Accueil 

>>

 Produits 

>>

 Foire aux Questions

 
 
 

Features FAQ

Utilisateurs Potentiels

Rendez-vous avec le Professeur

Guide d`Utilisateur

Simulateur: Vente

Autres Cas

 
 

 


Cette page répond aux questions courantes posées sur les produits PowerWorld, les fonctions disponibles, les modules d`analyses et les informations commerciales. Si vous avez une question sans réponse sur cette liste, veuillez contacter notre service à la clientèle par courrier électronique info@powerworld.com.

Foire aux Questions : Généralités

Foire aux Questions : Schémas Unifilaires >

Foire aux Questions : Vente et Service à la Clientèle


Qu`est ce que le Simulateur PowerWorld?

 Le  Simulateur PowerWorld est une innovation en logiciel d`analyse des réseaux électriques, conçu pour aussi bien le personnel technique que non-technique. Le simulateur PowerWorld est interactif et très convivial. La grande innovation du Simulateur PowerWorld est sa capacité de représenter sur un schéma unifilaire un réseau electrique et de visualiser les flux et tous les paramètres du réseau ! Vous pouvez ainsi animer le flux des courants et faire le Contourage de toutes valeurs numériques possibles dans un réseau électrique. Le Simulateur PowerWorld amène le mystère des réseaux électriques et le décode sur votre écran et il fonctionne sur les plateformes Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7.

Top


Quelles sont les applications potentielles du Simulateur PowerWorld?

Voir aussi:

Le Simulateur PowerWorld est largement utilisé dans l`industrie de l`énergie électrique. Voici une liste indicative et non-limitative:

- Assister le personnel gouvernemental et privé dans la prise des décisions responsables sur la gestion du système de transmission de l`électricité

- Apprendre aux marchands, commisionneurs de vente d`électricité comment fonctionne le réseau electrique et comment facturer la production de l`électricité.

- Les surcharges dans les lignes électriques sont coûteuses mais malheureusement croissent en nombre et importance chaque jour, le Simulateur permet de les analyser et donner les outils de contrôle ou des nouveaux investissements pour alléger les surcharges des lignes.

 - En démystifiant les réseaux électriques et en les amenant sur votre table, le Simulateur vous aide à faire des décisions responsables sur base des informations réalistes et réelles.

Analyse Economique - Utilisant Le Simulateur Répartition Optimale de Puissance (OPF), ,OPF Réserves and Répartition Optimale de Puisance avec Contingences (SCOPF), vous pouvez modéliser tout marché d`électricité qui utilise la méthodologie des prix marginaux locaux. Avec les Simulateurs OPF, OPF Réserves, et SCOPF et des données concrètes comme les limites de transport des lignes, la liste des contingences, les offres de prix de vente des MW générées, les charges, vous pourriez déterminer les dispatch de tout votre réseau électrique ainsi que les prix x de vente de l`électricité.

Au sein de la Compagnie : - Formation et Initiation rapide du personnel non-technique ou des nouveaux employés sur les généralités des réseaux électriques et la compréhension des plusieurs issues sur la restructuration des réseaux électriques. Aux ingénieurs, le Simulateur donne la possibilité de maitriser et simuler toutes les décisions à prendre dans les opérations et planification des réseaux électriques.

Education de la Clientèle: - Montrer de façon effective aux clients comment l`électricité arrive à leurs installations et les issues relatives à la fourniture d`électricité.

Présentation à la Direction: -Présenter de façon très Claire les concepts de fonctionnement de votre réseau électrique en utilisant des outils graphiques qui agissent directement sur la vue. Les affichages et résultats de PowerWorld sont dans un format très professionnel. Le Simulateur PowerWorld a été utilisé dans les rapports de présentation à la Commission Fédérale de Régulation de l`Energie Electrique aux Etats-Unis et dans plusieurs commissions au niveau des différents états. La Commission Fédérale de Régulation de l`Energie Electrique aux Etats-Unis figure d`ailleurs sur la liste des clients utilisateurs du Simulateur PowerWorld.

Opérations – Maitriser la connaissance des opérations de votre reseau electrique, visualiser en temps-réel les résultats de toutes les actions prises dans les opérations. Plusieurs compagnies d`électricité rapporte que le Simulateur PowerWorld est un atout dans l`analyse de leur reseau pour les activités d`opération et de planification et mieux, il est l`outil le moins-cher sur le marché.

Analyse d`Ecoulement des Charges – Le Simulateur fournit tous les outils pour faire l`analyse avancée des réseaux électriques comme par exemple étudier l`impact de l`ajoute d`un nouveau générateur ou la déconnection d`un parc de production, en y incluant l`analyse des incidents ou contingence. Les fonctions suivantes d`analyse Capacité de Transport Disponible (ATC) , Stabilité en Tension PV et Limite de Puissance Réactive QV , Court-circuit, et Echange d`énergie, Stabilité Transitoire entre régions sont au bout de vos mains. Vous pouvez écrire aussi votre programme utilisant le Simulateur SimAuto et personnaliser votre utilisation du Simulateur en fonction des besoins de votre compagnie. Vous pourriez ainsi contrôler le Simulateur avec d`autres types de programme et langage pour aussi longtemps qu’ils soient compatibles avec l`interface de langage COM (ou encore la nouvelle technologie NET) .

Top


Quelles sont les algorithmes de solution de load flow utilisés dans le Simulateur?

Le simulateur utilise l`algorithme complet de Newton Raphson sans contrôle de divergence. Le Simulateur calcule le load flow des réseaux électriques jusqu`à 100.000 nœuds et un nombre illimité des lignes de transport. Le Simulateur a été utilisé aussi bien pour résoudre aussi bien les Cas 715 FERC que tous les Cas NREC (Conseil de Fiabilité des Reseau Electrique dans le Continent Nord-Américain).

Le Simulateur a été utilisé effectivement dans la simulation d`interconnexion des réseaux Est, West et Ercot des Etats-Unis « Eastern InterConnect, Western Interconnect et ERCOT » en un seul large réseau comprenant 65.000 nœuds.

PowerWorld offre les options de solution load flow : Load Flow Découplé et Courant Continu ainsi que l`option « Procédure de Solution Robuste » qui fait les itérations entre plusieurs solutions de sorte à trouver une solution pour les réseaux électriques qui ne présentent pas de convergence.

L`algorithme de load flow inclut les contrôles courants utilisés dans l`analyse de load flow comme la régulation à distance de la tension par les transformateurs avec régleurs en charge, les générateurs, shunts commutés, la régulation de tension partagée entre plusieurs générateurs, le contrôle par les transformateurs de phase, la modélisation des lignes à courant continu et la modelisation des ligne courants continu avec plusieurs extrémités.

Top


Pourrai-je faire l`étude du négoce d`électricité avec le Simulateur?

Le Simulateur PowerWorld est un outil idéal pour l`analyse du marché d`électricité. Basé sur l`offre des prix des générateurs, la courbe de profit de la charge et une modélisation de tout le réseau électrique, le Simulateur OPF/SCOPF permet de déterminer le prix marginal local sous régime de sécurité et contingence dans tous les nœuds, et détermine ainsi le prix auquel les acteurs du marché d`électricité doivent payer ou être payé.

Le Simulateur va minimiser le coût d`opération du reseau, renforcer les limites des interfaces de transport, et déterminer les effets des surcharges et redispatchs. Vous pourriez utiliser le Simulateur pour déterminer, reproduire et pronostiquer les prix marginaux, ce qui vous permet de déterminer la meilleure stratégie d`opération des ressources dans votre marché. L`Utilisation du Simulateur Analyse Temporelle Pas-à-Pas permet d`obtenir un dispatch optimal et les prix marginaux heure-après-heure, et voir comment les prix d`électricité varient avec la demande et la topologie du reseau. En plus, vous pouvez visualiser les prix marginaux LMP sur un diagramme unifilaire, vous donnant ainsi une idée sur la répartition spatiale des prix marginaux, les lignes surchargées et même détecter le type de marché d`électricité.

Top


Est-ce le Simulateur PowerWorld résout les équations de load flow plus rapidement que d`autres simulateurs sur le marché?

Le Simulateur PowerWorld présente une performance élevée dans la vitesse de resolution de load flow comparée aux autres logiciels sur le marché. Juste pour illustrer, utilisant un ordinateur 266 MHz Pentium II sur un réseau SERC FERC 715 à 23.458 nœuds, le Simulateur a pris 12.6 secondes et cinq itérations pour résoudre le cas quand la première ligne dans le Cas est ouverte (introduisant ainsi un déséquilibre en puissance de 1300 MW). Pour un petit réseau comme celui de Florida FERC 715 avec 3585 nœuds, le Simulateur a pris 1.2 secondes et quatre itérations pour résoudre le load flow quand la première ligne est ouverte.

Avec notre dernière innovation sur le Calcul Distribué, nous répartissons la résolution load flow d`un réseau large de façon à être résolu par plusieurs ordinateurs couplés en reseau local de sorte à diminuer considérablement le temps de resolution pour les calculs répétitifs comme la Capacité de Transport Disponible.

Top


I'm new to power system analysis and do not yet own a power flow. Why should I buy yours?

For most people Simulator is the clear choice both because of its user-friendly and highly graphical design, and its price. Our customers are usually amazed at how easy Simulator is to use. PowerWorld is the industry leader in power system visualization, which greatly enhances the speed with which you perform your analysis, and also when presenting your results to others. After adding the various add-on available with Simulator (OPF, OPF Reserves, SCOPF, ATC, PVQV, and SimAuto), you'll have the features you need to perform serious steady-state engineering analysis!

In all honesty we do want you to know that Simulator cannot solve every power system problem. What we've done is provide the features that will completely meet the needs of most users. And in doing so kept the price very reasonable. For highly specialized uses, such as transient stability, PowerWorld Corporation does not presently provide a solution. You'll need to supplement Simulator with other programs in these situations.

Top


I already own a power flow program. Why should I buy yours?

Obviously if you're already satisfied with the usability, capability, and upgrade prices of your current package, and you seldom have to present your results to others, then you probably won't need to buy Simulator. But if not, we believe you should seriously consider Simulator. We've had a number of customers, including some of the largest utilities in the U.S. and a NERC reliability region, buy Simulator to supplement their existing power flows. What has consistently sold people is the innovative graphics, the user-friendly design and the low price.

Top


Is Simulator compatible with my existing power flow cases?

Probably. Simulator provides import/export capability to the some of the most common power flow formats, including those used with the U.S. FERC 715 cases or the cases commonly obtained from the reliability councils or electricity market organizations. Therefore in all likelihood you can directly load your power flow data into Simulator.

Top


What advanced analysis modules are available?

Contingency Analysis - Automatically run through a list of thousands of contingencies and create a list of system overloads and voltage problems encountered during the contingencies. Also compare the results of two contingencies runs.

Unbalanced Fault Analysis - Determine the A, B, and C phase currents and voltages after a fault in the system. Includes support for all unbalanced fault types as well as mutual impedances and fault impedances.

Sensitivity Calculations - Determine the linear sensitivity of line flows and voltages to power injections, transfers or line outages/insertions. This includes the calculation of Power Transfer Distribution Factors (PTDFs), Line Outage Distribution Factors (LODFs), Transmission Loading Relief Sensitivities (TLRs), and Generation Shift Factors (GSFs). You can also calculate Loss Sensitivities using the sensitivity tools.

Optimal Power Flow (OPF) - Optimally dispatch your system to remove transmission line overloads, while also calculating spot prices (also known as locational marginal prices). OPF is the best-selling add-on to Simulator.

Optimal Power Flow Reserves (OPF Reserves) - Optimally dispatch your system while meeting control area and zonal requirements for regulating, operating, and contingency reserves. OPF Reserves co-optimizes the production of energy and the supply of reserves. OPF Reserves is available as an add-on to Simulator.

Security Constrained Optimal Power Flow (SCOPF) - Optimally dispatch your system to remove transmission line overloads under the base case and under any contingency, while also calculating spot prices (also known as locational marginal prices). SCOPF is available as an add-on to Simulator.

Available Transfer Capability Tool (ATC) - Calculate ATC values in seconds using linear analysis techniques. ATC is available as an add-on to Simulator. 

PV and QV Curves Tool (PVQV) - Study voltage stability problems in your system using PVQV. PVQV is available as an add-on to Simulator.

Top


What are some of the other features of Simulator?

In addition to the power flow and visualization capabilities discussed earlier, Simulator has a number of other features. These include customizable and sortable list displays to view all or a subset of the various devices in the system (such as buses, generators, transmission lines, dc lines, switched shunts, areas and zones), the ability to easy scale the load or generation, the ability to create electrical equivalents, the ability to do economic dispatch for any area, the ability to graphically compare two different cases, the ability to compare the topology of two different cases, the ability to generate and graphically show PTDFs, the ability to graphically create or modify a case, and much, much more. Every year Simulator adds more and more features that make doing your job easier.

We like to emphasize Simulator's automatic generation control (AGC) features. Simulator allows you to dispatch areas using four different methods: Area Slack Control, Participation Factor Control (all generators participate proportional to their participation factors), Economic Dispatch, and OPF. This makes it easy for you to set up transfers between the areas in your case. Also, Simulator offers you the ability to create a "Super Area" and then dispatch a group of areas together, representing a power pool. If you don't want to dispatch by area, Simulator also allows you to perform participation factor control across each electrical islands as well.

Because of Simulator's ease of use, you can also utilize Simulator directly in your presentations. This feature makes Simulator an excellent training and demonstration tool.

Top


Can I solve a Real-Time power flow in PowerWorld Retriever?

Yes.  The data that is imported from the real-time sources can be substituted for the underlying system data to solve a real-time power flow in PowerWorld Retriever, provided that:

  1. a complete system model with all required object fields necessary to run a power flow solution is provided (see case validation), and 

  2. The underlying model fields (when combined with the imported real-time data) are well conditioned for a solution

Although Retriever does not require a system model capable of being solved in order for it to perform its function of importing and displaying real-time data, it comes standard with both Edit and Run modes (in addition to Real-Time mode).  Edit mode allows the user to edit the underlying model parameters and to develop and make changes to system diagrams.  Run Mode allows for system simulation and power flow analysis.  When a case is first opened in Retriever, the software automatically validates the case.  Case validation does not guarantee that a system will solve, but it does check to ensure that all required power system elements are present to attempt a solution.

Top


Are the diagrams easy to build?

We think so!  We've gone to great lengths to make it easy to build diagrams. Features such as the ability to automatically insert display objects (buses, generators, transmission lines, etc...), the ability to "anchor" objects to buses and lines (when an object is "anchored" to either a bus or a line, moving the bus or line on the one-line causes all the objects anchored to the object to be moved as well; this feature makes it quite easy to rearrange a one-line), and the ability to select and format multiple objects simultaneously make it easy to build and modify the diagrams.  We have also included the ability to import one-lines saved in a common power flow one-line drawing format. 

Also, if you have geographic information regarding the location of the buses in your system, you can automatically insert the buses at the prescribed locations. Then just use Simulator's built-in features to automatically insert lines, generators, and loads to create the rest of the one-line.

We also provide diagram development services for a very reasonable fee.  Contact us at info@powerworld.com for more information.

Finally, Energy Visuals (a sister company of PowerWorld Corporation) develops and markets the product Transmission Atlas. Transmission Atlas provides very large one-line diagrams built from common models such as the WECC, ERCOT and NERC MMWG models of the United States. Also available are PJM network models from the PJM OASIS. These one-lines include all buses, substations, transmission lines, generators, and loads in the full models.

Top


How do I get animated flows on the one-lines? Can they be customized?

Once the one-line diagrams have been built, you only need to toggle a field value (which is actually set "on" by default). Yes, the animated flows are easily customized. Customization includes there size, color, shape, whether they move or not, and their density. You can also show MW, Mvar, PTDF, or combiniations of these simultaneously on a one-line.

Top


Are zooming and panning supported on the one-lines?

Yes, you can easily zoom and/or pan the one-lines. Also, objects on the one-line can be set so that they are only visible at certain zoom levels. This allows you to zoom into a portion of the one-line and show successively more detail as you zoom in. A find command is also available to allow you to easily locate a particular bus on the one-line.

Top


What are contours?  How can I use them?

Simulator has the ability to contour the system parameters on the one-line diagram. The output of the contouring is a plot very similar to the temperature contours seen in the newspaper, except a system parameter, not temperature, is being contoured. This feature can be extremely useful for rapidly assessing power system conditions in a large region. For example we have one client that has a contour of more than 4000 bus voltages which is updated from real-time data approximately every minute. Using this one-line in conjunction with our OPF add-on, you can use contouring to show price profiles throughout the U.S.

See our Features page for an example contour of marginal bus prices.

Top


Can the Simulator displays be pasted into other programs, such as PowerPoint?  What other presentation features are offered?

Yes. The one-line diagram contains a local-menu with a command to copy the display into the Window's clipboard. From there you can paste it just about anywhere, including into a word processing or presentation program.  You can also use the Print Screen option, which is standard in Windows operating systems, to produce image files of screen shots.

Other presentation features include a web publishing tool and a movie maker tool.  

Simulator presents several tools for saving a variety of data in a web-friendly format. You can save images as jpeg files, and all case information displays can be saved as HTML tables. You can then integrate these files into a single web document using the PowerWorld HTML editor, which is included with all versions of Simulator and Retriever. Finally, you can upload the HTML document, together with any necessary attachments, to your web server.

Use the movie maker tool to create mpeg or avi movies (playable on any standard media player) to present simulation results to an audience.

Top


What is PowerWorld Viewer?

PowerWorld Viewer is a free software package that we developed so that our customers could provide their results from Simulator to whomever they wish. As the name implies, Viewer allows users to view a case with all the ease of Simulator, including all the animation features. However users of Viewer can not modify the case in any way. You can download a free version of Viewer, capable of viewing systems with up to 100,000 buses.

Top


How many other customers do you have?

As of August 2008 we have over 540 customers worldwide in 62 countries. Our customers include the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), some of the largest utilities in the world including the Electric Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), the Israel Electric Corporation Ltd, ESB National Grid in Ireland, GENER S.A. in Chile, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Commonwealth Edison, and Carolina Power and Light; Northeast Power Coordinating Council and Southwest Power Pool (NERC reliability regions); several Independent System Operators (ISOs); the U.S. Department of Energy; the U.S. Justice Department; several state regulatory agencies; numerous consultants, power marketers, and power traders; and universities worldwide.

Top


Is on-line help available?

Of course! Simulator comes with comprehensive on-line help, as well as a 500+ page fully indexed manual and a reference for the Auxiliary File Scripting language. All help materials usually ship with the software, but they are also available for download.

Top


What types of training and technical support are available?

One of the advantages of Simulator is that you can get up and running with a minimum of training. Formal training, however, is very useful in expanding your proficiency with Simulator's tools and increasing your productivity. We offer regular training courses at our office in Champaign, Illinois (USA). For more information on training see our Training Page or Training Calendar.

PowerWorld Corporation can also provide custom software training, tailored to your interests and availability, delivered at your site.  Please contact us at +1 (217) 384-6330 or info@powerworld.com for more information.

We also offer free on-line training modules for the introductory topics. The modules are indexed Flash productions that may be viewed at your convenience.

Also, please note that every license comes with free technical support, available by phone at +1 (217) 384-6330 or email at support@powerworld.com.

Top


How much does it cost? What about upgrades?

Commercial Version - Please see our Pricing Page for details. Software licenses include upgrades and support for one year. Additional licenses are available at a substantial discount.

Commercial Upgrades and Support -Future upgrades are available for an annual license renewal of 20% of the current list price.  The license includes full customer support as well as all upgrades and software patches released for one year from the time of renewal.

Education Version - Educational versions of all products are available for use at universities by faculty, staff, and students for teaching and academic research.  Contact PowerWorld Corporation at sales@powerworld.com or by phone at (217) 384-6330 for more information.

Top


Are demo/evaluation versions available?

Yes, you can download an evaluation version of Simulator (limited to a maximum of 12 buses) that includes ATC, PVQV, OPF and SCOPF add-ons. Our free PowerWorld Viewer package contains most of the Simulator visualization capabilities and is capable of displaying systems containing up to 100,000 buses. 

We can also make evaluation versions of the full Simulator package available on a case-by-case basis.  Please contact us for more information on this option.

Top


How do I order?

You can place a credit card order by calling +1 (217) 384-6330
Or you can send a Purchase Order via mail to:

PowerWorld Corporation
2001 South First Street
Champaign, IL 61820

or via fax to +1 (217) 384-6329

You may also contact us by email at sales@powerworld.com.

Top