Cyber-Physical Co-simulation Framework between Typhon HIL and OpenDSS for Real-Time Applications

Cyber infrastructures have been extensively used for power system monitoring, control, and operation because of the development of new information and communications technology (ICT) in power systems. Deployment of cyber-physical co-simulation in the case of a realistic distribution network is still a big challenge. Hence, to solve the problem of modelling complex distribution networks, a cyberphysical co-simulation framework is proposed in this chapter. The proposed framework consists of a cybernetic layer, a physical layer, and a co-simulation framework between OpenDSS and Typhoon HIL. The cyber layer consists of software and tools to model the distribution system and communicate with the physical layer. The physical layer is the Typhoon HIL real-time simulator consisting of virtual or real controllable devices. A realistic framework to execute the real-time simulation using the Typhoon HIL SCADA system and Python-based co-simulation is created in this chapter. The real-time simulation demonstrates the proposed framework’s effectiveness in observing the distribution network’s voltage profile due to real-time variation in reactive power from the PV

Towards the integration of modern power systems into a cyber–physical framework

The cyber–physical system (CPS) architecture provides a novel framework for analyzing and expanding research and innovation results that are essential in managing, controlling and operating complex, large scale, industrial systems under a holistic insight. Power systems constitute such characteristically large industrial structures. The main challenge in deploying a power system as a CPS lies on how to combine and incorporate multi-disciplinary, core, and advanced technologies into the specific for this case, social, environmental, economic and engineering aspects. In order to substantially contribute towards this target, in this paper, a specific CPS scheme that clearly describes how a dedicated cyber layer is deployed to manage and interact with comprehensive multiple physical layers, like those found in a large-scale modern power system architecture, is proposed. In particular, the measurement, communication, computation, control mechanisms, and tools installed at different hierarchical frames that are required to consider and modulate the social/environmental necessities, as well as the electricity market management, the regulation of the electric grid, and the power injection/absorption of the controlled main devices and distributed energy resources, are all incorporated in a common CPS framework. Furthermore, a methodology for investigating and analyzing the dynamics of different levels of the CPS architecture (including physical devices, electricity and communication networks to market, and environmental and social mechanisms) is provided together with the necessary modelling tools and assumptions made in order to close the loop between the physical and the cyber layers. An example of a real-world industrial micro-grid that describes the main aspects of the proposed CPS-based design for modern electricity grids is also presented at the end of the paper to further explain and visualize the proposed framework

Real-time Volt-Var control of grid forming converters in DER-enriched distribution network

The growing installation of distributed energy resources (DERs) in a distribution network (DN) poses substantial issues related to voltage regulation. Due to constrained switching operation and slower response time, traditional voltage regulation devices cannot handle current voltage-related challenges. One alternative to solve these problems is to use smart converters to control the reactive power to regulate the voltage. Volt-Var control (VVC) is one of the simplest approaches for controlling the reactive power from smart converters. Among several converters, grid forming converters (GFCs) are more suitable in DER-enriched distribution networks. Since DER-enriched distribution networks have a higher fluctuation in voltage profile, real-time control is advantageous. Therefore, this work presents an advanced real-time reactive power control for handling voltage violations in a DN using GFC. The uniqueness of this method is that it controls the voltage magnitude of affected nodes by dispatching reactive power from smart converters in real-time. By running cyber-physical co-simulation (CPCS) between the Typhoon HIL 604 and OpenDSS, the Volt-Var control can be done in real time. The grid-forming converter is modelled in Typhoon HIL 604, which acts as a physical layer of the proposed cyber-physical system for real-time VVC. A CIGRE medium voltage distribution network is designed in OpenDSS and serves as one of the parts of the cyber layer. The CPCS between Typhoon HIL and OpenDSS and the control algorithm are both done by a programme written in Python. The execution of the control algorithm is performed in real time using the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) developed in this study. The real-time simulation shows that the proposed real-time VVC is capable of handling voltage violations in real time in DER-enriched distribution networks

Real-time cyber−physical system co-simulation testbed for microgrids control

This study presents a real-time cyber−physical system co-simulation testbed for microgrids. The proposed testbed consists of two parts, a power simulator and a communication simulator, which has the capacity to emulate a physical micro-grid with large numbers of power electronic devices and its cyber system at real time. Furthermore, an interaction interface approach based on Ethernet is presented to synchronise data between two distinct simulation systems, as well as establishing the mapping relationship between corresponding nodes of power systems and communication systems. Through the detailed models of microgrids and accurate emulation of the cyber system, the developed testbed provides a simulation environment for the verification of the microgrids control algorithm and the influence of cyber events on microgrids performance. A case study is provided to explain the complete simulation process and demonstrate the ability of the testbed