# US 10,873,184 B2 · Power electronics converter based reconfigurable grid emulation platform > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,184 B2 - Document ID: US10873184B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/165,547 - Filed: 2018-10-19 - Published: 2020-04-23 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-19 - Assignees: University of Tennessee Research Foundation - Applicants: University of Tennessee Research Foundation - Inventors: Fei Wang; Leon M. Tolbert; Yiwei Ma; Kevin Tomsovic; Kai Sun; Shuoting Zhang; Jingxin Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873184B2 ## CPC - G06F 30/367: Design verification, e.g. using simulation, simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis [SPICE], direct methods or relaxation methods - G05B 13/041: {in which a variable is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance} - H02J 3/00: Circuit arrangements for AC mains or AC distribution networks - H02J 3/36: Arrangements for transfer of electric power between AC networks via high-voltage DC [HVDC] links; Arrangements for transfer of electric power between generators and networks via HVDC links - H02J 3/38: Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel - H02M 7/537: using semiconductor devices only, e.g. single switched pulse inverters - G06F 30/331: with hardware acceleration, e.g. by using field programmable gate array [FPGA] or emulation - G06F 2119/06: Power analysis or power optimisation - H02J 2103/30: Simulating, planning, modelling, reliability check or computer assisted design [CAD] of electric power networks - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - Y02E 10/76: Power conversion electric or electronic aspects - Y02E 60/00: Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation - Y04S 40/20: Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A system includes a controller that is configured to generate a node control signal and a plurality of switch control signals, a plurality of programmable emulators, each of the plurality of programmable emulators being configurable as one of a plurality of node types responsive to the node control signal, and a plurality of switches that are programmable to couple ones of the plurality of programmable emulators to each other responsive to the plurality of switch control signals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a controller that is configured to generate a node control signal and a plurality of switch control signals; a first plurality of programmable emulators, each of the plurality of programmable emulators being configurable as one of a plurality of node types responsive to the node control signal; a second plurality of programmable emulators, each of the second plurality of programmable emulators being configurable as a long-distance transmission line emulator, a Direct Current (DC) line emulator, a high voltage DC converter emulator, or a short-distance transmission line emulator; and a plurality of switches that are programmable to couple ones of the first plurality of programmable emulators to each other responsive to the plurality of switch control signals, to couple ones of the second plurality of programmable emulators to each other responsive to the plurality of switch control signals from the controller, and to couple the ones of the first plurality of programmable emulators to the ones of the second plurality of programmable emulators to each other responsive to the plurality of switch control signals from the controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the long-distance transmission line emulator, DC line emulator, and high voltage DC converter emulator each comprise a pair of power converters coupled together. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a long distance transmission line control signal; and wherein the long-distance transmission line emulator is configurable as a T model transmission line, a distributed model transmission line, or a Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System (FACTS) model transmission line responsive to the long distance transmission line control signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the short-distance transmission line emulator comprises at least one inductor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a short-distance transmission line signal; wherein the short-distance transmission line emulator comprises a plurality of inductors; and wherein the plurality of switches are further programmable to couple ones of the plurality of inductors to each other to adjust a transmission line length of the short-distance transmission line emulator responsive to the short-distance transmission line signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of node types comprises a plurality of sources and a plurality of loads. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of sources comprises a coal-fired power generator, a gas power generator, a nuclear power generator, and a plurality of distributed energy resources. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of distributed energy resources comprises a wind power generator, a photovoltaic power generator, a biomass power generator, a biogas power generator, a geothermal power generator, a hydroelectric power generator, and an electricity storage system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the electricity storage system comprises a battery, an ultracapacitor, a flywheel, a compressed air storage device, and/or a responsive load. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of loads comprises a constant impedance load, a constant current load, a constant power load, a three-phase induction motor load, a single-phase induction motor load, and/or a power electronic fed load. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the power electronic fed load comprises a variable speed drive, a data center power supply, a consumer electronics power supply, and/or an electric vehicle charger. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of programmable emulators comprises a power converter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the power converter comprises a three-phase Direct Current/Alternating Current (DC/AC) converter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a mode control signal; wherein each of the plurality of programmable emulators is further configurable as one of a plurality of operating modes responsive to the mode control signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), power curtailment, droop control, inertia emulation, power factor control, voltage control, frequency control, and/or reactive power support. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a Real Time Digital Simulation (RTDS) system that is coupled to the plurality of programmable emulators and is configured to digitally emulate a power system source, load, or fault. ### Claim 17 A method, comprising: generating, using a controller, a node control signal and a plurality of switch control signals; configuring each of a first plurality of programmable emulators as one of a plurality of node types responsive to a node control signal from a controller responsive to the node control signal; configuring each of a second plurality of programmable emulators as a long-distance transmission line emulator, a Direct Current (DC) line emulator, a high voltage DC converter emulator, or a short-distance transmission line emulator; programming a plurality of switches to couple ones of the programmable emulators to each other responsive to the plurality of switch control signals; programming the plurality of switches to couple ones of the second plurality of programmable emulators to each other responsive to the plurality of switch control signals; and programming the plurality of switches to couple the ones of the first plurality of programmable emulators to the ones of the second plurality of programmable emulators to each other responsive to the plurality of switch control signals. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the long-distance transmission line emulator, DC line emulator, and high voltage DC converter emulator each comprise a pair of power converters coupled together. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: generating, using the controller, a long-distance transmission line control signal; and configuring the long-distance transmission line emulator as a T model transmission line, a distributed model transmission line, or a Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System (FACTS) model transmission line responsive to a long-distance transmission line control signal from the controller. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the short-distance transmission line emulator comprises at least one inductor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the short-distance transmission line emulator comprises a plurality of inductors, the method further comprising: generating, using the controller, a short-distance transmission line signal; and programming the plurality of switches to couple ones of the plurality of inductors to each other to adjust a transmission line length of the short-distance transmission line emulator responsive to the short-distance transmission line signal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: generating, using the controller, a mode control signal; and configuring each of the plurality of programmable emulators as one of a plurality of operating modes responsive to the mode control signal. ### Claim 23 A computer program product, comprising: a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program code embodied in the medium that is executable by a processor to perform operations comprising: generating, using a controller, a node control signal and a plurality of switch control signals; configuring each of a first plurality of programmable emulators as one of a plurality of node types responsive to a node control signal from a controller responsive to the node control signal; configuring each of a second plurality of programmable emulators as a long-distance transmission line emulator, a Direct Current (DC) line emulator, a high voltage DC converter emulator, or a short-distance transmission line emulator; programming a plurality of switches to couple ones of the programmable emulators to each other responsive to the plurality of switch control signals; programming the plurality of switches to couple ones of the second plurality of programmable emulators to each other responsive to the plurality of switch control signals; and programming the plurality of switches to couple the ones of the first plurality of programmable emulators to the ones of the second plurality of programmable emulators to each other responsive to the plurality of switch control signals. ### Claim 24 A system, comprising: a controller that is configured to generate a node control signal and a plurality of switch control signals; a plurality of programmable emulators, each of the plurality of programmable emulators being configurable as one of a plurality of node types responsive to the node control signal; a plurality of switches that are programmable to couple ones of the plurality of programmable emulators to each other responsive to the plurality of switch control signals; and a Real Time Digital Simulation (RTDS) system that is coupled to the plurality of programmable emulators and is configured to digitally emulate a power system source, load, or fault. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of node types comprises a plurality of sources and a plurality of loads. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of sources comprises a coal-fired power generator, a gas power generator, a nuclear power generator, and a plurality of distributed energy resources; and wherein the plurality of loads comprises a constant impedance load, a constant current load, a constant power load, a three-phase induction motor load, a single-phase induction motor load, and/or a power electronic fed load.