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

OUR TECHNOLOGY

Start here to learn about real time simulation and discover the technology that makes hardware-in-the-loop testing possible.

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.

Graphical User Interface

RSCAD® allows the configuration, execution, and analysis of real-time simulations.

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.
NEWS & EVENTS

STAY INFORMED

Join our mailing list to get everything “RTDS” in one place: from webinar announcements, industry news, and event details.

News Feed

Technology updates, conferences, training courses and webinars, and other news.

Events & Webinars

See what events are on deck at RTDS Technologies.

Training Events

Check out our schedule for training at our facility in Winnipeg, Canada.
ABOUT

ABOUT US

RTDS Technologies changed the power industry forever by introducing the world’s first fully digital real-time power system simulator.

Our Customers

Leaders in their craft & main drivers of our innovation – simulating the grid of tomorrow.

Careers

Discover opportunities to join the world-class team at RTDS Technologies.
RESOURCE CENTRE

KNOWLEDGE BASE

Easy access to technical papers, product & application information, and more.

Training & Support Info

Hands-on training opportunities and unparalleled user support.

Warranty & Maintenance Info

Accessible, comprehensive equipment maintenance to eliminate downtime.

Video Resource Library

Video training resources for RTDS Simulator users.

Knowledge Base

Easy access to technical papers, product & application information, and more.

Training & Support

Hands-on training opportunities and unparalleled user support.

Warranty & Maintenance

Accessible, comprehensive equipment maintenance to eliminate downtime.

Client Login

Access our client area with your credentials here.
CONTACT

De-risking a Revolution in Power Flow Control at Smart Wires

User Profile:

Delivering a Novel FACTS Device to Transform the Grid

Smart Wires is the world’s leading grid-enhancing technology and service provider. The company solves grid issues and provides advice on the policies market design, and solutions critical to creating the digital grid. Smart Wires’ offering includes its flagship product, SmartValve™—an innovative, digital power flow control technology; state-of-the-art software SUMO; and a range of advisory consulting services and modelling. This is for developing generation and load connection solutions, power system operation and planning constraints, and technology integration.

SmartValve is an innovative digital power flow control technology used by leading system operators worldwide to quickly solve bottlenecks by creating extra capacity on the existing network. It is a transformerless, modular Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC) – a FACTS device – with an integrated fast-acting bypass and flexible deployment and control.

Smart Wires has adopted the RTDS® Simulator for the closed-loop factory testing of its power system products. Their North Carolina Headquarters houses their Hardware-In-The-Loop (HIL) laboratory, and their team of power system engineers, spread across the globe, remotely access the HIL setup to perform high-fidelity power system studies and device testing.

Project Focus:

De-risking SmartValve Deployment Via HIL Testing

Smart Wires uses its HIL testing setup to validate several functionalities of the SmartValve system before the deployment date. In this project, the aim was to test the interoperability between the SmartValve and the protection relays that operate on the line. At the request of the system operator, the protection relays should be able to bypass the SmartValve. Two RTDS Simulator units were required to complete the testing, given the large network size under study.

In this project, the aim was to test the interoperability between Smart Wires’ FACTS device and the existing protection relays that operate on the utility’s transmission line.

In this HIL setup, Smart Wires connected one NovaCor® chassis to the SmartValve control boards and the second chassis to protective relays. Both the SmartValve and the protection receive analogue output signals from the simulation and provide responses via digital inputs. A power amplifier is required to amplify the ±10 Vpeak analogue signals from the RTDS Simulator to secondary-level signals for the relays.

This test setup was used to verify a new feature in which the utility could choose to immediately remove the SmartValve injection from the system via a relay command.

Modelling and Testing:

Automation is Key

Smart Wires’ team of power system engineers built a detailed model of the customer’s grid in RSCAD®, reducing the peripheral network into voltage sources and linking impedances. The model included fault branches in 18 locations, with the ability to adjust the fault typem resistance, inception angle, duration, and postion. Synchronous machine models included PSS and AVR controls, and a combination of PI section and frequency-dependent models were used for transmission lines. The model was tested against load flow and dynamic performance results to validate

Smart Wires used computer automation to enable efficient and replicable studies of hundreds of scenarios via RSCAD. They conducted several tests to validate the dynamic performance of the SmartValve and its integration with the customer protection schemes, including the following:

Verification of the SmartValve bypass operation during overcurrent scenarios
Verification of protection relays behavior in different fault cases
Verification of the SmartValve operating modes and behavior under different grid conditions
Verification of the impact that different injection modes have on the power system operation conditions, both on- and offshore

Outcomes:

Deploying with Confidence

The HIL configuration allowed Smart Wires to test the interface between the SmartValve and the line protection relays in the context of the utility’s network. Low Current Ride Through (LOR) is a SmartValve feature that allows the device to stop its injection immediately and enter bypass mode after detecting an overcurrent event (or after receiving an external command). Plot (a) displays the LOR command and the state of the SmartValve’s bypass mode.

Plot (b) displays the three-phase voltage injection waveform of the SmartValve control board in the HIL testbed (1 device per phase) and plot (c) displays the same signals extracted from the SmartValve RSCAD models (2 devices per phase), summing up to a simulation of three devices per phase in total.

In this case, the LOR signal is being externalized by the protection relays according to their user-defined internal logic. After receiving the signal, all three phases of the SmartValve transition into bypass mode in less than 5 milliseconds. This feature is also triggered every time the line current falls into the user-selected overcurrent threshold. In that case, the SmartValve can reestablish
the same injection level once the overcurrent event ends.

The RTDS Simulator allowed Smart Wires to validate the operation of a new product feature and demonstrate to the customer via hardware-in-the-loop testing that their technology would operate securely alongside the utility’s existing protection and automation.