**4. Real-time simulation**

To improve the project's overall effectiveness, it is required to create a microgrid model and simulate it in real time using the Opal-RT software [8].

It is essential to validate this equipment before its installation on the real electricity grid. In order to accelerate the development and validation cycle of this equipment, to reduce costs and risks, the current trend is to test this equipment with a real-time digital simulator.

Therefore, the real-time simulator must reproduce as closely as possible the dynamic behaviour of the controlled electrical system [4]. The real-time simulation of the whole electrical system comes first with a modeling phase that consists of equating the system, then a design phase of an algorithmic specification (choice of the sampling period, discretization and quantification) and, finally, a real-time implementation phase [5].

#### **4.1 Hardware architecture**

The hardware system installed in our SCAMRE laboratory consists of two simulators which are connected to each other, the Wanda 4u and the OP 5600. The

**35**

I/O, for the second one.

**Figure 13.**

**Figure 12.**

and targets. The host computer is a general PC [6, 7].

*System architecture in RT-LAB platform with OpComm and OpWriteFile blocks.*

perform parallel operations in a multiprocessor.

*Microgrid Application in Algeria Saharian Remote Areas*

target has two CPU processors which have two activated cores and 16 I/O, for the first simulator, and two other CPU processors including two activated cores and 16

The main task of the target is to achieve a simulation of different models. The host computer will support development, editing, verification and compilation of models. Its second mission is to serve as a console or command post for control and observation during the simulation. Ethernet is used to communicate between hosts

In the RT-LAB simulation platform, Artemis is a fixed time step solver designed for the electrical systems. It can improve speed simulation. The multiprocessor operating mode allows it to perform real-time simulations on the RT-LAB platform. The idea is to transform a complex system in some simple subsystems in order to

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86352*

*Example of microgrid model with the real-time software.*

#### **Figure 12.**

*Micro-Grids - Applications, Operation, Control and Protection*

We have simulated operating situations for Adrar microgrids, and the results

The control and management system will provide various benefits at all voltage levels of the distribution system. For this reason, different hierarchical control

To improve the project's overall effectiveness, it is required to create a microgrid

It is essential to validate this equipment before its installation on the real electricity grid. In order to accelerate the development and validation cycle of this equipment, to reduce costs and risks, the current trend is to test this equipment

Therefore, the real-time simulator must reproduce as closely as possible the dynamic behaviour of the controlled electrical system [4]. The real-time simulation of the whole electrical system comes first with a modeling phase that consists of equating the system, then a design phase of an algorithmic specification (choice of the sampling period, discretization and quantification) and, finally, a real-time

The hardware system installed in our SCAMRE laboratory consists of two simulators which are connected to each other, the Wanda 4u and the OP 5600. The

confirm the expected specifications required for optimal performance.

strategies must be implemented at different levels of the network.

model and simulate it in real time using the Opal-RT software [8].

**4. Real-time simulation**

*Simulation of isolated microgrid.*

**Figure 11.**

with a real-time digital simulator.

implementation phase [5].

**4.1 Hardware architecture**

**34**

*Example of microgrid model with the real-time software.*

#### **Figure 13.**

*System architecture in RT-LAB platform with OpComm and OpWriteFile blocks.*

target has two CPU processors which have two activated cores and 16 I/O, for the first simulator, and two other CPU processors including two activated cores and 16 I/O, for the second one.

The main task of the target is to achieve a simulation of different models. The host computer will support development, editing, verification and compilation of models. Its second mission is to serve as a console or command post for control and observation during the simulation. Ethernet is used to communicate between hosts and targets. The host computer is a general PC [6, 7].

In the RT-LAB simulation platform, Artemis is a fixed time step solver designed for the electrical systems. It can improve speed simulation. The multiprocessor operating mode allows it to perform real-time simulations on the RT-LAB platform. The idea is to transform a complex system in some simple subsystems in order to perform parallel operations in a multiprocessor.

**Figure 14.** *Real-time compilation model.*

**Figure 15.** *Irradiance failure.*

Another interesting property of RT-LAB software is the possibility to connect physical devices to the simulation system. By this way, the simulation becomes closer to reality, and the results obtained will be more realistic.

For this reason, the entire model must be reorganised mainly into three subsystems, namely, the master, slave and console subsystems, as shown in **Figure 12**.

The microgrid system is modelled first in Matlab/Simulink/SimPowerSystems software, and then it will be compiled with the e-MEGAsim simulation of the RT-LAB platform [2, 6, 7], which improves the simulation of increasingly large systems with real-time performance on multiple CPUs (**Figures 13** and **14**).

One of the main differences that improves with real-time simulation is that we can observe how our system works during 24 h. In addition, it is possible to simulate many real scenarios that affect the normal distribution of microgrids such as the disappearance of the sun for 1 h during the day, point overloads, court circuits.

**Figure 15** shows the case of a sudden failure of the irradiance and the ability of the microgrid to switch to wind power to power the load.

### **5. Conclusion and perspectives**

In this work we have designed and simulated a microgrid in real-time situation to propose the best scenario in terms of renewable sources to be installed and ability of the microgrid to operate in island mode or not.

**37**

*Microgrid Application in Algeria Saharian Remote Areas*

distribution and transmission installations [9].

their control.

Algerian Sahara.

energy supply costs.

**Acknowledgements**

**Author details**

research project on microgrids operation.

provided the original work is properly cited.

generator in addition to renewable for particular situations.

It includes diesel generators, wind and solar energy.

The results obtained confirm that Saharan climate (sunny and windy) open big perspectives to integrate many autonomous microgrids in several remote areas without the need to connect them to the main grid, if there is at least a diesel

The application of micro-sources can obviously regulate the consumption of

Applications of autonomous microgrids for remote areas are mainly realised for the electrification of electrically nonintegrated areas, such as, islands, or the

A few years ago, some communities in the Sahara were supplied almost exclusively by diesel generators. In addition to reducing fuel costs, the main objective of stand-alone microgrid applications is to study and develop a field experience with

The simulation performed in real time for this model provided us real data to improve local reliability. Gas emissions will be reduced, and power quality will be improved by supporting voltage, reducing voltage dips and potentially reducing

On the basis of the promising findings presented in this paper, the work on the

This work is a part of SCAMRE laboratory (Polytechnic School of Oran ENPO)

the planning and operation of stand-alone distribution networks [10–12]. This work is the first conception of a microgrid in Algerian Sahara area.

remaining issues is continuing and will be presented in future papers.

Mounir Khiat\*, Sid Ahmed Khiat, Mohamed Mankour and Leila Ghomri

\*Address all correspondence to: leila.ghomri@univ-mosta.dz

Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University Mostaganem, ENPO Oran, Mostaganem, Algeria

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

The particular landscape of southern Algeria is relevant to implement a diversity of energy sources in microgrids in order to optimise their operation and facilitate

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86352*

*Micro-Grids - Applications, Operation, Control and Protection*

Another interesting property of RT-LAB software is the possibility to connect physical devices to the simulation system. By this way, the simulation becomes

For this reason, the entire model must be reorganised mainly into three subsystems, namely, the master, slave and console subsystems, as shown in **Figure 12**. The microgrid system is modelled first in Matlab/Simulink/SimPowerSystems software, and then it will be compiled with the e-MEGAsim simulation of the RT-LAB platform [2, 6, 7], which improves the simulation of increasingly large systems with real-time performance on multiple CPUs (**Figures 13** and **14**).

One of the main differences that improves with real-time simulation is that we can observe how our system works during 24 h. In addition, it is possible to simulate many real scenarios that affect the normal distribution of microgrids such as the disappearance of the sun for 1 h during the day, point overloads, court circuits. **Figure 15** shows the case of a sudden failure of the irradiance and the ability of

In this work we have designed and simulated a microgrid in real-time situation to propose the best scenario in terms of renewable sources to be installed and ability

closer to reality, and the results obtained will be more realistic.

the microgrid to switch to wind power to power the load.

of the microgrid to operate in island mode or not.

**5. Conclusion and perspectives**

**36**

**Figure 15.** *Irradiance failure.*

**Figure 14.**

*Real-time compilation model.*

The results obtained confirm that Saharan climate (sunny and windy) open big perspectives to integrate many autonomous microgrids in several remote areas without the need to connect them to the main grid, if there is at least a diesel generator in addition to renewable for particular situations.

The application of micro-sources can obviously regulate the consumption of distribution and transmission installations [9].

The particular landscape of southern Algeria is relevant to implement a diversity of energy sources in microgrids in order to optimise their operation and facilitate their control.

Applications of autonomous microgrids for remote areas are mainly realised for the electrification of electrically nonintegrated areas, such as, islands, or the Algerian Sahara.

A few years ago, some communities in the Sahara were supplied almost exclusively by diesel generators. In addition to reducing fuel costs, the main objective of stand-alone microgrid applications is to study and develop a field experience with the planning and operation of stand-alone distribution networks [10–12].

This work is the first conception of a microgrid in Algerian Sahara area. It includes diesel generators, wind and solar energy.

The simulation performed in real time for this model provided us real data to improve local reliability. Gas emissions will be reduced, and power quality will be improved by supporting voltage, reducing voltage dips and potentially reducing energy supply costs.

On the basis of the promising findings presented in this paper, the work on the remaining issues is continuing and will be presented in future papers.
