Large-Load Contingency Events Grid Simulator
Electrical Engineering
Team 22
Christopher Griffith, Cris Mendoza, Antonio Zavala, Abdulaziz Alzahameel, Abdallah Al-Rawahi
Summary
This project addresses the gap between NERC’s traditional contingency framework designed around traditional generation and transmission systems and the rapid, large-scale load swings introduced by hyperscale data centers connecting to the transmission grid. It takes the form of a physical, button-triggered 3-bus transmission simulator that uses motors, LEDs, and real-time displays to demonstrate how sudden load events affect voltage and frequency across multiple scenarios. The goal is to provide a hands-on educational tool that bridges foundational power systems theory with the emerging reliability challenges facing utilities, grid operators, and regulators.