Simulation Hardware

Real-time simulation is too demanding for a regular PC

The RTDS Simulator’s dedicated hardware platform, NovaCor 2.0, is at the heart of every simulation. Custom-developed and based on a powerful multicore processor, NovaCor 2.0 can represent power systems and power electronics of varying sizes and complexities depending on the needs of the user.

Our flagship product: NovaCor 2.0

NovaCor 2.0 is based on the IBM POWER9 processor, which we've custom-integrated specifically for the real-time simulation application. This means higher-fidelity simulation than off-the-shelf hardware - long term, hard real-time operation with no timestep overruns.

Developing our hardware platform in-house means that RTDS Technologies can provide not only unparalleled performance, but also technical support to our users that is second to none.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NOVACOR 2.0

A lightweight alternative for heavyweight innovation

NovaCor™ Light is the latest simulation hardware option for the RTDS® Simulator. Aimed at entry-level projects with options for easy expansion, NovaCor Light improves access to world-class real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing while maintaining the quality of design, service, and support that the RTDS Simulator is known for worldwide.

Providing value without compromising on quality, NovaCor Light is your gateway to innovation in the power industry.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NOVACOR LIGHT

How It Works

License multiple cores in a single unit

Choose to unlock between 1 and 10 cores on the processor of a NovaCor 2.0 unit based on your current simulation needs. Additional cores can be unlocked to expand the system’s capabilities at any time.

Scale even further with multiple units

GLOBAL BUS HUB IRC SWITCH

Add I/O cards to connect external devices

GTIO CARDS GTNETx2 CARD
how-it-works

Flexible, scalable I/O over copper or Ethernet

  1. Analogue input and output: Our GTAO and GTAI cards can connect to external equipment directly at +/- 10 Vpeak, or can be interfaced via power amplifiers to create secondary-level signals. These cards connect to the rear of the NovaCor unit via fibre cable.
  2. Digital input and output: Our GTDO and GTDI cards connect to the rear of the NovaCor unit via fibre cable. The GTDO digital output card has a source driven output that can range from 5-30 V. The GTDI digital input card operates over an input range of 0-50 V. Our GTFPI provides dry operation input and output for relay contacts and can also allow for breaker status output up to 250 Vdc.
  3. Ethernet-based communication: Our GTNETx2 card provides an I/O interface to external equipment via various Ethernet-based communication protocols including MODBUS, TCP/IP, IEC 61850/61869-9 SV and GOOSE, DNP3, IEC 60870-5-104, and synchrophasor data for PMUs.
  4. Aurora protocol: Aurora licensing facilitates high-speed point-to-point communication with external devices via Xilinx’s lightweight serial protocol. Fibre cables are used to create a convenient digital link running at 2Gbps.

simulation

The GTSOC: New hardware for black box control simulation

The GTSOC is a new auxiliary hardware component for the RTDS Simulator. This rack-mountable unit features a powerful FPGA board with multi-processor system-on-a-chip technology to facilitate the integration of black box control models into the real-time power system simulation. This allows manufacturers to package up their proprietary control models for real-time simulator users while protecting their intellectual property. Users can run a detailed, accurate model of the vendor-specific controls without having the actual control hardware present.