Modeling and simulation

2005-2006

1) Project Title: Common Information Model (CIM) Notional System
Investigator: Noel Schulz

Objectives: Transferability and dissemination of the all electric ship notional system is critical for advanced analysis. Building on EPRI¿s Common Information Model, MSU researchers will develop several notional shipboard power system models in CIM allowing for the efficient uploading of the models into other software packages. This will involve developing CIM models for individual pieces of shipboard power system equipment. In some cases, current models will be modified to include the parameters needed for shipboard system analysis. In other cases, it will be necessary to build new CIM models for the individual pieces of equipment. This process will involve getting a broad understanding of the various analysis tools using the shipboard power system model and ensuring that data for these applications is available in the model.

The CIM model will be a key link in creating a process where designs can be evaluated based on various criteria to determine an optimized shipboard power system topology and integrated control strategy.

2) Project Title: Optimal Model as a Specification for Reconfigurable Ship Design
Investigator: David Gao

Objectives: The design of a reconfigurable all electric ship is complex. A simulation model that can accurately predict the system¿s dynamic behavior and performance is indispensable. This model can serve as a specification for the design, prototyping, and testing of the e-ship. Hundreds of model parameters result in countless alternative configurations or reconfigurations of the ship model. Finding an optimal model is challenging and requires an innovative methodology. In this project, important ship model parameters, performance metrics under battle conditions, and design objectives will be identified. A model-in-the-loop optimization method will be used for obtaining an optimal e-ship model. Further, an efficient technique for searching global optimum will be investigated.

In general, a design optimization problem involves minimizing an objective function subject to some constraints on the design variables. The objective function is related to system performance metrics such as response time, reliability, efficiency, etc. The optimization algorithm tries to minimize the objective function by searching the multidimensional parameter space for the various combinations of the design variables and selecting the best combination at each iteration. We propose simulation-based design optimization using VTB. This process involves an optimization loop, in which appropriate optimization algorithm iteratively calls the VTB ship power system model for analysis, evaluates the objective function and verifies the design constraints, and updates the system model. The process is continued until the optimization criteria are satisfied.

3) Project Title: Porting Labview based Controller in the Loop Testbed to VTB Real-time
Investigators: Herb Ginn, David Gao

Objectives: During the design of power electronic systems various control strategies need to be evaluated with respect to some performance criteria. This evaluation stage is usually conducted in simulation due to the long periods of time required for hardware prototyping. Unfortunately, the digital controller, which in recent years is often based on a digital signal processor (DSP), is difficult to model accurately in simulation. The designer cannot be certain that the digital controller will perform as indicated in the simulation. Therefore, a controller in the loop prototyping tool has been developed using commercially available hardware and software from National Instruments. It allows the developer to evaluate performance of a DSP based digital controller without the need to complete the entire hardware prototype. The system simulates the behavior of the power electronic converter along with the entire supply and load system that the active compensator is connected to. In order to meet the very demanding real-time computations needed for this application, a PXI-8186RT real-time controller from National Instruments is used. A PXI-6602 high-speed digital input device is used to read the PWM signals, and a PXI-6733 high-speed analog output device is used to output the system quantities that are measured by the controller. The system simulation application for the 8186RT was written using Labview Real-time software.

The objective of this research topic is to port the design over to a VTB Real-time system in order to make it more accessible to other members of the consortium. After porting the design to VTB the types of power electronic converter topologies available in the simulation will be expanded. In the current system only the model of MSUs three-pole IGBT PEBB module is available.

2006-2007

1) Project Title: Simulation based design optimization of shipboard power system (SPS)
Investigators: Noel Schulz, David Gao (Tennessee Tech University), Jimena Bastos

Objectives: The design of an electric ship power system needs to be optimized for performance and survivability. We will study the SPS design parameters and how they affect survivability, cost, and other performance indices. Then we will develop and implement optimization algorithms that work with SPS simulation tool such as VTB. This method will greatly reduce SPS design time and cost and result in an optimal SPS configuration.

2) Project Title: Real Time Hardware in the Loop Simulation
Investigators: Noel Schulz, Anurag K Srivastava, Jimena Bastos

Objective: This research work will focus on developing Hardware in the Loop (HIL) platforms for testing models of control system equipment, particularly microprocessor controlled relays. The objective will be to enhance real time simulation capability of MSU using National Instruments, VTB-Real Time (VTB-RT) and RTDS platforms to develop advanced interfaces between hardware and simulation environments. Additionally comparisons of the real-time platforms will be performed.

3) Project Title: Validation and Verification of VTB Models and Data Integration Analysis
Investigators: Noel Schulz, Jimena Bastos

Objectives: The objective of this task is to provide closure in the area of validation and verification of VTB models that have been and are being developed by the MSU team. Additionally the MSU team will work to extend the models as needed to provide more advanced power systems simulation capabilities. This project will involve the analysis and integration of general sensor data within the ship to determine how data can be processed locally or globally to allow distributed as well as centralized control for analysis and operational conditions.