Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation of SOFC-GT Hybrid System

The solid oxide fuel cell–gas turbine (SOFC-GT) hybrid system is confronted with challenges related to system integration and coordinated control. In this study, a Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation (C-HILS) platform is constructed to validate its digital solutions. The C-HILS platform integrates the Advanced Process Simulation System (APROS), LabVIEW 2020 programming software, NI PXI hardware, and a distributed control system (DCS). Specifically, bidirectional data transmission between the simulation software and the DCS is facilitated through LabVIEW and PXI, leveraging the OLE for Process Control (OPC) protocol and physical Input and Output (I/O) channels. The dynamic SOFC-GT model developed in APROS demonstrates good consistency with design values, with relative errors below 4%. The DCS configuration employs PID controllers to achieve control over total power, SOFC fuel utilization, and gas turbine rotational speed. Experiments under transient conditions reveal that, despite discrepancies in dynamic responses between C-HILS and full-digital simulations, both can achieve stable control. This C-HILS platform effectively integrates virtual models with physical hardware, offering a reliable environment for verifying SOFC-GT control strategies and digital solutions, and thus facilitating the digital transformation of energy systems.