Development of a Hardware in-the-Loop Co-Simulation Platform for Smart Distribution Networks

This paper describes a hardware in-the-loop real-time co-simulation platform for smart distribution networks incorporating Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) and communications. The platform is designed to simulate and collect data from different network topologies, penetrations of different types of generations and loads and communication topologies. These capabilities make the platform a suitable tool for the deployment and test of smart control algorithms and energy trading strategies. This paper also identifies and addresses a communication infrastructure which provides the right trade-offs for reliability, low-latency and low-cost communication. Moreover, the various applications of PMU in distribution networks are discussed and the potency of PMU being the custodian of the electrical grid is elucidated.