Scalable Discrete Event Simulation Tool for Large-Scale Cyber-Physical Energy Systems: Advancing System Efficiency and Scalability

TL;DR

This paper introduces DESTinE, a scalable discrete-event simulation tool designed to analyze cyber-physical energy systems under normal and adversarial conditions. Built on SimPy, DESTinE overlays cyber networks on large synthetic power grids and employs a network analysis matrix to identify critical nodes, then uses a constrained optimization framework to rank and reconfigure topology for resilience. The framework supports emulation features via a virtual server and hardware-in-the-loop integration (Raspberry Pi 5), and demonstrates performance on 500-, 2000-, and 10,000-bus systems under star and radial topologies, including DoS attack scenarios. The results show DESTinE’s ability to rapidly identify bottlenecks, propose risk-aware hybrid topologies, and scale to thousands of nodes, offering practical benefits for resilience planning and cyber-physical grid defense.

Abstract

Modern power systems face growing risks from cyber-physical attacks, necessitating enhanced resilience due to their societal function as critical infrastructures. The challenge is that defense of large-scale systems-of-systems requires scalability in their threat and risk assessment environment for cyber physical analysis including cyber-informed transmission planning, decision-making, and intrusion response. Hence, we present a scalable discrete event simulation tool for analysis of energy systems, called DESTinE. The tool is tailored for largescale cyber-physical systems, with a focus on power systems. It supports faster-than-real-time traffic generation and models packet flow and congestion under both normal and adversarial conditions. Using three well-established power system synthetic cases with 500, 2000, and 10,000 buses, we overlay a constructed cyber network employing star and radial topologies. Experiments are conducted to identify critical nodes within a communication network in response to a disturbance. The findings are incorporated into a constrained optimization problem to assess the impact of the disturbance on a specific node and its cascading effects on the overall network. Based on the solution of the optimization problem, a new hybrid network topology is also derived, combining the strengths of star and radial structures to improve network resilience. Furthermore, DESTinE is integrated with a virtual server and a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) system using Raspberry Pi 5.

Figures (7)

• Figure 1: Diagram illustrating the framework of the simulation tool, with each square representing a distinct module, highlighting their interconnected roles in the overall simulation process.
• Figure 2: Structure of cell (a) Star topology and (b) Radial topology
• Figure 3: The connection of network elements visualized in DESTinE in a star topology in relation to the ACTIVSg500-bus system, the ACTIVSg2000-bus system, and the ACTIVSg10k-bus system samantha2024.
• Figure 4: The connection of network elements visualized in DESTinE in a radial topology in relation to the ACTIVSg500-bus system, the ACTIVSg2000-bus system, and the ACTIVSg10k-bus system samantha2024.
• Figure 5: Comparison of the simulation tool with Common Open Research Emulator (CORE) showing (a) network topology and (b) results for normal condition.