Analytical Power System Studies

Power system simulation studies can and have involved nearly any network configuration from a very small study of a single source and load model, to models that represent the fundamental dynamics of an entire utility's network. The RTDS Simulator provides greater depth of analysis than traditional stability and loadflow programs because the RTDS Simulator represents the system performance over a large frequency range (DC to approximately 3 kHz). With this frequency range, RTDS Simulation is an ideal tool for thoroughly analysing power systems phenomena.

Utilizing the RTDS Simulator has a number of benefits over off-line transient simulation. Using an off-line tool, a 1 second event may take minutes to calculate and return results - leaving the user to wait. With a real time tool, these same results are acquired in 1 second and no time is wasted waiting. In addition, the user also gains insight into the system operation, which they may not gain as easily from an off-line tool. The real time digital simulator provides an interactive learning environment where the user becomes an active part of the simulation. Users are able to follow their engineering intuition and in turn increase their understanding of the system under study. As well, the real time tool continues to return results as long as the simulation is left running (which may be minutes, hours or even days). This capability provides long term system dynamic and stability information that may not be found with off-line electromagnetic transient simulation tools.