• 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

Testing Centralized Automation for Digital Substations at ABB

SEE MORE CASE STUDIES

User Profile:

Global Technology Giant Developing Innovative Power System Products

ABB is a leading global technology company with a long history of excellence in power system solutions. Their protection and control products are trusted by transmission and distribution system operators worldwide.

ABB was an early adopter of the RTDS® Simulator — one of the first institutions in history to use real-time digital simulation for the closed-loop factory testing of their power system products. Today, ABB continues to apply the RTDS Simulator in several different divisions, where hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing is used to validate the dynamic performance of devices prior to customer deployment.

Though ABB has been an RTDS Technologies customer since the mid-1990s, their Distribution Solutions laboratory in Vaasa, Finland first acquired a Simulator in 2019. They quickly went through multiple expansions, increasing the capability of their system and improving the scope of testing for their projects.

The real-time simulation testbed at ABB Finland. Image courtesy of ABB.

Project Focus:

Validating the SSC600 Prior to a Utility Pilot Project

ABB’s SSC600 represents a novel approach to protection and control in distribution networks — centralizing all protection and control functionality within a single device at substation level. This centralized approach increases the flexibility, reliability, and speed of deployment for protection and control systems in the distribution network, while reducing network complexity and optimizing asset management and engineering for the digital substation. SSC600 is IEC 61850 and IEC 60870-5-104 compliant.

ABB performed HIL testing with the RTDS Simulator to validate several functionalities of the SSC600 system prior to deployment by a utility. The interoperability of the SSC600 and a REF615 feeder protection relay was also verified.

Both conventional and IEC 61850-based I/O are used to interface the SSC600 and REF615 to the simulated network. Image courtesy of ABB.

Voltages and currents from the simulation were sent to the SSC600 via IEC 61850 Sampled Values. The SSC600 then sent operate signals back to the simulated circuit breakers via GOOSE Messaging.

In one scenario, the REF615 was tested in a merging unit role, receiving amplified analogue signals from the simulated network and passing them to the SSC600 for operation via Sampled Values.

Modelling and Testing:

Considering the Customer’s Network and Needs

A simplified model of the customer’s substation and the surrounding network was developed in the RTDS Simulator’s software. The real-time distribution network model had the following characteristics:

  • Outgoing feeders modelled as simple radial lines with no branches, using PI section models with parameters based on provided earth fault current data
  • Earth fault compensation modelled with arc suppression coils
  • Fault branches in ten locations throughout the network, with the ability to adjust the fault type, resistance, inception angle, duration, and position

Real-time simulation allows for many operating scenarios and contingencies to be represented conveniently and efficiently. ABB conducted several tests in order to validate proper functionality of the SSC600, including the following:

  • Comparing Sampled Values and GOOSE messages measured/issued by device to theoretical system values
  • Verification of Multi-Frequency Admittance earth fault protection operation for various fault positions, types, and severities
  • Verification of transformer differential protection operation with faults on both HV and MV sides of transformer
  • Verification of busbar differential protection operation
  • Verification of load shedding operation after system frequency decay
Steady-state feeder current and voltage values measured by the SSC600 (top) are compared to theoretical values from the real-time simulation (bottom)

Simulated feeder phase currents (top), Bus 1 phase voltages (second), residual current including calculated RMS value (third), calculated Bus 1 neutral voltage (fourth), residual current angle with respect to Bus 1 neutral voltage (fifth), operate commands of SSC600 and REF615 (bottom)

Outcomes:

Deploying with Confidence

Interfacing the SSC600 with a simulated network allowed ABB to comprehensively validate the dynamic behaviour of the system in various scenarios. Closed-loop testing with a real-time simulator also enables the testing of multiple devices simultaneously, allowing ABB to verify the operation of the SSC600 in conjunction with a REF615 feeder relay.

The graph to the left shows the operation of the SSC600’s earth fault protection element in a test scenario where an A-phase-to-ground fault was placed on one feeder, 7 km from the substation. The SSC600 received the feeder current and voltage values via Sampled Values from the REF615
and issued an operate command back to the feeder relay via GOOSE Message. The REF615 then issued a circuit breaker open command to the simulated breaker via a binary I/O channel.

Hardware-in-the-loop testing enables a comprehensive, systems-level understanding of the dynamic behaviour of protection and control schemes, providing a new level of confidence to both equipment manufacturers and their utility customers.

Learn more about HIL testing for distribution automation systems at rtds.com/applications

Get a printable copy of this project report

DOWNLOAD CASE STUDY

+1 204 989 9700

rtds@rtds.com

RTDS Technologies Inc.
150 Innovation Drive.
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2E1
CANADA

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on news & events!

© 2022 RTDS Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved.