Cosimulation of Intelligent Power Systems: Fundamentals, Software Architecture, Numerics, and Coupling

TLDR

Smart grids integrate diverse energy technologies—power electronics, machines, grids, and markets—through communication, creating a transdisciplinary, multidomain system, yet most simulation tools address only one subdomain while simplifying others. This article reviews the state of the art and outlines the main challenges of simulating intelligent power systems, presenting foundational concepts in part 1 and reserving application discussions for part 2. Cosimulation addresses this gap by coupling subdomain models within their native environments using specialized solvers and validated libraries.

Abstract

Smart grids link various types of energy technologies-such as power electronics, machines, grids, and markets-via communication technology, which leads to a transdisciplinary, multidomain system. Simulation packages for assessing system integration of components typically cover only one subdomain, while simplifying the others. Cosimulation overcomes this by coupling subdomain models that are described and solved within their native environments, using specialized solvers and validated libraries. This article discusses the state of the art and conceptually describes the main challenges for simulating intelligent power systems. This article, part 1 of 2 on this subject, covers fundamental concepts. Part 2 will appear in a future issue of IEEE Electrification Magazine and cover applications.