In a recent demonstration, Andrea Bonetti from MEGGER showcased the power of digital twin technology in revolutionizing protection testing. By seamlessly integrating a digital test set twin from MEGGER and a digital distance protection relay twin from Siemens SIPROTEC, Bonetti presented a fully digital protection test that promises to streamline and enhance testing processes.
“The digital twin is, in general, a replica, a digital copy of a physical asset,” Bonetti explained during the demonstration: In this case, the digital twins serve as virtual representations of their physical counterparts, allowing for comprehensive testing and validation without risking damage to the actual devices.
Bonetti explained that the integration process is seamless, describing how they connect the voltage of the API reference file, essentially a digital twin test set, to the analog inputs of the relay 7sa86. By virtually linking smrt voltage one, two, and three to the relay’s corresponding analog inputs, the digital twins can interact and exchange data, effectively mimicking real-world scenarios.
Bonetti emphasized the advantage of virtual testing, stating: “We can perform virtual testing. The virtual testings is performed from the digital twin on our computer to the digital twin relay on the cloud.” This approach not only saves time and resources but also offers a safe and controlled environment for testing complex scenarios.
Furthermore, Bonetti underlined the interoperability of the digital twins, allowing for seamless transition between virtual and physical testing.
“Our test file are completely interoperable, and the Dix file are completely interoperable, so you fix the error in the virtual world, and you test and you download everything in the real world,” he said.
By embracing digital twin technology, MEGGER and Siemens SIPROTEC are paving the way for a more efficient and effective protection testing paradigm, ensuring the reliability and safety of critical electrical systems while minimizing costs and downtime.
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