Real-Time Network Simulation with PC-Cluster

This paper presents a new architecture layout for a real-time power system simulator based on a distributed cluster of IBM PC-compatible desktop computers. A real-time network simulator based on a PC cluster can successfully cope with the size requirements of growing power systems and the computational demands of fast transient studies. A powerful product has been developed using off-the-shelf Pentium II 400 MHz workstations with a commercial real-time operating system, standard I/O interfaces, and a multimachine networking scheme. Models based on the standard tool for power systems transients simulations, the EMTP program, optimized for real-time performance assure accurate simulation results.