Custom Electronic Power Conversion
Active Load Emulator
System Description
E&M Power’s Active Load Emulator (ALE) mimics the 4-quadrant electrical output of a 3-phase synchronous or induction motor/generator under user-controlled speed, torque and temperature conditions thereby simulating an electric drive train. This electronic dynamometer offers the following advantages:
- Supports multiple motor/generator characteristics in a single set of hardware. Unique machine types (PM, Induction) and characteristics (voltage/speed; inductance; thermal variations) are emulated based on User defined criteria.
- Compatible with most known PWM switching methods (space-vector, sine-triangle, LHC & others)
- Re-circulates power between the ALE and Inverter Under Test thereby dissipating only about 10% of the rated power of the Inverter.
- Enables test under extreme operating conditions in a safe mode without harm to the Inverter or Test Equipment (high rate of change, overspeed, continuous overload conditions).
- Dual-mode operation (see Below)
- Stackable to enable testing of inverters designed to drive more than one motor
- Small footprint supports installation into existing facilities.
Modes of Operation:
Motor Emulator or Inverter-centric mode/Fixed command mode:
- Motor Emulator: In this mode the Emulator responds to Inverter motor currents and User Test System speed commands to accurately represent the sinusoidal back EMF voltage of a permanent magnet or induction motor.
- Inverter-centric/Fixed command mode: In this mode, the user can specify to the Emulator a given modulation index between 0 and 0.955 and the Emulator shall regulate the three phase output voltage based on the modulation index provided by the User Test System interface.