RTE faces challenges in simulating its hybrid AC/DC transmission network due to limitations of offline simulation tools. Real-time simulation allows RTE to: 1) Validate models of HVDC and FACTS devices which use proprietary control systems that are difficult to model accurately offline. 2) Maintain models over decades as equipment changes without needing to update offline simulation software. 3) Perform fast simulations studying many configurations to deliver results quickly. RTE chose the Hypersim real-time simulator for its flexibility, performance, and compatibility with EMTP-RV and Simulink models. RTE has established a laboratory with Hypersim simulators connected to control system replicas for various HVDC and FACTS

1. Real-time simulation at Rte
Issues and perspectives
IEEE PES General Meeting Vancouver July 22, 2013
S. Dennetière

2. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Rte : Réseau de Transport d'Electricité
French Transmission System Operator
Transmission lines (km)
400 kV 21 282
225 kV 26 538
150, 90, 63, 45 kV 52 854
Power Transformers
400 kV 278
225 kV 807
150, 90, 63, 45 kV 84
2 500 substations
HVDC & FACTS
France-UK (1986 – 2012) 2*1000MW LCC
2 SVC (2006) +200 MVAR / -100 MVAR
France-Spain (2015) 2*1000MW VSC
France-Italy (2016) 2*600MW VSC
5 SVC (2011-2014) 4*250 MVAR
400 kV network
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3. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Rte's challenge : Hybrid AC/DC network
Studies on a grid including large number of HVDC links
New grid, new challenges, new problems…
To be sure that equipment and grid will operate properly
To investigate failures or incorrect operation of equipment
From planning, to commissioning and maintenance for over several decades
Type of studies
DC and AC dynamic performance studies : performance of numerous study
cases to verify the transient and dynamic behavior as well as DC protection
Harmonic studies
Interactions of various electrical installations (e.g. between 2 HVDC systems)
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4. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Rationale for Real time simulation
Simulation tools - issues to be addressed (1/3)
Validation of models used in studies
• Behavior of HVDC and FACTS is mainly driven by a proprietary control system
algorithm : model = black box or simple representation based on block diagrams
• Black box models (EMT and TS tools) do not use the same numerical solution
than the real controller
4
~
HVDC/FACTS
control system
model
~
Measurements Firings
Real system EMT Model

5. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Rationale for Real time simulation
Simulation tools - issues to be addressed (2/3)
Maintenance of models
• Models are delivered during commissioning based on an operating system and
specific version of a simulation tool  how to keep a model running 20 years
after commissioning…
• Update models depending on equipment parameters changes (change in
regulation loops,…) during several decades.
5
HVDC/FACTS
control system
model
Measurements Firings
10 years after commissioning…
Real system
EMT Model

6. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Rationale for Real time simulation
Simulation tools - issues to be addressed (3/3)
Simulation times
• Detailed and accurate model can lead to slow simulations. Fast simulations to
study a large number of configurations and deliver results in a short period of
time
• Fast and detailed models for training
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HVDC/FACTS
control system
model
Measurements Firings
Real system
EMT Model

7. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Rationale for Real time simulation
7
Control system replica for HVDC/FACTS
+ Real-time simulation
Simulation
times
Models
Maintenance
Models
Validation
"STUDY" replica for complex network
studies
+ RT simulator (Rte simulator)
"MAINTENANCE" replica for maintenance
and operators trainings
+ RT simulator (provided by
manufacturers)

8. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Rte's requirements for real time simulator
Flexible and powerful simulator
• Simulation tool suitable for studying complex and large systems (several
thousand of devices)
• Automatic partitioning feature to run large system in real time
• Offline simulations shall be conducted with the RT tool on standard PC to
prepare the real-time simulations
Possibility to develop evolutions of the RT tool
• Interface to develop user coded models (C code, DLL…)
• Access to the code for a better control of study quality
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9. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Compatibility with the offline simulation tool EMTP-RV
• Automatic data export feature from EMTP-RV
• A common GUI would be the best
• Full compatibility with Matlab/Simulink for control system models
use same control system models in EMTP-RV and RT simulator
9
Pulses
7
Vmeas
6
Bsvc
5
alpha
4
TSC3
3
TSC2
2
TSC1
1
TCR
Vs_pu
Vp_pu
Vmes
Bref
Vref
Bsvc
Voltage
Regulator
Vmes
-K-
V->pu3
-K-
V->pu2
Mult
Vabc Vmeas
Measurement
System
TSC2pulses
TSC3_On
TSC2_On
TSC1pulses
TSC1_On
TCRpulses
BSVC
Vref
TSC3pulses
Vmeas
alpha
Vabc
Alpha
TSC1_On
TSC2_On
TSC3_On
phase_comp
TCR_Pulses
TSC1_Pulses
TSC2_Pulses
TSC3_Pulses
Firing Unit
Divide1
Bsvc
Alpha
TSC1_On
TSC2_On
TSC3_On
Distribution
Unit
Demux
Demux
Bref
Alpha
6
phase_comp
5
Vrated_s
4
Vrated_p
3
Vref
2
Vabc_sec
1
Vabc_prim
Simulink model
HVDC/FACTS
control
system model
in RT tool
HVDC/FACTS
control
system model
in EMTP-RV
Rte's requirements for real time simulator

10. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Why did Rte choose Hypersim ?
10
HYPERSIM real-time simulator
+
Collaboration agreement between Rte and Hydro-Québec
Possibility to
develop
evolutions
Flexibility and
performance
Comp. With
Simulink and
EMTP-RV

11. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Collaboration between Hydro-Québec and Rte
1st part : Installation of HYPERSIM simulators in RTE lab
Installation of 2 SGI computers and I/O interfaces in RTE lab in dec 2012
Trainings for Rte engineers
Sharing experience with control systems testing
2nd part : HYPERSIM development
Development on models and calculus engine by Rte in the HYPERSIM code
1st RTE development :
Frequency dependent cable model in real-time
Model suitable for lines and cables (eq WBline model in EMTP-RV)
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12. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Rte real-time simulation laboratory
Hypersim simulators
96 cores SGI UV computer for HVDC and FACTS studies
32 cores SGI UV computer for protection relays testing
I/O interfaces
HVDC / FACTS control system replica
Installed :
2 SVC "STUDY" replica from ALSTOM Grid installed in 2013 on Rte grid
1 SVC "MAINTENANCE" replica from ALSTOM Grid installed in 2013 on Rte grid
Planned in 2014-2015 :
1 HVDC LCC "STUDY" replica from ALSTOM Grid
1 HVDC SVC "STUDY" replica from SIEMENS (INELFE project)
1 HVDC SVC "MAINTENANCE" replica from SIEMENS (INELFE project)
1 SVC "STUDY" replica from SIEMENS (NANTERRE project)
1 SVC "MAINTENANCE" replica from SIEMENS (NANTERRE project)
More in the future…
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13. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Rte real-time simulation laboratory
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"MAINTENANCE" replica provided with its own simulator
"MAINTENANCE" replica for ALSTOM Grid SVC

14. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Rte real-time simulation laboratory
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"STUDY" replica for ALSTOM Grid SVC
2 "STUDY" replica connected to the HYPERSIM simulator
32 cores SGI computer for
Protection relays testing
96 cores SGI computer for HVDC
and FACTS studies

15. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 2013
Rte real-time simulation laboratory
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REPLICA TO BE INSTALLED
HVDC VSC - MAINTENANCE
HVDC VSC - STUDYHVDC LCC
SVC STUDY
SVC MAINTENANCE

16. Real time simulation at RTE -July 22, 201316
Thank you