GridSim

The project aims at developing an environment where the effect on the distribution grid of control strategies applied to smart buildings can be tested and assessed on a full scale lab environment.

The GridLab District facility at HES-SO Valais-Wallis is made up of four low voltage test feeders. Twelve 15 kVA fully programmable electronic power converters link the test feeders with a force feeder. Each power converter is controlled by software components emulating the electrical behavior of a building along with its Energy Management System. The following processes are emulated for a typical building: local photovoltaic generation and storage unit, domestic hot water and space electrical heating and "uncontrollable" consumption, Thanks to the modularity of the GridSim CPS framework, several types of building and energy management strategies can be tested and assessed in different scenarios.

Results

• The building electrical processes with their control interface have been modelled and linked to the power converters, thus emulating the electrical effect of smart buildings on a distribution grid.
• Simple control strategies are applied and tested.
   

The demonstrator is located at the GridLab facility of HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Sion.