Advanced Smart Grids Using Hardware in the Loop Simulator
In the evolving world of smart grid technologies, accurate real-time simulation is critical. Impedyme stands at the forefront as the leading innovator in hardware in the loop simulator technology, uniquely combining high-performance FPGA-based computation with robust Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) capabilities. Our Combined HIL and Power (CHP) solution enables researchers, engineers, and grid operators to emulate real-world power scenarios safely, flexibly, and precisely—before field deployment.
What Is Hardware in the Loop Simulator and Why It Matters for Smart Grids?
A hardware in the loop (HIL) simulator bridges the gap between real-world hardware and virtual simulation models. In smart grid development, this means you can test distributed energy resources (DERs), microgrids, energy storage systems, and inverter controls with total confidence—without damaging equipment or relying on uncertain field conditions.
When enhanced with Power HIL (PHIL), the system simulates not only signals but real power flow, making it an essential tool for:
- Renewable energy integration
- Electric vehicle grid impact analysis
- Battery emulation
- Microgrid synchronization
- Grid stability under fault and transient conditions
The Impedyme Advantage: A New Era in Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation
Impedyme’s Combined HIL and Power (CHP) system is designed for full-stack smart grid simulation. Here’s how it delivers:
✅ Real-Time Smart Grid Emulation with FPGA
Powered by high-speed FPGAs, our system simulates the most demanding electrical behaviors with nanosecond-level precision. Whether you're modeling solar inverters, grid-connected EV chargers, or motor drives, the timing-critical nature of your systems is preserved—exactly as in the field.
✅ Full-4Q Power Emulation
Impedyme's CHP units are fully regenerative and bidirectional, allowing emulation of both loads and generators. This is essential for smart grid testing, where dynamic scenarios include:
- A building switching between consumption and feed-in (prosumers)
- A battery energy storage system (BESS) charging/discharging under varying grid conditions
- Simulated grid faults and recovery during demand response events
✅ PHIL-Ready with Real Power Flow
Our PHIL simulator can connect to actual inverters, controllers, or microgrid components. That means you can run a real PV inverter against a simulated sun profile—or see how a real EV charger handles different grid conditions.
✅ Grid Perturbation Tools
Using our system, you can inject controlled voltage dips, harmonic distortions, phase angle jumps, and frequency variations to evaluate the response of smart devices—particularly for grid code compliance, black start testing, and resiliency validation
Use Cases in Smart Grid Development
Let’s break down how our hardware in the loop simulator supports core areas of smart grid innovation:
1. Microgrid Development & Testing
Simulate decentralized grids with a mix of solar PV, wind turbines, diesel generators, and battery systems. Run test scenarios like islanding detection, synchronization, power-sharing, and automated re-connection to the main grid.
2. Battery and Energy Storage Emulation
Emulate Li-ion, fuel cell, or flywheel storage in real time. Our CHP system replicates BMS behavior, state-of-charge dynamics, degradation patterns, and can even test bidirectional inverters and DC fast chargers.
3. Inverter and Motor Drive Testing
Using FPGA-based Motor Emulators, you can test motor control algorithms for HVAC, industrial automation, or EV applications—without any physical rotating equipment. Combined with inverter testing, this validates both hardware and firmware in closed loop.
4. Renewable Integration & Smart DERs
Test how your smart grid responds to varying renewable generation from solar and wind. Apply cloud shading effects, ramp-up/down events, and frequency droops to DER controllers or grid-tied inverters under test.
Why Impedyme for Your Smart Grid Testing Lab?
Choosing Impedyme means equipping your smart grid lab with the most advanced hardware in the loop simulator technology available. Our FPGA-powered Combined HIL and Power (CHP) platform uniquely supports both signal-level HIL and power-level PHIL, allowing seamless integration of real controllers, inverters, and microgrid components into your test environment. Unlike traditional HIL setups, Impedyme’s systems are fully regenerative, compact, and scalable—ideal for battery emulation, inverter testing, and motor emulator applications. With support for industry-standard protocols like Modbus and IEC 61850, and compatibility with simulation tools like MATLAB/Simulink, our solutions are future-ready for grid modernization. Whether you're validating DER controllers, running fault simulations, or testing the interoperability of distributed systems, Impedyme provides the precision, safety, and flexibility to accelerate your smart grid innovations.
As smart grids evolve to become more dynamic, decentralized, and data-driven, the need for robust testing and validation tools has never been greater. Impedyme’s cutting-edge hardware in the loop simulator delivers a unique combination of real-time simulation, Power HIL, and FPGA-based motor emulation, making it the ideal solution for developing, verifying, and optimizing next-generation grid technologies. From inverter testing and battery emulation to complete microgrid simulation, our CHP platform offers the flexibility, precision, and scalability needed to confidently deploy smarter, cleaner, and more resilient power systems.
