A Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbench for Voltage Control in Active Distribution Networks

Recent studies introduce new controllers that leverage the flexibility of inverter-interfaced generation for voltage control. However, only a few discuss the practical implementations of such controllers. Bridging this gap between theoretical designs and real-world deployment is crucial to validate the results obtained in numerical simulations. In this paper, we present a hardware-in-the-loop testbench for assessing the performance of various controllers in a high-fidelity simulation. In particular, we consider a feedback-based controller that pursues the optimal solution to an AC optimal power flow problem, while ensuring anytime satisfaction of the operational constraints, using voltage and power measurements. The controllers are tested on a 20-node distribution network with a realistic setting, considering modeling uncertainties and communication delays. We highlight the benefits of feedback-based controllers compared to omniscient controllers, and their robustness with respect to modeling uncertainties.