power system simulation software recommendations? 1

[Chebahtah]

Most of my experience is with GE's PSLF software as a transmission operations engineer. I have some exposure to Siemen's PSS/E and wanted to get some opinions of pros/cons of differing software from those wiser than I.

The company I work for now is looking to select a power system software for it's interconnection studies (specifically, photovoltaic). The software will ideally have dynamic stability and short-circuit capabilities in addition to steady-state analysis.

What are your thoughts on ease of use, accuracy, functionality/tools, ability to customize between the popular industry tools?

Thanks,

--
Justin Chebahtah

 

[burntcoil]

Go for ETAP or SKM. ETAP is costly but user friendly. SKM is cheap as compared to ETAP but you will take a few weeks more to get use to it as compared to ETAP.

Both the softwares are good. Going for anyone of them will meet your purpose.

 

[tlrols]

Where are you working? North America? The United States? Are you in the Eastern Interconnection, ERCOT, or the Western Interconnection?

If you are looking for software with which to study grid level interconnection studies in the NERC footprint you would NOT want to use ETAP or SKM.

Your choices come down to software that can read either the GE PSLF *.epc format for the WECC footprint or the PTI PSS/E *.raw format for the East and for Texas.

Both GE and PTI are capable, but they are creatures of a coding environment much different than "modern" software. You have to code using EPCL's or Python to really make those software packages work well for you. None of the original developers work at either GE or PTI...this is a big deal! Recall that computer science was really an evolving discipline when these programs were first written.

If you are looking for state-of-the-art software that is user focused (with the original developers still employed there) then I would recommend PowerWorld Simulator. That software can do everything GE or PTI can, it has the best support in the industry, and it is used by some of the biggest players around. I have skill sets in all three software's, plus a few more, and I am happy to let my skills rust in GE and PTI. PowerWorld is the 21st century answer to your power system analysis problems...

And no, I don't work for them, but I do work with them frequently...

ETAP and SKM might be useful for inside the plant studies for a wind farm but they will not pass muster for a grid level look, you need a tool that is focused on transmission level simulation and that is generally accepted for use by utilities in that line of work.

 

[Chebahtah]

Thanks for the analysis tlrols. It's good to get some perspective outside of what I normally use (PSLF and PSS/E). I overlooked PowerWorld as an option as I haven't used that since university; I'll definitely be looking into that..

I'm working in the United States, everywhere from Hawaii to New Jersey with a lot of work in WECC (CA/AZ). Larger 8MW-13MW PV job coming up in ERCOT.

Studies will be at grid level interconnections.

While I'm at it, what are any of your recommendations for distribution level studies? Again, I'm only really familiar with GE and PTI's software platforms.

 

[dpc]

If you're in WECC-land and are interested in any type of transient studies, you'll need PSS/E or something that works with PSS/E data.

If you are looking at steady-state analysis of utility transmission systems and sub-transmission, you'll want Aspen. For analysis of utility distribution systems, you can use Aspen and other for three-phase. If you need single phase capability, good luck. I'd look at Aspen DistriView, but there are others.

The other software, such as SKM, EDSA, ETAP, etc were originally intended and developed for industrial/commercial systems.

 

[tlrols]

If you are working in WECC the default transient stability tool would be the GE PSDS tool, not the PTI tool. For California doubly so...

In WECC the PTI *.dyr data is always published much later than the GE *.dyd data. Also, the GE tool performs transient stability studies in a much more direct fashion than does PTI...no CONG, CONL, CONEC, CONET, etc, etc stuff needed with GE. Suffice it to say that for CA/AZ studies GE is what you would want to use. For Texas PTI is generally accepted, although ERCOT uses PowerWorld Simulator quite a bit.

Distribution stuff varies, but many utilities like the data storage and solution tools in Advantica's SynerGee product. I personally don't play with little electrons much so I am ambivalent on distribution tools. If you know you are going to stay with three phase balanced flows in distribution you could use the kW/kVAr/kVA flavor of PowerWorld Simulator.

I would recommend that regardless of what you choose for GE or PTI that you get PowerWorld Simulator. Trust me. You will find yourself using PowerWorld to browse the data you are using in either GE or PTI. PowerWorld Simulator has first rate 21st century data finding and manipulating tools that make life with the other two softwares much easier. I use all three and I ALWAYS use PowerWorld to effectively use the other two!

 

[Chebahtah]

Thanks for your input and experiences tlrols...very helpful! I downloaded the trial and fired up PowerWorld for the first time in years. Forgot how much more intuitive it this than the other platforms.

I think for my purposes, this may suit me best. It looks like we will be contracting out the interconnection studies so my role will be to simply oversee that process. However, for doing some strategic planning and my own personal brainstorming PW looks to be on the money. It reads .epc and .raw files (even pss/e draw files too). Nice.

I know what you mean about GE PSLF in CA, its definitely the dominant platform with the utilities and CAISO. Since my background is in CA that's where most of my experience is and your post helped me view things from another lens. Thanks again.

All the best,

--
Justin Chebahtah