The all-new alternative for system equivalents –
efficient and detailed simulation of large scale networks

For over a decade, the RTDS Simulator has enabled users to simulate power electronics in small timestep subnetworks, which run together with the main timestep simulation. Now, in 2018, multi-rate simulation with the RTDS Simulator is more powerful and flexible than ever before. RTDS Technologies is thrilled to introduce Superstep – the all-new tool allowing users to simulate a large portion of the network with a larger timestep, running together with the main simulation.

Superstep offers an alternative approach to using a system equivalent to model a large portion of the network. Superstep is significantly more powerful than a system equivalent: it retains the detail of EMT simulation, allows the user to model the system’s control elements, and represents system frequency deviations. Rather than a multi-domain or hybrid simulation, Superstep is a robust, numerically-stable EMT simulation – the most powerful and accurate way to represent large networks.

The Superstep advantage

Use of a larger simulation timestep significantly increases the modelling capabilities of the RTDS Simulator hardware. The user defines the portion of the network they want to run using Superstep by placing those components in a hierarchy box.

Each Superstep hierarchy box can simultaneously run:

For utilities or other users attempting to simulate large transmission networks like the one shown below, Superstep can make a large difference in the amount of simulation hardware required to represent the system while still providing high-fidelity EMT simulation for the entire network.

A detailed look at Superstep

Components to be simulated using the Superstep are placed inside a special Superstep hierarchy box. This box runs at a timestep which is an integer multiple of the main simulation timestep – it can be 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x the main timestep.

The Superstep network portion runs in parallel with the main simulation on its own core of the NovaCor hardware. The Superstep network solution, power system components, and controls are all simulated together on the same core.

Because Superstep is intended for the modeling of network equivalents, switching models (such as breakers, faults, and converters) and some non-linear components (such as saturation models for transformers) are not available for use in Superstep. Unsupported components will turn red on the Draft canvas if they are placed in the Superstep hierarchy box.

Multiple Superstep boxes can be run on different cores of a chassis and can be interconnected to one another, or to the main timestep network, using transmission lines.