A Universal LabVIEW-Based HTS Device Measurement and Control Platform and Verified Through a SMES System

This paper presents a computer-controlled test platform for superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) control and measurement based on the Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW). The purpose is to achieve the fast control and friendly measurement simultaneously by integrating the LabVIEW and commercial digital control chips. The test platform mainly consists of three modules, i.e., power conditioning system (PCS) module, control module and measurement module. The PCS module imitates the operational conditions and characteristics of a practical SEMS device by using the combination of a programmable power source and an equivalent load network. A LabVIEW-based program is also designed to output various imitated charge-discharge current waveforms to directly supply the SMES magnet so as to avoid the use of the complicated and costly practical PCS. The measurement module has multi-functions of current-voltage (I-V), temperature and magnetic field measurements. In cooperation with the control module, the measured data are applied to adjust the real-time operational state of the PCS module and to protect the SMES magnet when the quench is detected. The test platform has been experimentally verified for the use in a small-scale SMES prototype.