The Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) is an advanced platform used for real-time simulation of electrical power systems. Primarily developed to test and study power networks, control systems, and protection devices under dynamic and operational conditions, RTDS is widely used by engineers and researchers in testing laboratories, universities, and industrial environments.

Key applications include:

• Protection system testing

• Development of control and automation systems

• Integration studies of renewable energy sources

• Transient simulations

• Academic research and training

RTDS is a fundamental tool for the study, research, and testing of electric power systems and their dynamic interactions, enabling greater safety and reliability in the operation of complex power networks.

Relays are devices used for the protection of electrical systems. They monitor variables such as current and voltage and, when necessary, operate automatically to isolate faults and prevent damage to electrical equipment. At LARI, protection relays from various manufacturers are available, featuring different protection functions. These are essential for comparing and validating the intelligent solutions developed by the research group. 

The amplifiers can be used as controllable sources, allowing the generation of signals to test the settings of protection and control devices in power networks, as well as to evaluate the performance of intelligent solutions implemented in hardware. This device is a multifunctional testing unit capable of simulating a wide range of operational conditions, such as overcurrent, overvoltage, frequency deviations, among others. It enables the assessment and comparison of the performance of protection relays with new methods for fault detection, classification, and location, for example. 

These platforms are highly flexible devices and play an important role in the implementation of intelligent algorithms in hardware. After the algorithm is developed, it is embedded in the platform, allowing for evaluation through real-time simulations in the RTDS and HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) procedures. The computers at LARI support these generic platforms (LabVIEW), which are programmable according to the application, meaning they can be tailored to the specific function that needs to be implemented. 

LARI is equipped with various IEDs, hardware platforms, bench-top equipment, and specific software for power systems studies. This infrastructure enables the development and testing of intelligent algorithms, as well as new protection methods for electrical systems.

Through RTDS, IEDs, and specific equipment, using HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) simulations, it is possible to compare the proposed solutions with conventional protection schemes, such as anti-islanding, fault detection, and location, among other functions.