Data Communication Interfaces in Smart Grid Real-time Simulations: Challenges and Solutions

This paper presents the challenges and also suggests solutions associated with developing data communication interfaces between real-time digital simulator (RTDS) and hardware or software devices under study. While RTDS supports a wide range of standard and well-established communication protocols, employing such communication protocols generally increases the cost of the educational project as these standard communication protocols require licenses as well as third-party hardware and software devices to act as gateways. The need for these licenses and third-party hardware and software devices adds to the total cost of the project and also requires additional training. This paper provides two sets of cost-effective data interface solutions for local and remote networks based on the lessons learned from different projects that the authors were involved with. These practical solutions are especially useful for projects that involve multiple partners located remotely that are facing logistic challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic.