Laboratorio flexible para probar dispositivos eléctricos y emular microrredes

Abstract

The analysis of the electrical behavior of microgrids including renewable sources, storage devices, nonlinear loads, and traditional components, is of paramount importance for researching and educating new professionals in energy systems. This paper presents the design and implementation of a flexible laboratory for testing modern electrical devices and emulating real microgrids. The laboratory design begins with the selection of several devices, followed by the structuring and implementation of a bus to connect the devices. The bus includes circuit breakers, contactors, copper bars, a ground connection, PLCs, and safety terminals. The flexible laboratory is experimentally validated by testing a single-phase converter, charging, and discharging three VRLA batteries, replicating a discharge profile and emulating a real microgrid installed on Isla Fuerte, Colombia. The results are used to evaluate the operation of the devices and to analyze the behavior of a real microgrid, demonstrating the usefulness of the laboratory in education and research.