The RPowerLABS Project



The Project

RPowerLABS provides an R-based power systems simulation implementation with a focus on (Cloud) Web-based deployments. The architecture of RPowerLABS has made it possible to integrate it with leading open source learning management systems and thereby offer it as a virtual laboratory online. RPowerLABS offers diverse web-based power system simulations for power flow, transient stability, short circuit studies, transformer tests, transmission line analysis, economic dispatch and optimal power flow, coherent generators and dynamic equivalents, load frequency control and others.

It is worth noting to point out that RPowerLABS is built completely on R. This possibly means that, RPowerLABS in the best knowledge of the author, turns out to be the first implementation of power system simulations on R - as both standalone and cloud-based. Core R scripts that perform simulations that are standalone have been developed and also ported to be web-based using Shiny (an R-based framework for building web applications). Some of these have been deployed on Shiny's PaaS and on a droplet at Digital Ocean - these are accessible as free versions. However, you could possibly view RPowerLABS from different dimensions - as a web-based simulation tool or as an Internet-based virtual laboratory - with applications such as e-learning and/or distance learning.

- RPowerLABS: Web-based Power System Simulation and Analysis

As a web-based simulation tool for power system analysis, RPowerLABS performs the usual computations that are required for the several areas of interest in the computer-based analysis of electric power systems. Simulations have already been hosted on the ShinyApps platform as a service (PaaS). Deploying RPowerLABS on a PaaS qualifies it as a cloud-based solution for the field of electric power system analysis.

The Shiny Web application framework was utilized to achieve this. Thus, implementing the use of the Bootstrap engine for client-side rendering, while the concept of reactive programming is utilized to bind input elements to output elements for unequalled interactivity.
You don't need to go back to your data file (as seen in many other simualation tools) to modify system parameters before re-simulating a new scenario. Some inputs here are even animated (they change by themselves at preset intervals while you sit back and watch the outputs).
Try out Reactivity on a hosted simulation here

- RPowerLABS: Online Virtual Power System Simulation Laboratory

As an online virtual Power System Simulation Laboratory, RPowerLABS combines its web-based simulation elements to collaboration and other learning features that are provided through integration with a Learning Management System (e.g. Moodle or Claroline). Currently RPowerLABS has been integrated with Moodle (see https://rpowerlabs.gnomio.com) and hosted on a free hosting service.

RPowerLABS provides diverse simulations, lab manuals/exercises, power system line diagrams, synchronous collaboration (via Chat) and lab quizzes on one web page at a time.
This explicitly means that a lab participant could perform his lab experiments, discuss with the lab coordinator and other group members and submit answers to lab questions on one page at the same time with other participants. Soon, he shall be able to post in forums, read up custom lab wikis and video conference simultaneously.

As in a real laboratory, the simulations are preloaded with the required data for the sake of uniformity among all participants but their sessions are maintained differently.
See video demo here

Application Domains for RPowerLABS

LMS Integration for e-learning/distance learning:

RPowerLABS has already been integrated with the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) and trials would soon begin for Claroline LMS. The collaborative and lab quiz features of RPowerLABS are connected to Moodle, and so, you do not need to have a separate system to manage your labs. Moodle and Claroline are the most popular open source LMSs.

Online Internships:

We soon hope to start offering online internships for power system engineering students that want to experience the computer simulation of power system analysis as it applies to real-life power systems and a blend of theory and practice while visiting some intricacies in system analysis with practical expositions. Also, hands-on supervised training on selected scientific computing tools that are of interests to RPowerLABS are possible. There are very few application engineers or research engineers in Africa and we hope to assist here. The work scope at RPowerLABS is huge and sure, we need assistance. Continue to check this website in coming months if you are interested in this upcoming internship opportunity. There are many benefits for participants including mentoring towards/during degree projects and publication of research output with international journals.

Setup of private Custom Laboratories for institutions, lecturers and/or students

RPowerLABS could be deployed on customized basis (with advanced features that are not made publicly free) on LANs and over the Internet for institutions, lecturers, student researchers, lab engineers, etc. The process is quite simple and cuts off the complexity from the user because we shall preload your data and you do not have to worry about the intricacies of the process of using a simulation environment. Once your link is sent to you, you can access your lab and your simulation would be running (with default results) already and waiting for you to try out several other scenarios (which you could easily see from our video demonstrations). This would destroy any barrier that constrains power system research by simulation among older lecturers in developing countries.

Inter-university Laboratory Collaboration for knowledge transfer:

- A university (perhaps in Europe) could have a custom RPowerlab setup for their studies/research, while students in Africa could be permitted to use the European RPowerlab as e-visiting scholars. This would enhance knowledge sharing and greater collaboration without the need for travel and housing costs. Using the collaboration features of RPowerLABS, greater cooperation between institutions could be possible in the most possible economic fashion.

Funding and Support

The funding of this project so far has been our responsibility. However, we are open to donations. The donation could be in form of any kind to support the project e.g. finance, books on electrical power systems (hardcopy or e-books), research papers, power system software, power system codes in other languages that can be ported to R or codes that have already been ported to R or even programming assistance, or you may want me to visit your institution for a while to make use of some of these resources, or presenting at your conference, etc. We would soon release a section where you could upload electronic materials. For now kindly send them by email to support@rpowerlabs.org. These materials would go a long way to help other under-priviledged students in developing nations that really need them badly.
We shall gladly credit/acknowledge you on the project's website for your support (except otherwise).

Future Work

We hope to setup the wiki and forum features for each lab such that students in developing nations that do not have access to some textbooks and learning resources could easily access them through RPowerLABS for their research needs - this why we are open to donations of books, papers, etc

Soon, RPowerLABS would grow into a 'multi-dimensional' kind of collaboration environment where knowledge could easily be transferred back-and-forth between developing nations and developed nations via diverse avenues. The possibilities I see would really be profitable.

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RPowerLABS is used by:

Electrical Engineering Dept.,

Purpose: Virtual Laboratory Studies for Power Engineering


Flavio G. C, (PhD computer scientist)
UFBA/UNIFACS, Brasil
Purpose: Doctoral Research on Computational Intelligence for Smart Grids
Read more here


Services

We are glad to serve institutions, lecturers, researchers and students in the following ways:

  • Deploy RPowerLABS for your private or public use
  • Provide customized simulation assistance
  • Provide personalized trainings online (via Skype) and face-to-face based on request
  • Provide technical support for joint projects that would eventually be published in a journal
  • Support students at their undergraduate or postgrad project/thesis with project topics and guidance
  • Provide training on scientific programming languages especially R, Octave and Matlab
  • Feature in workshops and seminars related to power systems simulation or scientific computing
  • I could teach Power systems simulations and scientific computing as "Special Topics", if you have "Special Topics" in your final year curricular