Real time simulation of a power system with VSG hardware in the loop

The method to investigate the interaction between a Virtual Synchronous Generator (VSG) and a power system is presented here. A VSG is a power-electronics based device that emulates the rotational inertia of synchronous generators. The development of such a device started in a pure simulation environment and extends to the practical realization of a VSG. Investigating the interaction between a VSG and a power system is a problem, as a power system cannot be manipulated without disturbing customers. By replacing the power system with a real time simulated one, this problem can be solved. The VSG then interacts with the simulated power system through a power interface. The advantages of such a laboratory test-setup are numerous and should prove beneficial to the further development of the VSG concept.