Powerworld as main power flow software tool 1

[element230]

I know that GE - PSLF and PSS/e are the main players for transmission system planning software... but I was wondering if Powerworld has already become the standard software for transmission planing somewhere in the USA (or in the rest of the world for that matter).

Back when I was an intern at ISO-NE, PSS/e was the default tool for transmission planning and although we used Powerworld for some load flow studies.... it was actually mostly used for economical studies (ie. LMP studies, econ. dispatch, etc.) The most recent versions of Powerworld include improved modules for transient stability, which makes it a more comprehensive power system software than traditional PSSE.

Any thoughts?

 

[tlrols]

PowerWorld has been used as the primary power flow planning and operations tool by several utilities in the Pacific NW since around 2000. The utility I work for uses it in both operations and planning as the go to power flow tool. This year we are moving to it as the primary transient stability tool in place of GE or PTI. The Bonneville Power Administration uses it and has in fact directed development of PowerWorld tools in the past.

PowerWorld is a welcome addition to a study engineer's tool box. I strongly recommend that people take a look at using it. In the absolute worse case you will end up using PowerWorld to navigate a case that is open in another tool...PowerWorld's find tools and navigation tools are first rate.

I would suggest that any large capital project be simulated in a minimum of three simulation tools in any case. DO you really feel that comfortable in using single unwarranted piece of software to make a decision on? I would rather be comfortable that three software's gave the same approximate asnwer on performance before I signed off on a multi million dollar project.

I would feel free to use PowerWorld for power flow or transient stability. I would second/triple check the results of GE, PowerWorld, and PTI with the other two software's for any projects of note. WECC has a software verification effort that is under way that outlines a process by which study software gets tested (against other software) for adequate performance.