Advanced Distribution Automation (ADA) has become a topic of considerable interest in the electric power industry; moreover, for the development of ADA it is necessary to build new methodologies and computational tools to support the distribution networks (DN) simulation with Real Time Hardware in the Loop (RT-HIL) techniques, reducing the design and testing times at low cost. OpenDSS is a free powerful software platform to simulate DN including the models for distributed generation; the RT-HIL systems improve the OpenDSS capabilities, interfacing the data delivered for this platform using analog and digital signals in Real Time (RT). This way, the design engineer and external hardware can interact with the DN like in the real scenario switching and analyzing the response of the system. As result, in this paper the Real time analytical simulation of the IEEE 13 Nodes system is presented; this with the aim of evaluating the performance of the developed tool. All the developments were made using National Instruments Real Time hardware architectures, OpenDSS software and the LabVIEW® RT software. Finally, the different possibilities with the developed tool and the future developments are presented.

The inclusion of distributed renewable energy sources, new goals of efficiency and reliability, and the technological advancement of the power grid has led to a significant increase in complexity of distribution systems. Although multiple devices can be controlled to achieve these objectives during smart grid operation, many proposed algorithms are based on ideal scenarios where the complex distribution system is assumed to be fully observable or measurable. As this condition obstructs many advanced applications, it is necessary to implement novel alternatives that provide support and validation in the field. In this paper, we show that embedded simulation is capable of providing accurate results of the system real-time condition. The designed platform exploits the technological development of mobile devices, a specific purpose solver, and concurrent processing to embed the power systems simulation into small, flexible and affordable devices. Simulation results demonstrate the accuracy and timeliness of the proposed real-time simulation based on the IEEE 37 bus test feeder emulation and other large-scale scenarios such as the IEEE 8500 node test feeder. We anticipate that this simulation approach will be useful for applications covering advanced protection relaying, volt-var control, topological reconfiguration, distributed generation management, storage control and cyber security assessment among others.

Many graphical alternatives are useful to demonstrate critical characteristics of distribution systems such as voltage regulation or power flow. The visualization of electrical variables can also be an effective approach to analyze, compare and evaluate large-scale systems. However, visual analysis of large power distribution systems is increasing in complexity for operational and research purposes. In this paper, we show a proposed approach to take advantage of the statistical inference to visualize complex behaviors in time-sequential simulations. This method provides a meaningful representation to millions of simulation results that can be used for analysis and validation of smart grid strategies and devices. The visual examples show a fast identification of electrical phenomena obtained from the OpenDSS simulation of the EPRI Ckt24 test circuit. This approach can be applied to the volt-var control, topological reconfiguration, distributed generation management, storage control, and operation assessment among others.

Electrical variable visualization has been widely applied to report the performance and effectiveness of novel devices and strategies in utility power distribution systems. Many graphical alternatives are useful to demonstrate critical characteristics of distribution systems such as voltage regulation or power flow. This visualization of electrical variables can also be an effective approach to analyze, compare and evaluate large-scale systems. However, there is a lack of generalized visualization strategies oriented to perform electrical validations of smart grid strategies in large distribution systems. In this paper, we show that the proposed probabilistic density evolution is a powerful resource for long-term time-sequential simulations. Examinations with an IEEE 8500 node test feeder shows that the proposed approach increases the circuit situational awareness and reduces the validation time. To illustrate this methodology, the dynamic voltage condition was simulated and analyzed to recognize the global effect of voltage regulating equipment. The results show an accurate and convenient support that can be interpreted at first glance. The proper use of long-term field measurements and short time-step simulations is a robust method for future grid research, such as designing an optimum operation of intelligent devices or diagnosing electrical interoperability issues in complex grids.