Power hardware in the loop platform for flywheel energy storage system testing for electric ship power system applications

The UK MoD and Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) have worked collaboratively to de-risk the integration of power system architecture into future and legacy naval platforms This is being achieved through the development of a 540kVA Power Hardware in the Loop (PHIL) testing facility as part of a project arrangement with the US called "The Advanced Electrical Power and Propulsion Systems Development Project." The two key components of the PHIL system are: (1) A real time digital simulator system that is capable of simulating naval electrical systems in real time; and (2) A programmable power converter, a uniquely modular solution that can be re-configured for AC and DC output, which is used as the link between simulation and real hardware under test.
The PHIL testbed has been used to investigate a 360kW modular flywheel system developed by GKN. This project involved interfacing the real flywheel to a simulated ship electrical power system. This paper discusses how the PHIL test facility was configured for flywheel testing and the associated challenges, learnings and opportunities from this test setup. This paper also reports on one of the tests that was completed as part of this test program. In this test the FESS is operating in real time connected to a ship power system simulation. The results reported in this paper are particularly significant in that they demonstrate how a real piece of hardware can be tested as part of a ship power system without the need for a full ship demonstrator. This form of testing supports rapid resolution of hardware to ship integration challenges, control methodologies, and power system management schemes for de-risking new systems. This testing is prior to the hardware being connected to any potential full-scale shore based ship demonstrator or being installed directly on-board a ship power system where it could adversely impact ship operation.