Collaborative Simulation of Heterogeneous Components as a Means Toward a More Comprehensive Analysis of Smart Grids

The purpose of this paper is to present a collaborative simulation setup that aims to better represent the behavior of a smart grid containing components that operate in different system domains, such as communications/cyber, electrical and control. This setup uses a middleware known as InSystemLab (ISL), which offers a proper synchronization and a numerical stabilization method fully compliant with the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard for cosimulation. ISL also facilitates the combination of various off-the-shelf computer simulators, namely EMTP-RV, HYPERSIM, Simulink and OPNet, by adopting a publisher/subscriber approach included in the High Level Architecture (HLA) standards of cosimulation. This increased flexibility allows simulating large-scale systems covering large areas and including detailed models for specific areas, e.g. substations and relays with communications protocols. The capabilities of the proposed approach are demonstrated on a benchmark power grid, modified to add communication systems and component models coming from simulations or directly from manufacturers. The benefits of this approach are highlighted by showing how each simulator contributes to a global analysis of the grid by using its proper development environment, and focusing on the impact of cyber-attacks and other perturbations on an IEC 61850 model of the communication network on the rest of the components and on the power grid stability.