Hardware-in-the-Loop platform based on Smart Meters for Demonstrating Advanced Distribution Management Systems

As the number of distributed energy resources grows, distribution system operators are facing significant challenges in monitoring and controlling their distribution networks. This evolution of the distribution power grid has led to the development of new techniques for monitoring and validating the state of the distribution grid. This paper presents a test-bed with smart meters that serve to validate power distribution smart grid techniques, including topology identification, distribution state estimation, and advanced control such as optimal power flow. The test-bed uses an emulated cyber-physical environment incorporating the actual smart meters that are used on distribution power grids. We also describe an example of application i.e. topology identification which is described and experimental results are shown.