterranean at DNV GL.
”What’s more, a failure during testing could have far-reaching and expensive consequences. In line with our Power Cybernetics approach, the new CHIL test bench significantly reduces the cost, risk and effort required to comprehensively test control systems for renewable energy generation farms. Besides streamlining certification, the test bench can be used to validate new functionality during development and set-up controllers for individual generation sites.”
Since 2016, Germany has updated its medium- and high-voltage grid codes to require certification of all wind farm controllers before the wind farm can start supplying the grid. Similar guidelines are expected to follow elsewhere in the world, both nationally and internationally.
The test bench allows complete testing according to the latest revisions of the German grid codes, with the possibility of ISO 17025 accredited measurements. DNV GL will make it available for customers including controller manufacturers, and renewable energy generation site developers and operators through testing and measurement services.