APPLICATIONS

Protection Systems

Validate relay behaviour and de-risk novel protection schemes.

HVDC & FACTS

Gain confidence in the performance of critical projects with HIL testing.

Digital Substations & IEC 61850

Perform closed-loop testing via communication protocols.

Wide Area Schemes & PMUs

Simulate and stream IEC/IEEE 60255-118-1 synchrophasors in real time.

Distribution Automation

Improve the performance of distribution automation systems and DERMS.

Microgrids & Renewable Energy

Achieve superior resilience through HIL testing of microgrid protection and control.

Power Plant Controllers

Test renewable power plant controllers (PPCs) in a closed loop, including communication delays.

Power Electronics HIL

Test controls in a closed loop with simulated high-frequency switching circuits.

Power Hardware-in-the-Loop

Test DERs, motors, loads, and other real power hardware in a controlled environment.

Cybersecurity

Prevent and survive cyber events via thorough real-time testing.

Education & Training

Validate the performance of novel technologies and improve operator confidence.
TECHNOLOGY

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Simulation Hardware

NovaCor™: the powerful, custom-developed hardware platform at the heart of the simulator.

Communication Protocols

Exchange data with external devices in real time through Ethernet and Network Interface Card.

Modelling Library

The most diverse, robust, and accurate real time power system modelling library available.

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Simulation Algorithm

Learn about EMT simulation, the Dommel algorithm, and multi-rate simulation.

Case Studies

Learn how real time simulation supports power system innovation around the globe.
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RTDS Technologies changed the power industry forever by introducing the world’s first fully digital real-time power system simulator.

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PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Validate the performance of protection schemes

Optimize performance and de-risk deployment of new protection schemes and algorithms

Digital simulation allows protection equipment to be subjected to virtually all possible faults and operating conditions in a controlled, flexible environment. Because the simulation runs in real time, protective devices can be physically interfaced to the simulated network in a closed loop.

Benefits of performing HIL testing

Insight on both the performance of the relay scheme and the dynamic response of the power system
Development and pre-commissioning of protection schemes for utilities
Testing a combination of hardware relays and software relay models
Testing interoperability of relays from multiple vendors

Interface conventional relays, IEC 61850 and other smart grid protocols, and traveling wave relays
Testing novel protection algorithms in real time, prior to target hardware availability
Factory testing of protective relays

Inside a hardware-in-the-loop testbed for protection devices

Voltage and current signals signals from simulated instrument transformers are sent to the relay via analogue output via the GTAO card or IEC 61850-9-2 Sampled Values via the GTNETx2 card of the RTDS Simulator hardware.

Analogue outputs operate over a maximum range of +/- 10 Vpeak, so to provide secondary voltage and current to the protection equipment, the GTAO output is connected to power amplifiers (or, in some cases, is connected directly to the protection equipment for “low level” testing).

The protection should respond to faults by providing trip and possibly subsequent reclose signals. Since the network model is simulated in real time, the signals from the protection will be used to operate breakers modeled in the simulation via digital input or IEC 61850 GOOSE Messaging.

Unprecedented accuracy in Travelling Wave Relay Testing

The RTDS Simulator’s Travelling Wave Relay Testing (TWRT) facilities is the only tool with a Frequency Dependent Phase Domain transmission line model operating at the necessary small timestep for traveling wave testing.

The tool and models involved have been specifically designed to accurately represent travelling wave attenuation and dispersion for proper performance analysis of travelling wave protection and fault locating. Learn more in the video below.

The only tool that has been successfully used to perform closed-loop testing of traveling wave protection devices with trip circuits live to the breakers.