Precise and Comprehensive Analysis of Transient Phenomenon

Quanta Technology's RTDS laboratory in Raleigh North Carolina uses state-of-the-art RTDS technologies to provide precise modeling and analysis of transient phenomena, utilizing a simulation time close to the time frame of actual events.

RTDS is primarily utilized for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing of protective relays, digital controllers and process and equipment control devices and systems. RTDS testing is also commonly used for prototype development and for verifying and finalizing system designs or applications involving several digital control, protection and measurement devices.

RTDS testing typically involves sequence-of-events analysis by developing realistic test scenarios under which the application performance needs are evaluated. In an RTDS test, simulated power system quantities (e.g. voltages and currents), status signals and control commands (e.g. circuit breaker on/off positions and tap-changers status) are exchanged with the control or protection devices in real time through several analog and digital interface cards with high precision. Simultaneously, the processed signals and/or control commands (e.g. trip signals from protective relays and gating control signals for power electronic apparatus), representing the reaction of the devices under the test to the simulated phenomena are fed back to the real time simulator. The feedback signals and control commands from the devices are used to adjust the power system topology and change any applicable set points as typically performed by system operators or dispatch centers.

Benefits of RTDS testing

Precise representation of complex power system transient phenomena (faults, frequency oscillations, voltage collapse)

Comprehensive analysis real-time interactions with the actual control and protective devices (rather than merely modeling them) are the chief advantages of RTDS testing.

A practically unlimited number of test cases and study scenarios can be generated and used to evaluate device performance and operation under system normal and contingency (N-1/N-2) conditions.

RTDS Services offered include

• Test Plan and Model Development
• End-to-End Relay Application Testing
• System Design and Integration Testing
• Interoperability Testing and Conformance Evaluation
• Power System Transient Studies and Model Verifications
• Industry-recognized power system and protection experts for advice and guidance as needed