Hardware-in-the-Loop Assessment Methods

2017 Workshop on Modeling and Simulation of Cyber-Physical Energy Systems (MSCPES), 2017

The gradual deployment of intelligent and coordinated devices in the electrical power system needs careful investigation of the interactions between the various domains involved. Especially due to the coupling between ICT and power systems a holistic approach for testing and validating is required. Taking existing (quasi-) standardised smart grid system and test specification methods as a starting point, we are developing a holistic testing and validation approach that allows a very flexible way of assessing the system level aspects by various types of experiments (including virtual, real, and mixed lab settings). This paper describes the formal holistic test case specification method and applies it to a particular co-simulation experimental setup. The various building blocks of such a simulation (i.e., FMI, mosaik, domain-specific simulation federates) are covered in more detail. The presented method addresses most modeling and specification challenges in cyber-physical energy systems and is extensible for future additions such as uncertainty quantification.

Energies

This paper aims to validate the capability of renewable generation (ReGen) plants to provide online voltage control coordination ancillary service to the system operators in smart grids. Simulation studies about online coordination concepts from ReGen plants have already been identified in previous publications. However, here, the results are validated through a real-time Hardware-In-the-Loop framework using an exemplary benchmark grid area in Denmark as a base case that includes flexible renewable power plants providing voltage control functionality. The provision of voltage control support from ReGen plants is verified on a large-scale power system against the baseline scenario, considering the hierarchical industrial controller platforms used nowadays in power plants. Moreover, the verification of online voltage control support is carried out by taking into account a communication network as well as the associated data traffic patterns obtained from a real network. Based on the sets of recordings, guidelines and recommendations for practical implementation of the developed control algorithms for targeted ancillary service are made. This provides a deep insight for stakeholders, i.e., wind turbine and photo-voltaic system manufacturers and system operators, regarding the existing boundaries for current technologies and requirements for accommodating the new ancillary services in industrial application.

2016 IEEE 21st International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA), 2016

Renewable energy sources and further electrification of energy consumption are key enablers to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, but they also introduce increased complexity to the electric power system. The increased availability of automation, information and communication technology, and intelligent solutions for system operation have transformed the power system into a smart grid. To support the development process of smart grid solutions on system level they have to be tested in a holistic manner covering the multi-domain aspect of a such complex systems. This paper introduces the concept of holistic power system testing and discuss first steps towards a corresponding methodology that is being developed in the European ERIGrid research infrastructure project.

Working on Smart Grids, Enel Distribuzione is introducing innovative devices for grid operation, regulation and supervision. The complete infrastructure, based on an always-on communication network which uses IEC 61850 standard, needs to be accurately tested. Tests involve Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs), communication infrastructure and integration with the existing Enel SCADA. In order to satisfy these important needs, Enel created a specific Test Center to perform tests on devices and systems. This infrastructure uses a Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) and involves Enel SCADA. In this paper Test Infrastructure and Smart Grid devices (IEDs) are described focusing on real hardware and IEC 61850 data exchange tests, performed in a mix of simulated and real environment.

2018 IEEE Innovative Smart Grid Technologies - Asia (ISGT Asia), 2018

Strong digitalization and shifting from unidirectional to bidirectional topology have transformed the electrical grid into a cyber-physical energy system, i.e. smart grid, with strong interdependency among various domains. It is mandatory to develop a comprehensive and holistic validation approach for such large scale system. However, a single research infrastructure may not have sufficient expertise and equipment for such test, without huge or eventually unfeasible investment. In this paper, we propose another adequate approach: connecting existing and established infrastructures with complementary specialization and facilities into a cross-infrastructure holistic experiment. The proposition enables testing of CPES assessment research in near real-world scenario without significant investment while efficiently exploiting the existing infrastructures. Hybrid cloud based architecture is considered as the support for such setup and the design of cross-infrastructure experiment is also...

e & i Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik, 2018

A driving force for the realization of a sustainable energy supply in Europe is the integration of distributed, renewable energy resources. Due to their dynamic and stochastic generation behaviour, utilities and network operators are confronted with a more complex operation of the underlying distribution grids. Additionally, due to the higher flexibility on the consumer side through partly controllable loads, ongoing changes of regulatory rules, technology developments, and the liberalization of energy markets, the system's operation needs adaptation. Sophisticated design approaches together with proper operational concepts and intelligent automation provide the basis to turn the existing power system into an intelligent entity, a so-called smart grid. While reaping the benefits that come along with those intelligent behaviours, it is expected that the system-level testing will play a significantly larger role in the development of future solutions and technologies. Proper validation approaches, concepts, and corresponding tools are partly missing until now. This paper addresses these issues by discussing the progress in the integrated Pan-European research infrastructure project ERIGrid where proper validation methods and tools are currently being developed for validating smart grid systems and solutions.

2019

The electrical grid is transitioning towards a so-called Smart Grid (SG), which facilitates advanced management and control mechanisms through the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) but also introduces novel challenges resulting from cyber-physical interdependencies. Therefore, this transition requires a transformation of the system's structure and control mechanisms to meet the requirements for future SGs. However, examining and thoroughly testing those novel approaches is mandatory to enable a safe and smooth system change. These tests need to be conducted in a safe environment to avoid system failures, which may result in monetary losses and ultimately threaten human lives. Modeling and simulation is an established technique for testing and evaluating critical systems in a safe environment. Therefore, the paper aims at providing an overview of current modeling and simulation tools related to future SGs, by presenting them alongside challenges for si...

In this paper, a multi-simulation model is proposed to measure the performance of all Smart Grid perspectives as defined in the IEEE P2030 standard. As a preliminary implementation, a novel information technology (IT) and communication multi-simulator is developed following an High Level Architecture (HLA). To illustrate the usefulness of such a multi-simulator, a case study of a distribution network operation application is presented using real-world topology configurations with realistic communication traffic based on IEC 61850. The multi-simulator allows to quantify, in terms of communication delay and system reliability, the impacts of aggregating all traffic on a low- capacity wireless link based on Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) when a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network failure occurs. The case study illustrates that such a multi-simulator can be used to experiment new smart grid mechanisms and verify their impacts on all smart grid perspectives in an automated manner. Even more importantly, multi-simulation can prevent problems before modifying/upgrading a smart grid and thus potentially reduce costs to the utility.

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017

The current upward trend in large-scale integration of distributed energy resources (DER) in distribution networks has fueled interest in knowing their power quality issues (PQ), even in nearly realtime scale when possible. This trend involves researching new protection strategies that contribute to the reduction of supply interruptions times, which will ultimately result in greater energy efficiency. Based

arXiv (Cornell University), 2020

This paper presents a network hardware-in-theloop (HIL) simulation system for modeling large-scale power systems. Researchers have developed many HIL test systems for power systems in recent years. Those test systems can model both microsecond-level dynamic responses of power electronic systems and millisecond-level transients of transmission and distribution grids. By integrating individual HIL test systems into a network of HIL test systems, we can create large-scale power grid digital twins with flexible structures at required modeling resolution that fits for a wide range of system operating conditions. This will not only significantly reduce the need for field tests when developing new technologies but also greatly shorten the model development cycle. In this paper, we present a networked OPAL-RT based HIL test system for developing transmission-distribution coordinative Volt-VAR regulation technologies as an example to illustrate system setups, communication requirements among different HIL simulation systems, and system connection mechanisms. Impacts of communication delays, information exchange cycles, and computing delays are illustrated. Simulation results show that the performance of a networked HIL test system is satisfactory. Index Termsco-simulation, digital twin, distribution system, hardware-in-the-loop, transmission system, Volt-VAR control. systems. The setup of a coordinated real-time sub-transmission Volt-VAR control (VVC) testbed (CReS-VCT) that cosimulates transmission-distribution-DER systems is used as an example to illustrate the proposed framework. Implementations and simulation models were developed by research teams at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), North Carolina State University (NC State), and the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin). Measurements and control actions among HIL simulators are communicated via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel or a shared-file method. The