Kati Sidwall of RTDS Technologies Inc.

Real-time power system simulation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing are being adopted by an increasing number of forward-thinking utilities, manufacturers, universities, research institutions, and consultants in the power industry. HIL testing equips these innovators to connect power system control and protection equipment to a simulated network, subjecting devices to comprehensive testing in the safety of a laboratory environment prior to deployment. On the modern grid – rich with renewable energy and smart grid technologies – the ability to de-risk new systems and the interoperation of many complex devices is more valuable than ever before. This presentation will provide an introductory overview of real-time power system simulation, including the history of the technology, fundamentals of electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulation, the hardware and software that is required to maintain real-time operation, and the input/output devices required to perform closed-loop testing. It will then dive into some current applications of the technology, including simulation and testing of inverter-based resources and their control, testing multivendor HVDC systems, IEC 61850-based digital substations, cybersecurity applications, large-scale simulation, and more. Kati will give a high-level overview of each application area, touch on the latest features of the RTDS Simulator that enable testing in these areas, and also provide examples of recent real-world projects.

Biography:

Kati Sidwall received her Bachelor of Engineering in Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada) in 2013. While at school, she founded the annual Carleton University Green Energy Symposium to facilitate interdisciplinary conversations on renewable energy. In 2012, she received the Canadian Solar Industries Association’s Emerging Leader Award. She currently serves as Technical Marketing Manager at RTDS Technologies Inc., where she has worked with utilities, manufacturers, universities and research centres pursuing real-time power system simulation for the past 10 years.