Interface for Power Grid Analysis

Most utility companies use power grid analysis programmes for planning and operating power grids. In order to reduce data redundancy, the ITS interface for power grid analyses offers a solution for performing analyses between Smallworld GIS and widespread power grid analyses programmes.

  • Smallworld interface for power grid analysis
  • PowerFactory support
  • Neplan support

Product Description

Introduction

ITS Informationstechnik Service GmbH offers various interfaces for Smallworld GIS and power grid analysis programmes. With the products PowerFactory, Neplan, SINCAL and STANET, all widespread power grid analysis software products in the German market are supported. In addition, ITS also offers an integrated solution for Smallworld GIS called ITS Direct Power Analysis.

Uniform Approach

Interfaces are implemented in a uniform manner where users are guided through an identical navigation menu. This is especially important for companies who apply different analysis programmes on different voltage levels or where analysis methods must be identical. The figure shows an overview of the solution’s architecture and data flow. Individual aspects are explained in the following paragraphs.

Smallworld Sector-Specific Data Models

ITS interfaces can be applied on any sector-specific Smallworld GIS data model. However, a prepared solution is already available and included in the Smallworld sector-specific data model for electricity.

Multi-Sector Grid Connections

Many companies already construct multi-sector grid connections on a regular basis. However, no Smallworld data model is available to depict these different sectors as one grouping. This is where the ITS module for multi-sector grid connections comes into play.

SAP IS-U Pairing

Utility companies often manage consumption data in SAP IS-U. Thus, the ITS has gained a broad range of experience through their customer projects and installing the Smallworld GIS and SAP IS-U interface. This has the huge advantage that homogenous consumption and power grid data can be used for power grid analyses.

PowerFactory®

It is possible to supply the power grid analysis programme PowerFactory with Smallworld GIS data using ITS PowerFactory®. DGS5 and DGS6 data formats are supported in this interface. The ITS PowerFactory® interface is developed in close cooperation with DIgSILENT GmbH, the manufacturer of PowerFactory®. As a result, further product developments and deployments are possible for future PowerFactory® versions.

Executing a Power Grid Analysis

The interface for power grid analyses by the ITS Informationstechnik Service GmbH is based on software base routines applied in other interfaces by the ITS which are known for their uniform user experience.

These interfaces offer exports for the following voltage levels:

  • High voltage
  • Medium voltage
  • Low voltage

A combination of more than one voltage level is also possible.

Furthermore, users can choose the type of geographic mapping context for their export:

  • Detailed Map
  • Overview Map
  • Schematic Map

The grid to be exported is specified by choosing one or more electricity transfomers as the supply source. Optionally, individual branching circuits within the transformer can be selected instead. If transformer data is unavailable, busbars can also be used for the export.

Grid supply is determined with the help of a network analysis. Switches act as boundaries in this analysis. This means that the entire electricity flow ranging from suppliers to consumers is depicted as well as switch statuses.

Furthermore, grid supply is analytically prepared in a structure that can be used for power grid analyses.

Interfaces for power grid analyses can be easily configured in XML. Thus, users without Magik programming experience are able to adapt the product according to their needs and can modify the data model.

A data export usually produces text files in the target system’s format. These can subsequently be imported into power grid analysis programmes and be used in combination with other data (e.g. consumption data). Alternatively, ITS interfaces for power grid analyses offer tools to directly transfer consumption data (e.g. from SAP IS-U) if this data is integrated into Smallworld GIS.

As Smallworld GIS provides an optimal data foundation for interfaces concerned with power grid analyses, this tool is ideal to optimise operational and strategic planning processes for network analyses.

Neplan

The ITS Neplan interface is capable of providing Smallworld GIS data to the network analysis programme Neplan. CDE, NDB, NDT and EDT data formats are supported.

STANET

The ITS Smallworld STANET interface allows users to provide the STANET network analysis programme with Smallworld GIS data.

A fundamental philosophy is to use existing data formats for data transfers. Thus, the STANET format SDF/CSV is implemented.

SINCAL

The ITS interface suite also supports the SINCAL power grid analysis programme.

As larger scales are used for creating detailed maps, more text labels are usually depicted compared to overview maps. For this reason, the text label module positions labels according to a new set of rules.