Co-Simulation Architecture: A Tool to Enable the State Estimator Application in Smart Grid Environment

The interdependence of future distribution grids and communication networks creates the need to use tools capable of analyzing and solving problems of operation, control and monitoring of the electrical system. Therefore, it is very important to create co-simulation infrastructures to enable various types of analysis in electric power systems. Open Distribution System Simulator (OpenDSS) is an interesting alternative with potential benefits as COM automation, compiled dynamic link library, text scripting that provide the conditions for the development of a Distribution Management System (DMS) and its system applications. This document analyzes how OpenDSS plus a Driver Software, such as Matlab or Python, can become an adequate co-simulation infrastructure for education and research on power system analysis, such as State Estimation. The studies were conducted through the IEEE 13-bus test feeder under several operating conditions highlighting the benefits of a robust architecture.