A real-time digital simulator by RTDS Technologies Inc. arrived in September at the Advanced Center for Electrical and Electronic Engineering (AC3E). The flexible testing platform will generate cutting-edge research and support the electricity industry in the energy transition.

The procurement of the device is part of the PHIL Flexible Emulator as a Research Platform for the Challenges of the Energy Transition project, which was awarded funding in 2021 from the Scientific and Technological Equipment program, Fondequip, and is led by Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María academic Andrés Mora, together with AC3E researcher Alejandro Angulo and the support of 17 researchers from seven Chilean universities.

The National Electric Coordinator (CEN) operates the only other such device in Chile. It has a wide range of relevant applications in the energy transition process, such as the integration of variable renewable energy and energy storage systems in large-scale power systems, HVDC links, electromobility and electric vehicle chargers, micro-grids and distributed generation, and high-power electric drives in mining. In addition, it allows real-time emulation of complex dynamic systems including power converters and their sophisticated control schemes.

This technology will facilitate research in various areas such as protection systems, HVDC and FACTS, PMUs and distributed control schemes, microgrids, renewable energies, SIL, HIL, PHIL, cybersecurity, and education and support the electricity industry.