Power Hardware-in-the-Loop validation of digital twin-enabled dynamic analysis and assessment of distribution networks

The development of accurate equivalent models of distribution networks (DNs) is of primary significance for power system dynamic analysis and control applications. Advances in measurement infrastructure and information and communication technologies have enabled the development of data-driven DN simulation models and digital twins. Despite the numerous modeling approaches proposed, their majority have not been tested under real-world conditions, leading to poor assessment of their efficacy in representing DN dynamics. This study aims to derive and validate reduced-order DN equivalent models that serve as digital counterparts of physical components connected to the network across discrete operating scenarios. Real-time simulations are performed using a Power Hardware-in-the-Loop experimental framework. Within this framework, the model structure selection and the accuracy of the developed digital replicas are evaluated under close to real-world conditions. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed models and their applicability for dynamic simulations, offering a practical alternative without compromising accuracy.