PSS/E to RSCAD Model Conversion for Large Power Grids: Challenges and Solutions

The massive integration of Intelligent Electronic Devices as well as Information and Communication Technology into power systems has encouraged the use of real-time digital simulators to assess the performance of power systems through hardware-in-the loop simulations for various applications and studies. Modeling large power grids on real-time digital simulators has not been studied extensively due to the computational power limitations as well as the complicated model conversion process. To convert PSS/E models of large power grids, typically maintained by operations and planning engineers, into RSCAD models, several challenges have to be addressed such as dividing the power grid under study into smaller grids, modeling the missing components from the RSCAD library, and developing proper boundary equivalent networks. Also, since the PSS/E models are frequently updated by operations and planning engineers, a fast and efficient approach is required to update the RSCAD models without the need to repeat the whole conversion process. In this work, the PSS/E model of the New York State power grid is converted into RSCAD model for real-time simulation on RTDS simulators. The conversion process, detailed in this paper, provides a guideline for researchers to build large power grid models in real-time digital simulation platforms.