Electrical and computer engineering students at the University of Missouri-Rolla can now conduct realistic, real-time investigations on the effects of disturbances on power system equipment and networks, thanks to the new Real Time Power and Intelligent Systems Laboratory.

The laboratory, created this fall by Dr. Ganesh Kumar Venyagamoorthy, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at UMR, is one of only four university laboratories in the nation to have a Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) for power systems. The RTDS gives researchers the ability to evaluate and accurately test new power system equipment, network designs and upgrades.

"We can now implement our theoretical, simulation-based studies on the design of advanced controllers for power systems in real-time hardware," Venyagamoorthy explains. "This enables one to carry out real-time, realistic testing of these controllers as if they were connected to the elements of the real-world power system."

Venyagamoorthy, a recent recipient of a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation, used a portion of his CAREER and some matching funds from UMR to establish the lab. The CAREER program recognizes and supports the early career development activities of teacher-scholars.

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Real Time Power and Intelligent Systems Laboratory