This paper presents the hardware-in-the-loop simulation for dynamic performance test (HILS-DPT) of power electronic equipment replicas using a real-time hybrid simulator (RTHS). The authors developed the procedure of HILS-DPT, and as an actual case example, the results of HILS-DPT of Static VAR Compensator (SVC) replica using RTHS is presented. RTHS is a co-simulation tool that synthesizes real-time simulator (RTS) with transient stability program to perform real-time dynamic simulation of a large power system. As power electronics applications have been increasing, the electric utilities have performed HILS-DPT of the power electronics equipment to validate the performance and investigate interactions. Because inspection tests are limited in their ability to validate its impact on the power system during various contingencies, all power electronics equipment newly installed in the Korean power system should take HILS-DPT using large-scale RTS with replicas since 2018. Although large-scaled RTS offers an accuracy improvement, it requires lots of hardware resources, time, and effort to model and simulate the equipment and power systems. Therefore, the authors performed SVC HILS-DPT using RTHS, and the result of the first practical application of RTHS present feasibility comparing the result of HILS-DPT using large-scale RTS. The authors will discuss the test results and share lessons learned from the industrial experience of HILS-DPT using RTHS.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce, examine, and evaluate the industrial experiences and effectiveness of a Thyristor Controlled Series Compensator (TCSC) replica controller installed in Korea in 2019 through a review of its configuration, test platform, and practical application, and further to propose operational guidelines for replica controllers. Four representative practical cases were conducted: a Dynamic Performance Test (DPT) under a sufficiently large-scale power system prior to the Site Acceptance Test (SAT), pre-verification for on-site controller modification during operation stage, parameter tuning to mitigate the control interaction, and time domain simulation for Sub-Synchronous Torsional Interaction (SSTI). None of these four cases can be performed in a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) or on-site. Therefore, TCSC control performance was accurately verified under the entire Korean power system based on a large-scale real-time simulator, which demonstrated its effectiveness as a powerful tool for operations including multiple power electronics devices. Our review herein of these four practical cases is expected to show the usefulness of replica controllers, to demonstrate their strength to deal with practical field events, and to contribute to the further expansion of the application area from a perspective of electric utility.

Owing to geographical and political influences, Korea has an independent electric power system and the highest density of electric power facilities in the world. Large-scale base power generation complexes are located in non-metropolitan coastal areas, while the most expensive combined cycle power plants are operating or under construction in the metropolitan areas, which have the largest electricity demand. It has become difficult to secure a site for power plants, and the existing power transmission network is insufficient because of the additional construction of generators in existing power generation complexes, the increase in capacity of facilities, and the rapid increase in new and renewable energy. In particular, the East Coast region has a problem of transient stability for this reason, which is being addressed in advance through power generation restrictions. In addition, TCSC (Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor) is installed and operated to expand the capacity of existing power transmission lines and improve stability in the failures of nearby high-voltage lines until new transmission lines that take more than 10 years are installed to resolve power generation restrictions. However, after the construction of a new transmission line, the efficiency of the existing TCSC is degraded, and for efficient use, it is necessary to rearrange the installation location to utilize the optimal TCSC according to changes in the configuration of the nearby power system. Moreover, a detailed analysis is needed on whether the TCSC designed according to the existing grid configuration exhibits accurate control performance even after the relocation and whether it interferes with nearby generators. In addition to the dynamic performance based on real-time simulations, it is necessary to study the control performance and interaction for this power electronic equipment. This study verified the need to change controller parameters, the interaction effect with nearby generators for stable operation, and the system effect of TCSC relocation using the same replica controller as the actual field controller, as well as RTDS (Real Time Digital Simulation) simulating the entire power transmission system.