Power engineering software

Last updated
Analysis software for lightning protection used on a power substation. SESShield-3D.png
Analysis software for lightning protection used on a power substation.

Power engineering software is a software used to create models, analyze or calculate the design of Power stations, Overhead power lines, Transmission towers, Electrical grids, Grounding and Lightning[ clarification needed ] systems and others. It is a type of application software used for power engineering problems which are transformed into mathematical expressions.

Contents

History

The first software program for power engineering was created by the end of the 1960s for the purpose of monitoring power plants. In the following decades, Power engineering and Computer technologies developed very fast. Software programs were created to collect data for power plants. [1] One of the first computer languages used in Nuclear plants and Thermal plants was C (programming language). The first power systems analysis program to feature a graphical user interface and IPSA was designed in the mid-1970s. [2] Other platforms for electrical power modelling were created by the end of the 1980s. Currently, the programming language Python, commonly used in French Nuclear plants, is used to write energy-efficient algorithms and software programs. [3] [4]

Classification

Power Plants Analysis Software

3D modeling grounding grid Etap.png
3D modeling grounding grid

The early 2000s saw the rapid development of analytical programming and 3D modeling. Software products were being created for designing power plants and their elements and connections. The programs were based on mathematical algorithms and computations. [5] Power software such as IPSA, SKM, CYME, DINIS, PSS/E, DIgSILENT and ETAP are pioneers in the category of power engineering software. Most of these products used MARKAL, ESME and other modelling methods. The transmission lines were designed according to minimum requirements set out in the SQSS (security and quality of supply standard). This also applies to other elements of the power systems. In the software world, many CAD software products for 2D and 3D electrical designs were developed. [6]

Renewable Energy Controller Software

The controllers of Renewable energy used different software. The digital controllers are of different types: ADC, DAC, 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, and many others. [7] To date, the controllers are mostly programmed with computer languages like: C, C++, Java and others. [8]

Power Engineering Protection Software

Another kind of software is one for simulating security systems for power systems and power plants. Such software simulates the activation of the various types of protections, which protects the transformers, power lines and other components. It graphs the different characteristics of the protections. Mathematical models have been set for all components of the power engineering system. It is up to the user to choose what type of protection to put on the energy objects. Protections are also mathematically modeled when they are connected to power engineering objects. The parameters of the emergency are set and based on the mathematical model, all the calculations are performed to obtain the output graphs and results. [9]

Software products

SystemCreatorDevelopment startedLatest stable versionLicenseNotes
IPSATNEI Services Ltd.19742.10.2

(May 2024)

commercial Load flow, Contingency and Automation studies, Reactive power studies and compliance, Voltage regulation and power losses, Load and generation profile studies, Fault Level, Overcurrent Protection, Time and overcurrent grading, Relay modelling, Harmonic Analysis, G5/5 compliance, Transient Stability, DC Networks, Reliability, Unbalanced systems & analysis (Load Flow, Fault Level, etc.), User-defined Models, CIM/ CGMES 3.0 (ENTSO-E conformity), [10] Flexibility, Python Scripting - PyIPSA. [11]
NEPLANNEPLAN AG198810.8.1.2 commercial Cloud Computing, [12] Power System Analysis, Power Management System, Grid Code, Real Time integrations, Transmission and Distribution networks, GIS/SCADA integrations, Asset Management, EMS - DMS
ETAPOperation Technology, Inc.198622.5 commercial Power System Analysis, Power Management System, SCADA, Transmission & Distribution planning, Geospatial Modeling, ADMS, EMS, Microgrid Controller, Power Plant Controller
EA-PSMEnergy Advice201323.04.13 commercial Power Flow analysis, Short Circuit, Arc flash, Harmonic Flow, Motor Start analysis, Relay Coordination and Protection Tracking [13]
CYMECYME International198616.01 commercial COM Module, Voltage Stability Analysis
SKMSKM Systems Analysis, Inc19928.0.2.5 commercial TMS, HI_WAVE, CAPTOR, IEC 60909 Fault, IEE Wiring, A_Fault (ANSI) [14]
PowerFactoryDIgSILENT GmbH19852024 commercial Unbalanced Load Flow, RMS, EMT and Harmonic Analysis, Protection, Short Circuit, Arc flash, Harmonic Flow, Motor Start analysis, State Estimation, Cable Analysis, Scripting and Automation, Transmission and Distribution Network Tools
ERACSRINA Consulting Ltd19903.9.10 commercial Balanced three-phase power systems analysis modelling tool, which includes Loadflow, Fault / Short-Circuit, Harmonics & G5/4, Protection Co-ordination, Transient Stability and Arc Flash calculation modules. [15]
PSCAD / EMTDCManitoba HVDC Research Centre19745.0.2 commercial Electromagnetic Transient studies
EMTP EDF & RTE & Hydro-Québec 19824.1 commercial Electromagnetic Transient studies
MSEMT [16] Industrial chair of EDF & RTE & Hydro-Québec 20211.00 educational EMTP-validated library developed using Modelica language for Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) studies
PSSESiemens1976 commercial Steady-state conditions as well as over timescales of a few seconds to tens of seconds
PSS SINCALSiemens1980s17.5 (April 2021) commercial Several steady-state methods with massive calculation power, extensive protection analysis and dynamics/transients modules for a wide frequency range (up to nsec)
NAP [17] Innovation Energie Développement19904.0.1 commercial Initial and Constrained Load Flow, Short Circuit, Contingency Analysis and Stability calculation
DSAToolsPowertech Labs Inc.1990s21.0.7 commercial Suite of software tools for load flow and power system stability and oscillation studies: Transient Stability (TSAT), Voltage Stability (VSAT), Small-Signal (SSAT) and powerflow (PSAT). Online (real-time) DSA implementation for control room. Distributed computation. Several add-on modules for co-simulation with PSCAD & RTDS and PMU data streaming.
EasyPower Bentley Systems, Inc. 198411.0.1.8039 commercial Modules for ANSI/IEC Short Circuit, Protection, Coordination, Arc Flash, Power Flow, Harmonics, Dynamic Stability, Transient Motor Starting and Reliability Studies. EasyPower, Inc., formally Electrical Systems Analysis, Inc. (ESA, Inc.) was acquired by Bentley Systems, Inc. in 2023.

System Analysis

Grounding grid design Grounding grid design.png
Grounding grid design

The software products are created to solve different problems and to make different analysis of the power engineering.

See also

Related Research Articles

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Infobox company

References

Specific
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  14. "SKM Systems Analysis, Inc. - Power System Software and Arc Flash Hazard Analysis and Design Solutions". www.skm.com. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
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