Controller Hardware-in-the-loop (C-HIL) Testing of Decentralized EV-Grid Integration

Abstract: Present grid infrastructure is unprepared for the wide-scale integration of electric vehicles (EVs). Real-time grid simulation and hardware testing are necessary for the fast and accurate development of EV charging control strategies that are applicable in the field to mitigate their adverse effects. To help facilitate this goal, in this study, we develop a controller verification testbed using a baseline bidirectional AC/DC converter, commonly used in on-board EV chargers, within a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test system. The converter runs real-time on a very-fast time scale and integrates into an external grid simulator. We utilize the strength of the HIL device in simulating power electronics while simultaneously realizing a complex distribution grid operation in real-time. The whole system holistically provides an opportunity to see the implementation benefits of a decentralized charging algorithm on the voltage stability of the distribution grid. The study presents a step-by-step approach to developing and testing controllers, providing an essential contribution in the field demonstration of decentralized EV charger control strategies.