Abstract:
Simulation has played an important role in the reliability, stability and operability of power systems. Power networks are changing as new technologies emerge. New methods of interfacing instantaneous samples of voltages and currents that are necessary for protection and control of power networks are available. The power network is becoming smarter as protection and control devices (IED) that are more sophisticated and embedded with high-level communication protocols become available. With the addition of these new features, simulation becomes a critical aspect in the design and operation of the power network. It is becoming increasingly important to provide not only the simulation tools to study isolated areas of the network, or study the network on a larger scale but also to provide the IEC 61850 8-1 and 9-2 interfaces between the simulation and these sophisticated IEDs. High Speed peer-to-peer IEC 61850 GOOSE messages are robust, have a high degree of maturity within the power system industry and in use routinely throughout substations in the entire world.
Synchrophasor technology is changing the way Power Systems are operated and thus creating a need for better testing tools and simulation tools. The current IEEE C37.118.1-2011 does not provide specific test methodology or requirements for equipment used for testing of PMUs, requirements for the measurements made by PMU test equipment, and requirements for the reporting of PMU measurements. PMU testing organizations that participate in The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Conformance Assessment Program (ICAP) PMU Conformance Assessment Program must comply with the test plans and requirements in the test suite specification (TSS) document.
RTDS Technologies Inc. has created a PMU Test Utility that will test external PMUs against the tests defined in the TSS. Newly developed Synchrophasor applications are creating a need for larger scale simulations, software and hardware development platforms. Interfacing with a Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS®), enables performance testing of the developed methods in a real-time closed loop environment using realistic future electric power system scenarios.
Dean Ouellette • RTDS Technologies Inc.