Megawatt Scale Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing of a High Speed Generator

A megawatt scale test bed for power hardwarein-the-loop experimentation with high speed generators is described, and selected results from testing of a generator are presented. The test bed includes a dynamometer and high speed gearbox used to deliver up to 5 MW to the mechanical shaft of a generator at speeds of up to 24000 rpm. A rectifier using fast recovery diodes is used to rectify the voltage at the terminals of the machine, and a 2.5 MW bi-directional DC converter is used as a dynamic load for the generator. Both the dynamometer and converter are controlled using a large scale real time simulator, enabling power hardwarein-the-loop simulation experiments to be conducted. Herein, testing is described of a new, prototype high speed generator and its associated voltage regulator using this facility. The generator has been subjected to steady-state loading at power levels above 1 MW, as well as load ramps with rates exceeding 500 kW/s. Challenges involved in the testing, as well as some of the possibilities for future tests with the setup are described.