Leveraging Architectural Models for the Generation of Smart Grid Co-Simulations

Ensuring the reliability of critical infrastructure, such as
smart grids, is paramount and must be addressed early in the systems
engineering process. One effective method for verifying this reliability is
through the simulation of smart grid models. Given the complexity of
smart grids, which consist of diverse and interconnected subsystems, cosimulation has emerged as a leading approach. It enables the integration
of various independently developed simulators, making it particularly
suitable for complex systems. This paper examines the interoperability
between architectural models and co-simulation, using a case study implemented as both a simulation and an architectural model to identify
similarities and differences. While architectural models offer valuable insights into the high-level structure of System-of-Systems, such as smart
grids, our findings indicate that the two tools do not achieve full interoperability for generating a comprehensive simulation directly from architectural models. This limitation arises because co-simulations require
detailed, entity-level information, which type-based architectural models
typically lack. To address this challenge, we propose using architectural
models as a foundation for generating co-simulation code skeletons. This
approach bridges the gap between the two tools, providing a practical
framework for enhancing their integration. The research highlights the
interoperability challenges and presents a feasible strategy for effectively
combining architectural models and co-simulation.