Enhancing Electronic Device Stability with Grid Simulators

Fluctuations in power grids pose a serious risk to industries that rely on stable and uninterrupted electricity. Data centers, new energy industries, and electronic power equipment depend on consistent voltage and frequency levels to function efficiently.

However, unpredictable variations in power supply can lead to system failures and even reduce equipment lifespan. 

While backup power solutions provide temporary relief, they do not address the fundamental issue of how electronic devices respond to unstable power conditions. This is where grid simulators play an important role, as they can simulate grid conditions, allowing manufacturers and engineers to evaluate how their equipment performs under different conditions. 

Let’s have a look at the functions and applications of grid simulators.

Functions of Grid Simulators

Real-time simulation of power systems serves as a critical tool for assessing and improving their performance. Here are the functions of grid simulators:

• Simulate Power Supply Characteristics

A programmable power supply offers the flexibility to adjust key parameters such as output voltage, frequency, current phase, and waveform. This enables precise testing of equipment performance under various power conditions.

With a grid simulator, voltages can be generated at different frequencies, and voltage and current profiles can be tailored to meet specific testing requirements. Whether simulating stable conditions or dynamic scenarios like sudden load changes or short circuits, a programmable power supply can adjust voltage and current in real-time, allowing for comprehensive evaluation of equipment performance under varying stresses.

• Simulate Load Characteristics

Power loads fluctuate due to different conditions, which can introduce instability into the grid. A grid simulator can simulate sudden changes in load, such as sudden connection or disconnection of the load, as well as rapid changes in the load, to test the dynamic response capability and overload protection performance of the power supply. 

This helps assess the performance of power conversion systems, inverters, and energy storage solutions under different load scenarios.

• Simulate Power Grid Anomalies

Electrical disturbances such as voltage sags, surges, harmonic distortions, and frequency shifts can compromise sensitive equipment. A grid simulator reproduces these anomalies in a controlled environment so that manufacturers know if their equipment can withstand unexpected disruptions.

Application of Grid Simulators

Given the wide range of functions mentioned above, power grid simulation has broad applications across multiple industries where stable power conditions are essential. Here are some of the common use cases of these devices:

• Data Centers

Data centers house critical IT infrastructure that demands consistent power quality. A sudden voltage fluctuation or frequency deviation can lead to server crashes, data corruption, or increased hardware wear. 

Thus, data centers are usually equipped with backup power sources such as UPS, solar energy systems, and fuel batteries. However, to further enhance the power stability of data centers, electric grid simulation is critical to test the backup power supply and data center equipment’s ability to resist power anomalies. Operators can rely on these test data to upgrade their power systems.

•  Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic (PV) inverters and energy storage systems, need to interact seamlessly with the grid. The power grid simulator can simulate normal grid voltage and frequency, as well as abnormal situations such as voltage drop, sudden rise, and flicker. It is used to test the conversion efficiency and power quality of photovoltaic inverters.

Similarly, the regenerative grid simulator can also test the charging and discharging efficiency and cycle life of the energy storage system, ensuring its efficient and stable operation under various working conditions.

• Electronic Power Equipment 

Industries relying on power conversion technologies, such as UPS systems, fuel cells, and power conversion systems (PCS), require extensive testing to verify their stability. Power grid simulations provide a way to assess how these devices react to grid disturbances.

Where to Order Power Grid Simulators?

Sudden fluctuations in power grids can disrupt electronic devices, causing system failures and inefficiencies. Voltage sags, frequency deviations, and harmonic distortions can arise without warning, making it critical for power-dependent industries to test their equipment’s resilience.

ActionPower PRE20 regenerative grid simulator is designed to address these challenges with advanced simulation capabilities. It enables operators to test their products under various grid conditions. Its top features include:

• High Dynamic Response

In order to cope with the transient changes in the power grid encountered in reality, the PRE20 power grid simulator has the characteristic of high dynamic performance, which can easily achieve 1ms and 20ms power grid interruption testing, becoming an important tool for verifying power supply stability.

(1ms interruption waveform diagram of the power grid)

(20ms interruption waveform diagram of the power grid)

• High Precision and Stability

The PRE20 provides voltage accuracy of up to 0.01% ± 0.05% F.S. and maintains a load regulation rate of ± 0.05% F.S. These specifications ensure that every test reflects real-world conditions as closely as possible.

Its multiple protection functions, such as overload, over temperature, and short circuit protection, further enhance the reliability and safety of the equipment.

• Automatic Three-Phase to Single-Phase Switching

Electronic devices often operate under three-phase or single-phase power configurations. PRE20 is designed with parallel and load switches. The parallel switches are associated with single-phase mode to achieve automatic switching between unidirectional output and three-phase output. The load switch is associated with the OUT function, achieving output and load isolation.

• Multiple Output Modes

Different applications require different types of power supply configurations. The PRE20 supports AC, DC, AC+DC, and DC+AC output modes, offering full power in each mode. 

• Programmable Functions

Custom testing scenarios are often necessary to meet industry-specific standards. The PRE20 supports LIST, PULSE, STEP, and Advance programming functions, enabling engineers to create 100 sets of custom waveforms for in-depth analysis.

• Powerful Standard Waveform Library

For standardized testing, the PRE20 includes a built-in waveform library with IEC 61000-4 compliance. Engineers can also select from 30 sets of DST waveforms to conduct one-click injection testing, which helps them streamline the validation process for electronic devices.

Wrapping-Up

In conclusion, electronic products face challenges due to power grid instability. Without proper testing, devices may fail in real-world conditions, resulting in financial losses and compromised reliability. 

The ActionPower PRE20 power grid simulator provides a high-performance solution for evaluating and improving electronic product stability. Its high-speed response, precision control, flexible output modes, and extensive programming features stand it out from other similar products out there. Contact ActionPower now to enhance your electronic device stability!

Similar Stories