M. Faschang, R. Schwalbe, A. Einfalt and R.

Mosshammer, "Controller hardware in the loop approaches

supporting rapid prototyping of smart low voltage grid control," IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid
Technologies, Europe, Istanbul, Turkey, 2014, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/ISGTEurope.2014.7028815.

This report talks about Intelligent control approaches for smart low voltage (LV) grids have to meet the
future requirements caused by increasing penetration of distributed generation (DG) from renewable
sources and new network participators like electric vehicles. To meet these technical requirements
complex solutions, have to be developed. Due to the fact that these solutions should be implemented in
one of the most critical infrastructures, a detailed test, evaluation, and deployment process is necessary.
One highly relevant part of this process is controller hardware in the loop (C-HIL) testing. This paper will
therefore present and discuss different C-HIL approaches as part of a rapid prototyping process to
support the development of active control solutions. The approaches were investigated within the
research project “DG DemoNet – Smart LV Grid”.

M. Faschang, R. Schwalbe (2014) Explain that in the future, new requirements on the medium and
low voltage distribution networks have to be fulfilled due to increased penetration of the power grids
with decentralized generation from renewable sources, but also due to new network participators like
electric vehicles. This comes along with a paradigm shift. While distribution grid operation in the past
got along without monitoring of real-time information due to adequate dimensioning, trends aim for
more and more online monitoring and higher utilization of the available resources.

M. Faschang, R. Schwalbe (2014) also mentioned that active interventions during grid operation
will be used in the future to guarantee quality parameters such as voltage bands and line load
conditions. This will be possible due to emerging technologies, such as Smart Metering related
communication systems that improve the affordability of low voltage automation infrastructures.
Following this paradigm shift, the project “DG DemoNet – Smart LV Grid” searches for solutions for
active network operation at the low voltage level [1]. To allow a cost-effective development of these
solutions, a rapid prototyping process [2] was introduced. A major part of this rapid prototyping process
builds controller hardware in the loop (C-HIL) simulation environment.

M. Faschang, R. Schwalbe (2014) say Hardware in the loop (HIL) simulation is a common technique to
support complex development and test of embedded systems. Therefore, the HIL simulation provides an
effective framework by considering a model of the environment together with the selected system
platform. Hard- and software can be tested with the real set-up of parameters. The C-HIL simulation is a
special form of HIL focusing on the development of control systems interacting with a simulated model
of the controlled environment.