Introduction to Simulator Add-On Tools

 

In addition to the features of the base Simulator package, various add-on tools are available. A brief introduction to each follows:

Available Transfer Capability Analysis Tool (ATC)

ATC analysis determines the maximum MW transfer possible between two parts of a power system without violating any limits. For more information, see the ATC Analysis Overview.

Distributed Computing

Distributed computing allows the use of multiple computers to speed up analysis by splitting the work among a user-specified list of computers. For more information, see the Distributed Computing Add-Ons topic.

GIC

GICs are induced in the electric power grid when coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on the sun send charged particles towards the earth. These particles interact with the Earth’s magnetic field causing what is known as a geomagnetic disturbance (GMD). For more information, see the GIC Analysis topic.

Integrated Topology Processing (ITP)

Integrated Topology Processing allows you to solve EMS-type, full-topology models in a numerically robust and transparent manner. Integrated Topology Processing extends Simulator applications traditionally used by planners so they can operate in an operations real-time environment. For more information, see the Integrated Topology Processing Overview.

Optimal Power Flow Tool (OPF)

The purpose of an OPF is to minimize an objective (or cost) function . In Simulator OPF the Linear Programming OPF algorithm (LP OPF) determines the optimal solution by iterating between solving a standard power flow and solving a linear program to change the system controls thereby removing any limit violations. For more information, see the OPF Overview.

Optimal Power Flow Reserves (OPFR)

Simulator OPF Reserves is the tool used to simulate Ancillary Services Reserve Markets. For more information, see the Optimal Power Flow Reserves Overview.

Scheduled Actions (Schedule)

The Scheduled Actions Analysis tools provide the ability to visualize the combined effects of planned equipment outages. For more information, see the Scheduled Actions Analysis topic.

Security Constrained Optimal Power Flow Tool (SCOPF)

The OPF tool minimizes an objective function (usually total operation cost) by changing different system controls while meeting power balance constraints and enforcing base case operating limits. The SCOPF tool takes it one step further by considering contingencies that may arise during system operation and ensuring that in addition to minimizing the objective function, no unmanageable contingency violations occur. For more information, see the SCOPF Overview.

Simulator Automation Server (SimAuto)

SimAuto provides PowerWorld customers the ability to access PowerWorld Simulator functionality within a program written externally by the user. The Simulator Automation Server acts as a COM object, which can be accessed from various programming languages that have COM compatibility. Examples of programming tools with COM compatibility are Borlandâ Delphi, Microsoftâ Visual C++, Microsoftâ Visual Basic, Python, and Matlabâ (among others). For more information on SimAuto, see the SimAuto Overview.

Transient Stability (TS)

Transient Stability analysis allows the analysis of system dynamic response to a fault on the system. For more information, see the Transient Stability Overview.

Voltage Adequacy and Stability Tool (PVQV)

The purpose of the PVQV add-on is to allow the user to analyze the voltage stability characteristics of a system. After the PVQV simulation is complete, the user can graph various system parameters. For more information, see the PVQV Overview.