Design of universal research platform for renewable energy connected to grid with power electronic devices

The widely spread application of renewable energy by power electronic devices brings more and more challenges in voltage regulation, power flow control and power quality. Therefore, higher standards are put forward for variety of renewable energy grid-connected power electronic devices. According to these standards and requirements of its own performance, such as power generation efficiency, a universal research platform for renewable energy grid-connected power electronic devices is introduced. Research platform consists of programmable DC source, impedance adjustable lines, intelligent circuit breaker and programmable AC source, and they are all controlled by a central control software. By this research platform, the power grid fault and variety working conditions are simulated. And a multi-point data acquisition system which can synchronize sampling multiple nodes' waveform is built on Labview. Hence research on multiple power electronic devices operating in parallel can be carried out on this research platform. A wind- photovoltaic-battery combined running case is given to illustrate the platform suitable for a variety of test of different types of renewable energy power electronic devices.