Ametek Sequoia Series - Regenerative AC Grid Simulator

The California Instruments Sequoia Series combines intelligence and flexibility with high power to create an advanced platform of regenerative grid simulators.

Using a state-of-the-art SiC power-switching architecture, this full four-quadrant bidirectional AC Source combines compactness, robustness, and functionality in a floor-standing chassis.

The Sequoia series is a full 4-quadrant, fully regenerative, AC power source designed to simulate various power line conditions and disturbances found worldwide.

This Sequoia Series grid simulator is used for testing solar inverters, online UPSs, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) systems, wind turbine systems, avionics power systems, and power compliance test solutions.

This easy-to-configure high-power AC source covers a wide spectrum of single and three-phase AC or single-channel and multi-channel DC power requirements at an affordable cost.

The Sequoia Series can support additional advanced solar inverter grid simulator and EV power electronic test simulator requirements with the add-on regenerative electronic AC/DC load option.

Features and Capabilities:

• Dual Voltage ranges that support over voltage testing on 480V based systems
• Instrument Setups for quickly re-establishing the known instrument state
• 500uS time resolution for Transients
• Virtual Panels control software included
• Non-Linear current waveform programming during Load mode
• Phase coordination among multiple units (LKM/LKS)
• Powerful set of analog controls for PHIL and Modulation tests
• Trigger In & Out to permit extensive coordination with external systems
• Extensive Onboard diagnostics
• Digital I/O, including RS232, USB, Ethernet (GPIB optional)
• Intuitive 5” color display for ease of navigation
• Auto-paralleling for maximum flexibility with multi-chassis configurations
• Separate terminal blocks for single-phase and three-phase AC outputs

Simple Operation

The Sequoia Series programmable grid simulator can be operated completely from its menu-driven front panel controller. The full color-touch display shows menus, setup data, and read-back measurements.

USB and LAN remote control interfaces and instrument drivers for popular ATE programming environments are available. This allows the Sequoia Series to be easily integrated into an automated test system.

With the programmable arbitrary waveform generator, the user can generate application-specific waveforms, obtain time and frequency domain measurements, and capture actual voltage and current waveforms.

Configurations

The Sequoia Series offers five single chassis configurations: 15kVA, 22.5kVA, 30kVA, 45kVA, and 90kVA. For higher power requirements, multi-cabinet models are available.

These systems offer Reflex capability, allowing flexible user reconfiguration as needed. This ability to reconfigure the system greatly expands your test coverage and is not commonly found in power systems.

Choice of Voltage Ranges

The Sequoia Series offers dual range 0 - 166V & 0 - 333V line to neutral direct coupled output.

These models provide a maximum three-phase AC output capability of 287 VAC & 576 VAC line to line respectively. For applications requiring more than 333 V L-N (or 576 V L-L), optional transformer coupled ranges up to 715 V L-N and 1,238 V L-L-are available. For custom applications, the user-defined XVC option is available.

High Crest Factor

With support for high crest factor loads, the Sequoia can drive difficult nonlinear loads with ease. Since many modern products use switching power supplies, they tend to pull high repetitive peak currents.

The SQ30 with a crest factor rating of 4.5 for example, can deliver up to 300 Amps of repetitive peak current (166 V AC range) per phase to handle three-phase loads. Refer to the specifications for peak repetitive currents for each model.

Remote Control

Standard RS232C, USB, and LAN, along with optional IEEE-488 remote control interfaces allow the programming of all instrument functions from an external computer.

The popular SCPI command protocol is used for programming.

Hardware In the Loop

The External Drive (-EXTD) feature allows external analog signal control of the source while in AC operation, turning the source into a high bandwidth amplifier.

Most common applications include power hardware in the loop (PHIL) simulation of power plants, hybrid electric vehicles, and renewable energy generation and their effect on the utility grid. Combining a PHIL simulator with the Sequoia grid simulator results in as little as 100uS delay, meaning the overall solution is real-time.

Testing Applications:

• Power Conditioning Equipment Testing
• Grid Interactive Green Energy & Distributed Power Generation Testing
• Avionics & Shipboard Electronics Testing
• Regulatory Compliance Testing
• Electric Vehicle Charger (EVSE, V2G) Testing
• Manufacturing Line Testers
• Advanced Renewable Energy Simulation and Testing
• IEEE 1547 Testing
• Motor testing

Regenerative Electronic AC/DC Load

Among the optional configurations is the programmable, regenerative electronic load mode. Designed to provide precisely controlled non-linear loads for testing AC power generation equipment, the Sequoia Series electronic AC/DC load mode can accurately simulate real-world load conditions, including high crest factor and variable power factor loads.

Traditional loads use resistive load banks. This approach does not simulate real-world conditions such as switching DC/AC converters found in many AC power products, nor does it fully exercise the equipment under test (EUT) under worst-case operating conditions.

High peak currents and low power factor loads can significantly impact the operating characteristics of a UPS or AC power product.

Sequoia’s optional regenerative electronic AC/DC load mode can simulate real-world load conditions that can significantly increase product reliability while minimizing energy costs by regenerating the load current back to the utility mains.

Modes include Constant Power, Constant Current, and RLC.