Time Step Simulation: Running a Timed Simulation
See Also
A Time Step Simulation can be run either as a Continuous or Timed simulation. The type of simulation is set up on the Options page in the
By default, the Do Run button of the Time Step Simulation dialog will run a Continuous Simulation, i.e., a simulation in which each time point is solved immediately after the previous time point. In this case the purpose of the Simulation is to obtain solution for the time points as fast as possible. As the solution progresses, the results for each time point in every time point grid are refreshed, showing the user the evolution of the Simulation. Please read the Time Step Simulation Quick Start section for a quick introduction on how to run a Continuous Simulation.
On the other hand, the Time Step Simulation tool can also be used to run a Timed Simulation. In this case, the Simulation takes place according to a time scale proportional to the date/times of the time points. When you click the Do Run button, the Simulation progresses as if it was running in actual time. The simulation can also be paused and reset at any time by using the Pause Solution and Reset Run buttons of the Time Step Simulation dialog.
The following are some of the things you can do with the Timed Simulation:
- You can hide the Time Step Simulation dialog and control the simulation by using the Time Step Simulation Toolbar, which contains buttons such as Do Run, Pause, Reset, etc. that mimic the control buttons of the dialog.
- You can visualize how the quantities vary proportionally to actual time after each time step is applied. Recall that the Time Scale defined in the Options page indicates the relationship between the actual time and the time scale defined for the time points in seconds per hour. Thus, a Time Scale value of 60 will indicate that one hour of time span between two time points will occur in 60 seconds of actual time in the Timed Simulation.
- You can also animate the flows of the solution of a time point while you wait for the solution of the next one.
- You can contour the online diagrams and see how the visualization changes as the quantities vary in time, and in addition, you can save those contour diagrams as JPEG or bitmaps for each timepoint.
- Finally, you can act on the system (by closing capacitors, changing generator outputs, etc) before the next time point is applied to simulate operating actions in response to system conditions.
All of these actions are very powerful in presentations on how a power system would evolve in time across different scenarios.