Plataforma para testes de leis de controle de inversores conectados à rede utilizando hardware-in-the-loop

Abstract

The use of inverters in power systems has experienced rapid growth due to the advancement of renewable energy sources. Improving these devices is essential to ensure compatibility and integration with other systems, as well as to guarantee the reliability, efficiency, and safety of the electrical grid and connected equipment. In this sense, this work proposes the development of firmware that allows testing control laws for photovoltaic inverters. The developed firmware is responsible for the proper control and functioning of the inverter and is designed to be modular. This allows for the replacement and adjustment of different control modules without interfering with the rest of the inverter’s operation, eliminating the need to rewrite or adapt the entire firmware code. Consequently, different functionalities and control laws can be tested and compared in a simple and independent manner, enabling a more efficient development process. The implementation of this modular firmware has the potential to accelerate the development and validation of new control laws for photovoltaic inverters, as well as to adapt them to different conditions and requirements that may arise. The firmware was validated through standardized tests based on INMETRO Ordinance No. 140, using Hardware-In-The-Loop (HIL) simulation. HIL enables real-time information exchange between the actual firmware and the virtual models of the inverter and electrical grid, ensuring more precise simulation. Additionally, it allows for the emulation of different operating scenarios and the evaluation of the inverter’s performance in a controlled, secure, and agile environment. Therefore, the combination of the modular firmware platform with HIL provides a flexible and efficient approach for the development and validation of new technologies, driving the advancement of photovoltaic inverters.