A Control Center Laboratory with a Realistic Power System Model

The complexity of the control systems that supervise and control power systems increases rapidly. As more advanced functions and operational procedures are integrated in energy management systems, the need for a realistic environment for studying, designing and development of such functions and procedures becomes more vital. This paper describes the installation and start-up of a full scale control system for supervision and control of a realistic power system model. The control system consists of RTUs, a front-end computer and a central computer system with an ordinary man-machine interface. Modifications and changes in the software required because of the characteristics of the power system model are described. The combination of a realistic power system model and a full scale control system is an excellent platform for research in the power system control field. It also provides a deep understanding of how the hardware and software in a control system should cooperate, aiming for high performance and extensive functional content.