ARM+FPGA platform to manage solid-state-smart transformer in smart grid application

Abstract

This paper proposes a suitable digital platform based on the Xilinx Zynq®-7000 family to process the functions performed by a smart-solid-state-transformer (3ST) in smart grids (SG) application. These functions include: link to information and communication technologies (ICT), voltage transformation, integration of distributed renewable energy resources (DRER) and distributed energy storage devices (DESD). The Zynq platform embeds a double-core ARM® Cortex™-A9 processor and Field Programmable Gates Array (FPGA) technology, all within a programmable system on a chip (SoC). The main advantages of this technology are modularity, scalability, quick and easy maintenance and low-costs. Experimental results are included to show some capabilities of the proposed platform in a 3ST laboratory test-bed.