eMEGAsim is designed to meet the real-time simulation and testing needs of engineers and researchers across the power generation industry, from university researchers studying renewable energy sources to electrical utilities seeking ways to manage an increasingly diverse range of power generation and distribution systems.

eMEGAsim is integrated with Simulinkâ/SimPowerSystemsâ from The MathWorks Inc. and with the popular EMTP-RV off-line simulation and transient analysis platform. This integration means that existing SimPowerSystems and EMTP-RV power system models can be simulated in real-time with extreme accuracy, saving the engineer valuable time, and eliminating the need to migrate to an unfamiliar power system modeling environment simply to conduct real-time simulation.

Developers and researchers of new distributed generation (DG) technologies including wind farms, off-grid power systems, photovoltaic cells, and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), can also benefit from eMEGAsim's capability to simulate models of power electronic devices in real-time with a sub-microsecond time step. Such high precision simulation of the fast switching power electronic controllers found in DG technologies is critical for ensuring both their efficient operation and their safe and secure interconnection with existing power grids.

With a track record of success dating back over a decade, Opal-RT is a recognized leader in the development of real-time simulators for electrical and power electronic applications. Hundreds of Opal-RT real-time electrical and power electronic simulators are in use today by major manufacturers and universities worldwide including ABB (China) Limited, General Electric (USA, China, & India), Hitachi, Mitsubishi, University of Alberta (Canada), and McGill University (Montreal, Quebec).

"The design and operation of power grids has radically evolved in recent years. With the introduction of distributed generation technologies and their associated power electronic devices, operators of large power systems face a growing need for high fidelity, real-time simulators that ensure the efficiency, security, and safety of power generation and distribution systems," said Jean Belanger, President and Co-founder of Opal-RT Technologies. "With the launch of eMEGAsim, electrical utilities now have access to compact and flexible real-time simulators that meets these growing needs now, and ten years from now."

Micro-Box, recently launched by TeraSoft and distributed by Opal-RT, works seamlessly with MATLAB, Simulink, and xPC Target to model physical systems and execute them in real-time under harsh environments. Micro-Box supports TCP/IP along with various PC/104-based IO solutions for A/D and D/A, Digital IO, and counters (PWM). Micro-Box can also be used for linear control, motor control, or any classical or advanced control theory such as PID, LQR, neural networks, or fuzzy system.

In addition to the real-time simulation of large power systems and related power electronic devices, eMEGAsim is ideal for an array of electrical applications including:

·          Coordination and testing of protective relays

·          Design of variable frequency industrial drives and controllers

·         FACTS and HVDC control and integration studies

·         Large scale electromagnetic transient simulation, including interaction of multiple electrical systems

·         Large scale transient stability simulation

·         Network planning and feasibility studies (single phase, three phase, and multi-phase networks)

·         Operator Training

·         Balanced and unbalanced load-flow and short-circuit studies

·         Rapid control prototyping

From EMTP-RV & SimPowerSystems to REAL-TIME
eMEGAsim is the ideal real-time simulator for users of the EMTP-RV platform for off-line simulation and analysis of transients in power systems. EMTP-RV is used by many of the world's electrical utilities to evaluate system transients expected on transmission lines and other equipment.

Until now, large power grid models created using the EMTPWorks one-line diagram GUI could only be simulated in offline mode. However, through its tight integration with Simulink/SimPowerSystems from The MathWorks, as well as Opal-RT's own powerful algorithmic solvers, eMEGAsim can be used to conduct real-time and fast simulation of large power grids modeled in the EMTP-RV environment.

This means that eMEGAsim can be easily integrated into an EMTP-RV environment to provide real-time simulation capability without the need for operators to learn new modeling/simulation software.

With eMEGAsim, EMTP-RV and SimPowerSystems models of electromagnetic transient phenomena can be simulated in real-time with a maximum sampling frequency of approximately 50 kHz (20 microseconds) yielding excellent results for transients up to approximately 5 kHz. Faster transients up to 400 kHz can be evaluated using FPGA processors with a 4 MHz model time step. eMEGAsim can be used in hard real-time mode for HIL applications and in faster-than-real-time mode to accelerate the simulation of very large systems required to conduct system parameter optimization.

Modular Design & Supercomputer Technology Ensure Superior Accuracy & Performance
eMEGAsim takes full advantage of fast FPGA processor technology and INTEL's latest Core™2 Quad CPUs to provide industry leading real-time simulation performance and accuracy. The product also uses a modular design allowing engineers and researchers to conduct multiple studies simultaneously.

eMEGAsim 8-processor modules can be configured as multiple individual simulators to conduct multiple studies simultaneously, or interconnected to create a powerful platform using up to 64 processors for simulating very large power grids at a time step as low as 20 microseconds.

eMEGAsim also enables calculations of very fast transients by using onboard FPGA processors to achieve time steps of less than 250 nanoseconds. This functionality drastically increases the accuracy of simulation of complex power electronics devices found in most power systems.

Such supercomputer performance levels are extremely difficult to achieve with proprietary real-time computer systems, but is possible through eMEGAsim`s use of off-the-shelf computer system configurations including the ALTIX XE supercomputer system from SGI, an Opal-RT partner.

Additional information on eMEGAsim's technical specifications and electrical applications are available on the company's website at www.opal-rt.com.

About Opal-RT Technologies Inc.

Founded in 1997, Opal-RT is the leading supplier of integrated software and hardware solutions for real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing of electrical, power electronic, and mechanical systems. Opal-RT's unique approach integrates parallel, distributed computing with commercial-off-the-shelf technologies. Opal-RT's customers perform rapid-prototyping, system integration and hardware-in-the-loop testing of mechatronic, automotive, transportation, spacecraft and aircraft systems, as well as electric drives, power electronics and power distribution networks used in manufacturing and by electrical utilities. Opal-RT simulators are used by major manufacturers worldwide including ABB (China) Limited, AISIN, BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Delphi, DENSO, EADS, Embraer, Ford, General Electric (USA, China, & India), General Motors, Hitachi, Mitsubishi and Toyota.

Opal-RT Technologies Contact

Daniel Coyle

Director of Marketing, Opal-RT Technologies Inc.

North America: 1-877-935-2323, x299

Outside North America: +1-514-935-2323, x299

dcoyle@opal-rt.com

For Additional Product Information & Related Technical Papers:

www.opal-rt.com/productsservices/electrical/index.html

RT-LAB and eMEGAsim are trademarks of Opal-RT Technologies Inc. Simulink, SimPowerSystems, EMTPWorks, EMTP-RV, ALTX XE and Core™2 Quad are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.