Low-Cost Real-Time Power Grid Simulator Introduced

Opal-RT Technologies, Inc. has announced the availability of the OP4500, the first real-time power grid digital simulator available for $20,000. OPAL-RT officially launched an affordable priced real-time simulator for mechatronics, power electronic and power system. This unique system combines advanced performance, flexibility and low entry-level cost, so that more and more customers can benefit from the latest technology on the market. Indeed, this simulator features OPAL-RT's core strengths: RT-LAB high-performance software, Rapid Control Prototyping and Hardware-In-the-Loop systems. Thanks to its affordable price, the OP4500 simulator could be on the desk of every student and engineer who has space and budget constraints but wants to design and test power electronic control systems.

The OP4500 is a compact machine with 96 fast I/O channels with signal conditioning, optical fast 5-Gbits fibers and fully integrated with Simulink, SimPowerSystem, SimScape, HYPERSIM and OPAL-RT eHS FPGA power electronic circuit solver. The integration of high-end INTEL multi-core processors with powerful XILINX Kintex 7 FPGA allows greater simulation power and sub-microsecond simulation time step to maximize accuracy of fast power electronic systems. The OP4500 can simulate power grids with up to about 200 nodes.

Four series are currently available: Series 100 - RCP/HIL. Simulink models run on CPU and I#O managed by the FPGA; Series 200 - RCP/HIL for Power Electronic systems simulated on the CPU; Series 300 - RCP/HIL for fast Power Electronic system simulation on FPGA ; and Series 400 - RCP/HIL for fast Power Electronic system simulation on FPGA with eHS and Power Grids simulation on CPU.

"This level of performance highlights the strength of our strategy of using standard computer technology to provide the best products to our customer at the best price" says Jean Belanger, CEO and OPAL-RT co-founder, adding "OPAL-RT's strategy is to democratize real-time simulation technologies by taking advantage of the best technologies developed for the mass market."

First deliveries of OP4500 will occur in the coming weeks for Universities located in India and USA. For example, the OP4500 simulators will be used to set up a real-time simulation laboratory for students conducting close loop test. One unit will be used to simulate power system models and another will act as a reprogrammable controller unit. Its possible applications are numerous; it can be used for Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation for R&D and everything related to its teaching and also for bench top and portable test and measurement systems, as well as FPGA development system.