Improved power hardware in the loop interface methods via impedance matching

Abstract

The power hardware in the loop (PHIL) method is a reliable simulation and validation technology. It can be utilized to augment the test of electrical, mechanical or electromechanical components or subsystems with high power ratings. In addition, it can also be used to characterize their behavior when connected to some complex electrical networks or mechanical environment. Reliable and safe performances are paramount in a PHIL system. Thus, the proper PHIL modeling and power interface validation precedes any experimental implementation. In this paper, we focus on the stability and accuracy of the damping impedance method (DIM) and we propose the modified DIM method which increases the accuracy and the stability of the PHIL through dynamic impedance matching of the load and the linking impedance component. Different cases are introduced in order to study the parameters which have effects on the PHIL system. First, the basic DIM method and the modified DIM architecture are introduced, and then two cases consisting of a constant load and a variable load will be presented, respectively.