Real-Time Hardware-In-the-Loop Testbed Applied to Voltage Control in Distribution Smart Grids

Based on the changes that the electric distribution utilities have been facing through the introduction of the smart grids’ concepts, traditional methodologies have been constantly adapted to meet the needs of these new characteristics. However, innovative proposes for power systems’ control cannot be directly tested in a real grid, this would compromise the reliability and continuity of a system that is already well consolidated. So that, with the intention of validate the control’s efficiency, a set of tests must be developed previously. The concept of real-time digital simulation has been widely used in the field of tests for new applications in the electric distribution systems, due its high coverage and response’s fidelity. In this study is developed a real application of test validation with Hardware-In-the-Loop. A Step Voltage Regulator is modeled and submitted to real daily load profile obtained by measurement from a real and physical voltage regulator. This research is compounded by the interaction between the voltage regulator’s control methodology, from Tap Eletro Systems, and a real-time digital simulator, from OPAL-RT Technologies.