Modeling of a Reciprocating Engine-Generator Set for Controller-Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing of Island Microgrid Control Systems

This article demonstrates the modeling of a real engine-generator set (genset) based on manufacturer data for use in controller-hardware-in-the-loop testing of microgrid control systems. The simulation environment used is RTDS Technologies' real time digital simulator using PB5 cards. In addition, this article provides detail on integration of a commercially available controller with the simulator analog and digital inputs and outputs for control of the simulated genset. Testing of the developed model is performed to validate the standard parameters of the synchronous generator and the dynamic performance of the genset during starting, load acceptance, and load sharing between multiple gensets. By integrating controller hardware, time spent on modeling the genset frequency, voltage, and load sharing controls is avoided and valuable simulator processing capacity is saved. The result of this investigation is a genset model that exhibits the characteristics of real equipment and may be used in the validation of controller hardware and software for the derisking of microgrid control systems.