DGI Device FrameworkΒΆ

The DGI supports interaction with physical devices such as SSTs and DESDs through its device framework. This framework can communicate with both simulated and real devices. An important distinction is that this communication framework is independent of the protocol used to communicate with other DGI instances.

Note

This documentation covers how to connect the DGI to physical power hardware, not other instances of the DGI.

All devices used by the DGI must be defined in the device.xml configuration file. If a device is not specified in this file, then the DGI cannot communicate with it. A tutorial for introducing new device types to the DGI can be found at Creating a Virtual Device Type. The device types supported by the DGI by default, as well as their properties, are included in the following table. These devices can be extended to contain more states and commands than those listed, and are intended as placeholders for the DGI’s load balancing algorithm.

Device Type States (Readable Values) Commands (Writable Values)
Sst gateway gateway
Desd storage storage
Drer generation  
Fid state  
Load drain  
Logger dgiEnable groupStatus

The communication protocol the DGI uses to communicate with its physical devices depends on the type of physical adapter configured to run with the DGI. For most cases, configuration of the DGI physical adapters requires modification of another adapter.xml configuration file. The adapter types supported by the DGI are included in the following table.

Adapter Type Communication Protocol Communicates With Documentation
rtds TCP/IP RTDS / PSCAD RTDS Adapter
pnp TCP/IP Physical Hardware Plug and Play Adapter
fake none nothing undocumented

Users that plan on using a PSCAD or RTDS simulation should go on to RTDS Adapter to configure the DGI and their simulation.

Users that plan to interact with a physical device should consider using the DGI’s Plug and Play Adapter to communicate with their device.

See Other Methods For Connecting the DGI to Physical Devices for documentation about the adapter interfaces.

Users creating modules devices can use the device manager to manipulate devices. An overview of how modules can use devices, as well as details on the device manager, can be found at Using Devices in DGI Modules.