Parallel kernel solver of an FPGA‐based real‐time simulator for active distribution networks

Abstract

Abstract Field‐programmable gate array (FPGA)‐based real‐time simulators are often applied in simulations of active distribution networks (ADNs) because of their parallel architectures and low cost. The overall performance of an FPGA‐based real‐time simulator is mainly determined by its kernel solver, which solves the nodal equation at each simulation time step. With the increasing scale of ADNs, real‐time simulations of fast switching dynamics, along with limited computation hardware, have increased the requirements of the solver in terms of both time and resource consumption. In this study, a highly parallel kernel solver is proposed to improve the simulation efficiency of the FPGA‐based real‐time simulator. The multi‐level parallel design and its implementation, including the parallelism at the system and module and element levels, are presented in detail. A modified IEEE 123‐node system with distributed photovoltaics (PVs) is then simulated using a three‐FPGA‐based real‐time simulator. Simulation results are compared with the commercial simulation tool PSCAD/EMTDC to validate the proposed kernel solver.