This document discusses OPAL-RT's solution for microgrid applications real-time simulation. It addresses challenges in simulating large power systems and ensuring accuracy of power electronics circuits. OPAL-RT's State Space Nodal method allows simulation of large power distribution systems across multiple processors without affecting system behavior. It also supports accurate power electronics simulation from medium-speed to high-speed controllers using various OPAL-RT tools. The document demonstrates these capabilities through a live demo of a microgrid system.

1. OPAL-RT Solution For Micro-grid
Applications Real Time Simulation
OPAL-RT Technologies

2. OPAL-RT Solution For Micro-grid
Applications
• Applications Description
• Challenges
 Overcome the Real time simulators limitation toward large power systems simulation
 Ensure the accuracy of the power electronics circuits simulation
• OPAL-RT Solution for Large scale power systems simulation
 State Space Nodal method (SSN)
• OPAL-RT Solution for power electronics
 Medium and low speed controllers applications (F< 10 kHz) : RT-Event/RT-Drive
 High speed controllers applications (F> 10 kHz until 100kHz) : EFPGASim (eHS)
• Live Demo

3. MicroGrid
615 nodes distribution
system with 124 R-Loads

4. Challenges
• Power distribution system with very shorts lines:
 No intrinsic elements (DPL) to decouple the model for multi-processors simulation.
 Large Time step over 300us to simulate the system in one core (if possible):
 Low accuracy
 Risks of numerical instability
 Memory problem when increasing the quantity of elements such as breakers
 Traditional method for model decoupling existing in the market:
 using some artificial components: delays and artificial capacitors:
System behavior affected & possible instability due to the delays
Limitation toward large power systems simulation

5. Challenges
 Traditional power electronics simulation tools: No interpolation
 Results are accurate when the time step is very small (less than 1 us) or using a
variable time step solver
for offline simulation only
 Large simulation sampling time for Microgrid applications:
Large time step Results inaccuracy and signals distortion due to
misfiring
Accuracy of the power electronics circuits simulation

6. OPAL-RT Solution
 OPAL-RT SSN solution for power distribution system decoupling :
 Transparency toward system behavior : no delay, no artificial capacitors
 Flexibility in terms of processors assignation: a group or set of groups can
be assigned to specific available core easily using RT-LAB.
 Possibility to add three to four 3-phase breakers per group without
affecting the real time simulation.

7. OPAL-RT Solution
Medium and low speed controllers applications (F< 10 kHz)
eMEGASIM: RT-Event/RT-Drive
High speed controllers applications (F> 10 kHz) EFPGASim (eHS)
 OPAL-RT solution for power electronics circuit simulation:
• Power electronics circuit simulated with time steps below
1 μs
• Allow very high switching frequencies (10kHz to 100kHz)
for semiconductor technology

8. Live Demo

9. Smart Grid

10. Application 2
 This model simulates a smart-grid that combines three benchmark models
of IEEE and SimPowerSystems in the same application:
 Model 1: Sub-synchronous resonance (SSR) using a Steam
Turbine on series-compensated network.
 Model 2: Solar Panel connected to grid
 Model 3: 9 MW Wind farm DFIG based connected to grid

11. Application 2:model1 Steady State

12. Application 2: model1 3-ph fault

13. Application 2: model2 open loop

14. Application 2: model2 closed loop1

15. Application 2: model2 closed loop2

16. Application 2: model3 Steady state

17. Application 2: model3 3-ph fault1

18. Application 2: model3 3-ph fault2

19. Application 2: model3 3-ph fault3

20. Application 2: model3 3-ph fault

21. Application 2: Real Time Performance
CPUs
Descriptions
Components Content Model Calculation
Time
Minimum
time step
CPU 1: (20 µs)
PV system + Steam
turbine system
8 us 12 us
CPU 2: (20us) DFIG System 9 us 12 us
Processor Allocation and Real-Time Performance

22. Live Demo