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Power Flow Tutorial

The best way to learn is hands-on. This tutorial is made up of 7 hands-on labs. It is expected that, after going through these labs, users will learn the basic and major features of power flow support. Before starting the labs, users must set up the environment.

Hands-On Lab 1: Running Power Flow for the First Time

  • Objective: To learn how to run power flow and the basic.
  • Test Model: Svedala, an assembled CGMES 3.0/CIM 17 model from ENTSO-E CGMES 3.0 Test Configurations (https://www.entsoe.eu/Documents/CIM_documents/Grid_Model_CIM/TestConfigurations_packageCASv2.0.zip). This is a node/breaker model containing reality-based Substations and with power flow results published.
  • Load “Svedala CGMES 3.0 (CIM 17)” from data source dropdown list, as illustrated.
  • Invoke “Power Flow→Run and Output as Assembled” from the context menu associated with the model tree node or from the icon dropdown in the model Summary display, as illustrated Power Flow Tutorial – figure 1

Note

If you see the following message, it means that Java is not installed. The power flow engine, i.e. PowSyBl, is a java application. It requires Java 11 or a later version to be installed. Please Set Up Power Flow Environment first.

Power Flow Tutorial – figure 2

  1. After power flow execution is completed, a separate model is created with the calculated power flow results and a message box pops up, displaying execution status information. The Power Flow Summary Report is subsequently displayed, showing the statistic of the power flow results. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 3
  2. The Power Flow Summary Report contains links to the detailed reports, which can also be called from the icon dropdown in the model summary display, as illustrated. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 4
  3. Use the Split View to compare the calculated power results (right view) with those published (left view). The side-by-side Power Flow Summary Reports allows power flow results to be compared from different perspectives. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 5

Tips: It is tricky to work with split views.

  • Split view can be created from the command icons as illustrated below.

  • At any time, only Active view responds to users’ activities. Therefore, users must explicitly activate the intended view by clicking the title bar prior to any activities. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 6

  • Use the split view to compare power flow results for a Substation. This can be achieved by displaying a Substation Diagram for the same Substation in the two models. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 7

Hands-On Lab 2: Running Power Flow for IGM

The test procedures are similar to Lab1, with the following notes:

  • The Test Model can be loaded from the data source dropdown, as illustrated below: Power Flow Tutorial – figure 8
  • Boundary set (i.e. EQ_BD/TP_BD) must be loaded to run power flow. IGM is not a complete dataset. It depends on boundary set.
  • Power flow execution can only be invoked from the Equipment (EQ) or Boundary Equipment (EQ_BD) model part, as illustrated. An assembled model can also be created from these model parts. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 9

Hands-On Lab 3: Running Power Flow for CGM

The test procedures are similar to Lab1, with the following notes:

  • The Test Model can be loaded from the data source dropdown, as illustrated below:
  • Boundary set (i.e. EQ_BD/TP_BD) must be loaded to run power flow. IGMs are connected at boundary set.
  • Power flow execution can only be invoked from the Boundary Equipment (EQ_BD) model part, as illustrated. An assembled CGM model can also be created from this model part. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 10

Hands-On Lab 4: Running Power Flow for Reality-Based Large Model

The test procedures are similar to Lab1, with the following notes:

  • The Test Model can be loaded from the data source dropdown, as illustrated below.
  • The power flow execution status is shown below. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 11
  • The power flow comparison results are shown below: (left: published, right: calculated) Power Flow Tutorial – figure 12

Hands-On Lab 5: Interactive Power Flow

  • Objective: To learn how to run power flow in interactive mode.
  • Test Model: SmallGrid, an assembled CGMES 2..4.15/CIM 16 IGM package from ENTSO-E CGMES 2.4.15 Test Configurations (https://www.entsoe.eu/Documents/CIM_documents/Grid_Model_CIM/CGMES_v2.4.15_TestConfigurations_v4.0.3.zip). This is a node/breaker model containing all model parts of an IGM & boundary and with power flow results published. However the Topology (TP) and State Variable (SV) model parts are removed. So the assembled test model contains the minimum data set required to run power flow, i.e. Equipment (EQ) and Steady State Hypothesis (SSH) model parts.

The Interactive Power Flow feature enables users to simulate “what-if” scenarios from the diagrams. The following steps guide users to learn this feature in an interactive way.

  1. Load “SmallGrid CGMES 2.4.15 (CIM 16)” from data source dropdown list, as illustrated. Check the model Summary display, ensuring that TP and SV contents are not included. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 13
  2. Search for Substation “Vale of Arryn”. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 14
  3. Run power flow either via context menu or by clicking the command icon, as illustrated below. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 15
  4. As shown in the diagram, the 21 MW load is supplied by the grid (17 MW) and a local generator (4 MW). Can the local generator be able to pick the whole load if the supply from the grid is interrupted? To simulate this scenario, we will open BREAKER199. This can be achieved via context menu associated with the breaker symbol or label, as illustrated below. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 16
  5. Run power flow after the breaker is opened. Note: the Substation is now separated from the grid. There are two islands now. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 17
  6. The pop-up message shows that the power flow converges well for both islands. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 18
  7. The simulation shows that the 21 MW load is now fully picked up by the local generator. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 19

Hands-On Lab 6: Power Flow Reporting

  • Objective: To learn the basic of power flow reporting.
  • Test Model: Svedala, an assembled CGMES 3.0/CIM 17 model from ENTSO-E CGMES 3.0 Test Configurations (https://www.entsoe.eu/Documents/CIM_documents/Grid_Model_CIM/TestConfigurations_packageCASv2.0.zip). This is a node/breaker model containing reality-based Substations and with power flow results published.
  • Load “Svedala CGMES 3.0 (CIM 17)” from data source dropdown list, as illustrated.
  • Invoke “Power Flow→Run and Output as Assembled” from the context menu associated with the model tree node or from the icon dropdown in the model Summary display, as illustrated Power Flow Tutorial – figure 20
  • After power flow execution is completed, a separate model is created with the Power Flow Summary Report is subsequently displayed, showing the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the power flow results. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 21
  • While the detailed reports can be called from each associated KPI, the formal way to call power flow reports is via the context menu associated with model tree node, or from the dropdown icons in the Summary display of the model. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 22Power Flow Tutorial – figure 23
  • Call detailed power flow reports, and
  • Sort the report by clicking the column header;
  • Click a selected Name to call the diagram, as illustrated below;
  • Click a selected Path to locate the associated tree item in the navigation tree. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 24

Hands-On Lab 7: Power Flow Visualization

  • Objective: To learn the basic of Power Flow Visualization.
  • Test Model: SmallGrid, an assembled CGMES 2..4.15/CIM 16 IGM package from ENTSO-E CGMES 2.4.15 Test Configurations (https://www.entsoe.eu/Documents/CIM_documents/Grid_Model_CIM/CGMES_v2.4.15_TestConfigurations_v4.0.3.zip). This is a node/breaker model containing all model parts of an IGM & boundary and with power flow results published. However the Topology (TP) and State Variable (SV) model parts are removed. So the assembled test model contains the minimum data set required to run power flow, i.e. Equipment (EQ) and Steady State Hypothesis (SSH) model parts.
  • Load “SmallGrid CGMES 2.4.15 (CIM 16)” from data source dropdown list. Call geographical diagram from the model Summary, as illustrated below. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 25
  • Run Power Flow either via context menu or by clicking the command icon, as illustrated below. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 26
  • Right-mouse-click a blank spot to invoke the diagram content menu. Invoke Visualize→Flow→Limit Profile, as illustrated. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 27
  • The diagram is color-profiled, enabling users to visualize the flow limit violations. Moving the mouse to the line with limit violated, a gauge chart is popped up, showing the severity of limit violation. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 28
  • Try Visualize→Voltage→High Limit Profile and other visualizations. Power Flow Tutorial – figure 29
Need help? Contact cimspy_help@power-gem.com