Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Introduction

This module substitutes the Transient Stability PROST, which is described in

section Transient Stability and the normal Tutorial.

Input Dynamic Data (Regulators, Control Circuits)

In this section, you will learn how you may enter dynamic data like exciters
governors, regulators and control circuits (CCT). In NEPLAN you may enter
regulators and control circuit in many different ways. Below we show you how to
define and enter regulators like exciters and governors in different ways and what
are the advantages and disadvantages thereof:

 Entering a NEPLAN predefined standard regulator

 Entering a user defined regulator with function blocks
 Entering a user defined regulator with function blocks using a CCT library
 Entering a user defined regulator as DLL file, written in C++ and modeled
with MATLAB
 Entering a predefined standard regulator in a “CCT Signal-Block” element
 Entering a user defined regulator with function blocks in a “CCT Signal-
Block” element
 Entering signal connections between regulators and elements with a “CCT
Signal-Block” element

Please note:
The preferred and easiest way to enter a regulator (like exciter, turbine and
governor) is using a predefined NEPLAN standard regulator (see below)!

Enter predefined NEPLAN standard regulators

This is the preferred and easiest way to enter an exciter!

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-1

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

You have to insert regulator (e.g. exciter) and the controlled element (e.g.
generator) into the network (single line diagram). Then you have to assign the
regulator to the element. Below is a detailed description of how to add an exciter
to a generator.

1. Add an exciter graphically. You have to enter the standard regulator just
like any other element in the network. You find the regulator symbol in the
“Symbol Window -> Regulators/Others”.
2. Add a generator to the network.
3. You may assign an exciter to a generator in the dialog below with the
button “…”.
4. If the exciter is not yet in the network you may add and edit the exciter
directly in the synchronous machine dialog. The exciter will then not appear
on the single line diagram. You may also add the exciter first graphically
(see above).

Fig. 0.1 Generator dialog: assign a predefined standard exciter to the generator

0-2 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Fig. 0.2 Insert graphically a predefined NEPLAN standard exciter

Once again: if a predefined type is available you should use this standard type.
These predefined NEPLAN regulator types are optimized for the NEPLAN
simulator.

Please note that inside the synchronous machine dialog, you can define the MW
base to be used inside the connected turbine for unit conversion. The three
options are machine rated apparent power (Sr), machine rated active power (Pr)
and specified MWBASE (given as a turbine parameter)

Enter a user defined CCT with function blocks

NEPLAN allows entering a user defined CCT in a very comfortable way with the
help of a function block editor. Normally you will design this CCT in a separate
NEPLAN diagram. A nested CCT element may be entered first. Then you may
with the right mouse button directly open the diagram through the popup menu
(popup menu item “Subsystem”).

1. Click on the CCT button

2. Click in the diagram near a synchronous machine to enter the CCT.
3. A “CCT” dialog appears. Enter a name for this CCT.
4. Press the OK button.

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-3

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

5. A new diagram will be created.

6. You may now insert your CCT with function blocks. The functions block
may be accessed wit menu item “Insert”.
7. You may access the function block diagram directly through the popup-
menu by clicking the right mouse button on the CCT element.
8. Remark: “The Select CCT Type” radio button and the “Add CCT Type from
Library to Project” button should not be used anymore. For compatibility
reasons to earlier NEPLAN versions they are still in the dialog. If you have
many CCT with same structure and different parameters in your network
you should instead consider to make a MATLAB modeled CCT.

Fig. 0.3 Insert CCT symbol and create diagram for CCT

0-4 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Fig. 0.4 Create a CCT with the NEPLAN function block editor

Fig. 0.5 Accessing the CCT diagram directly with the popup-menu (right click ->
Subsystem)

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-5

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Enter a CCT with function blocks using a predefined library

NEPLAN offers a pre-built control circuit library which has been built up with
function blocks (note: the library is not available in the demo version).
You may make use of this library instead of building up the block diagram from
scratch (see above how to create a new CCT and an empty diagram).

Fig. 0.6 Insert CCT from a CCT NEPLAN library

This is not the preferred option to enter standard regulators like IEEE exciters.
The CCT library may help if you have to enter a new CCT which is not in the

0-6 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

standard library and therefore you have to define your own regulator. If you have
to use the structure of this user defined CCT many times in your networks (e.g.
an exciter structure which is used for many generators) you should build up this
regulator model with our NEPLAN component modeling tool in MATLAB and
generate a user defined DLL model. It is easier to add the regulators in NEPLAN
and the overall performance in NEPLAN is better.
Generating a CCT with function blocks is the preferred option, if that CCT is used
only a few times (about 1-5 times) within the network.

Enter a userdefined regulator (DLL model in C++)

If no standard NEPLAN regulator exists and a regulator has to be used many

times in the network, then this would be the preferred way to use regulators in
NEPLAN. The regulator has the same structure (same CCT) only the parameters
of the regulators (function blocks) differ.
The userdefined model may also be used for other components than regulators
(e.g. new synchronous machine models, new facts models, special line models,
etc.). Therefore this might also be the preferred way for researchers or
manufacturers of new devices, who want to build up new control strategies or
new devices.

1. Insert the regulator symbol from the symbol window

2. Click the button “User Defined Model as DLL” in the regulator dialog.
3. In the dynamic model dialog you have to select (button “…”) the
corresponding user defined DLL (Dynamic Link Library) file, which contains
the model. The provided tool Automatic Code Generator (ACG) can
generate automatically the DLL file starting from a text file (extension
.symdef) with a predefined syntax: this approach allows the user to define
in an easy and flexible way new component models. For further
information, see separate manual “NEPLAN-Simulator”.
4. Assign the parameters of the userdefined regulator DLL in the dynamic
dialog window.

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-7

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Fig. 0.7 Insert regulator symbol and insert user defined created C++ model (DLL File)

Enter signal connections between components (regulators and

elements)

For advanced control systems it is sometimes necessary to define externally

interconnection between signals (variables) of components (regulators and/ or
elements). An example might be a regulation of a wind farm, where the different
controller interacts with each other (voltage controller, pitch controller, speed
controller). Another example is a master controller which controls the power
output of generators (AGC automatic generation control).
Therefore NEPLAN provides an element, which allows interconnecting graphically
any signal (variable) of any component (regulators and elements). Together with
the possibility of developing new user defined models with the NEPLAN –
MATLAB modeler, this allows the user to build up any control strategy within
NEPLAN.

1. Insert a “CCT and Signal Block” from the menu item “Insert”.
2. In the “Port Selection” tab you may know define the input and output
signals (variables). You need to select a variable with the “Port Selection”
button.

0-8 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

3. In the “Port/Signal Selection” list you should define which ports/signals are
input or output pins. You may also define a pin name, which will be
displayed on the single line diagram. Very important is to know if the signal
will be used in SI units or in per unit. If the signal will be used in per unit, is
very important to know in which per unit system the signal will be used.
Normally P, Q and I are used in the “system” per unit system (with 100
MVA as base system). When defining regulators for elements (e.g.
exciters) then the corresponding element per unit system (with rated power
of the element as base) will be used within the regulator. If you define a
master controller with P, Q, I as input, then the “system” per unit system
should be used. Therefore NEPLAN provides the possibility to convert the
signal to the corresponding per unit system.
4. After you have defined the input/outputs of the element you may connect
the “Signal Block” elements with links, like any other element. In the
example below there is a “Signal Block” for the DFIG which connects its
output variables (P and Q) to the input of the PWM controller. The voltage
of the DC node is input to the second PWM controller.

Fig. 0.8 Enter “CCT and Signal Block” element

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-9

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Fig. 0.9 Defining ports/signals of the “CCT and Signal Block” element

Enter predefined standard regulators from a “CCT and Signal Block”

element

Instead of entering a predefined standard regulator (defined in the “Symbol

Window”) and then enter a “CCT and Signal Block” element to make the
connections between the regulators it is possible to add and define the predefined
standard regulator directly in the “CCT and Signal Block” element. This makes
only sense if you need to make external connections to other
regulators/elements. Otherwise you should select and enter the regulator as
described above from the “Symbol Window”.

1. Insert a “CCT and Signal Block” from the menu item “Insert”.
2. In the “Model Definition” you may add a predefined regulator or turbine.
After the selection of the regulator you must close the dialog.
3. Now re-open the dialog again. Then a new tab should be available for
defining the regulator or turbine data.
4. Now you may also define the signals (input/output ports) which will be
connected to other regulators/elements.

0-10 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Fig. 0.10 Defining a standard regulator in the “CCT and Signal Block” element

Fig. 0.11 “CCT and Signal Block” dialog with added standard regulator

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-11

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Entering a user defined CCT with function blocks in a “CCT and Signal
Block” element

If you need a CCT which was build up with function blocks more than once (same
CCT structure only with different parameters), then you would need to make
another diagram with the same CCT and change the parameters of the function
blocks accordingly. To avoid making several diagrams with same CCT (with only
different function block parameters) you may make use of the “CCT and Signal
Block” element. The “CCT and Signal Block” element allows you using the same
CCT with block diagrams several times and the CCT diagram has to be building
up only once.

1. Insert a “CCT” element and create a new diagram. In this diagram you may
now design your CCT with function blocks (see above “Entering a CCT with
Function Blocks”.
2. If you need to have the same CCT again for another element, then insert a
“CCT and Signal Block” from the “Insert” menu (see above).
3. In the “Model Definition” you may select this CCT. After the selection of the
regulator you must close the dialog.
4. Now re-open the dialog again. Then a new tab “CCT Block-Model” should
be available for defining the parameters of the function blocks of the CCT.
5. With double click you may change the parameters of the function blocks.
6. Do not forget to assign the new input/outputs of the input, output and
network source function blocks.

0-12 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Fig. 0.12 Add a CCT with function blocks in a new diagram

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-13

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Fig. 0.13 Add a CCT in a “CCT and Signal Block” element

0-14 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Fig. 0.14 Defining the function block parameters in a “CCT and Signal Block” element

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-15

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Parameters for the NEPLAN Dynamic Simulator

Before starting the NEPLAN Dynamic Simulator, the user has to define some
calculation parameters:
- calculation parameters for the mathematical calculation engine. At least
you should define the end time of the simulation. Normally you should not
change the other parameters. Use the assigned default values;
- disturbances have to be defined. You normally need to define one or
several disturbances (e.g. short circuit) and the times when the
disturbances happen;
- signal (variables, e.g. P,Q, U, f, etc, ) which you want to display at run time
and the signals which should be stored for reporting purposes in the
NEPLAN chart manager should be defined.

Fig. 0.15 Parameters dialog for the Dynamic Simulator

0-16 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Calculation parameters for the solver

The most important parameters for the calculation engine are the type of
simulation that should be executed and the simulation end time.

The following simulation types are available in NEPLAN:

 RMS-DQ0: transient stability or electromechanical simulation with DQ0
models. This simulation mode should be used in case of RMS simulations
of balanced systems with balanced faults (3-phase fault). RMS in DQ0 is
the fastest solution if you have a balanced system. It is also very useful for
designing and developing controllers.
 RMS-ABC: transient stability or electromechanical simulation with ABC
models. This simulation mode should be used in case of RMS simulations
of unbalanced systems (e.g. with 1-phase faults).
 EMT-DQ0: electromagnetic transients simulation with DQ0 models. This
simulation mode should be used in case of EMT simulations of balanced
systems.
 EMT-ABC: electromagnetic transients simulation with ABC models. This
simulation mode should be used in case of EMT simulations of unbalanced
systems (e.g. with 1-phase faults).
 PDA-EMT-ABC: phasor dynamic simulation with ABC models. This
simulation mode should be used when making fast EMT-like simulations is
needed.

The other parameters are:

 TEND (simulation end time)

 Accurary (high, medium, low or userdefined)
 RTOL (relative tolerance)
 ATOL (absolute tolerance)
 HMIN (minimum step size after an event has occurred)
 ORDER (maximum order used in the gears method)

Additional options are:

 Output control – Show run time plot: display during the simulation the
variables selected in the screenplot page.
 Output control – Display warnings: write warning messages during the
models check.

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-17

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

 Output control – Sample output: sample the output signals using a defined
sample time.
 Event handling – Stop and reinitialize at every event: stop the solver and
reinitialize it at each event happened (in most of the cases, the simulation
will not succeeded if this option is not checked).
 Event handling – Use HMIN after every event: use minimum step size after
each event happened (the simulation can succeeded even if this option is
not checked).
 Initialization – Write initialization file: write a text file in NEPLAN Temp
directory, with the initial values of all the models present in the system.
 Initialization – Single initialization: initialize individually all the elements
present in the system (use this option if the global initialization of the
system failed).
 Additional options – Set blocks initial values: display the calculated initial
values for all the function blocks directly on diagram.
 Additional options – Show trip messages: display the messages sent from
the relays during the calculation.
 Copy data from TS module: copy all the disturbances and all the selected
screenplots from the old Transient Stability module.

0-18 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Definition of disturbances

Before running a simulation, it is possible to define one or more group of

disturbances. For each group, the user normally can define one or more
disturbances (e.g. setting and removing a short circuit on a busbar) and the
corresponding times when the disturbances happen. In general, a disturbance is
defined as a change in the parameter of a component model: NEPLAN allows
changing any parameter of all the element and regulator models. This gives the
user the highest possible freedom in defining any possible disturbance. In
NEPLAN, some predefined standard disturbances (e.g. a 3-phase fault) are
included and available for a quick selection by the user. The option “Change of
model parameters” is always present in the drop-down menu (fig. 16.18), even
when for a specific element no standard disturbances are implemented. With the
button “Edit Parameters to Change…”, all the parameters of the model are
displayed for the selection: the defined change of the parameter is then added to
the disturbance list.
For each group of disturbances, the user can enter a name (e.g. “Fault at line at
distance 50 km”): if no name is entered, the name “Disturbance n.” with a
sequential number is automatically assigned to the disturbance group.

Fig. 0.16 Disturbances: list of defined groups of disturbances

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-19

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Using the button “Import…” the user can add disturbances from a predefined file.
The file format is *.nepdist.

Fig. 0.17 Disturbances: definition of a group of disturbances

Fig. 0.18 Disturbances: definition of a single disturbance

0-20 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Definition of screenplots

Before running a simulation, it is possible to define the results to be displayed in

the screenplot or saved for later processing. Per default no result will be saved.
Generally, it is preferable to have a limited number of selected results, since
displaying or saving many signals would decrease the overall performance: it is
necessary to define the signals (variables as P,Q, V, f, etc, ) which you want to
display at run time and the signals which should be stored for reporting purposes
in the NEPLAN chart manager. The “Pos” flag in the dialog below defines the
position of the curve in the runtime chart. The “File” flag indicates that the signal
result will be saved and the curve is available after the simulation, for example to
be displayed in the NEPLAN chart manager for reporting purposes.
Since there is only one y-axis on the runtime charts, the user should take care
that curves on the same chart (same “Pos” flag) have about the same value
ranges (e.g. p.u. values 1...0). NEPLAN offers the greatest possible access to the
results after the dynamic simulation, allowing the user to select for each model
any algebraic and any dynamic variable of the model, as well as additional
measurement variables.

Fig. 0.19 Screen plots: definition of the variables to be displayed or stored

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-21

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

The window diplays the most used variables of the selected dynamic model type.
To display all the variables, activate the option “Show all the variables”.
The runtime plot displays the selected variables together with the name ot the
corresponding element. To display alias name instead of the name, activate the
option “Use alias names”.

Using the button “Import…” the user can add screenplots from a predefined file.
The file format is *.nepplts.

Fig. 0.20 Screen plots: runtime plot wind turbines (blade angles and power in pu)

0-22 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Calculation of initial values

Every time a simulation is started, the Dynamic Simulator initializes the system
model calculating all the initial values. If this procedure fails, the user receives
some error messages which can help in finding the reason of the problem.
However, if the user wants just to calculate the initial values without running a
simulation, it is possible to use the option “Calculate initialization” (fig. 16.21).
When the option is selected, the system is initialized and an output text file with
all the initial values is written in the NEPLAN Temp directory. Moreover, if blocks
are present, the calculated initial values are automatically displayed in the
corresponding diagram. To show/hide the blocks initial values, use the option
“Show blocks initial values” (fig 16.21), which is complementary to the option
“Show block pin numbers” in the View menu.

Fig. 0.21 Calculate initialization (drop-down menu of Dynamic analysis)

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-23

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Check first-swing stability

It is possible to enter a runtime check on the rotor angles of synchronous

machines defining a maximum value as a limit (see fig. 16.22). If one of the
selected rotor angles hits the corresponding limit, the simulation stops. This
option can be useful for checking the stability of the system and avoiding to wait
pointless till the end of the simulation. This topic is usally referred to as first-swing
stability, but depending on the network model and on the disturbances the system
can experience the loss of stability even after the first oscillation. Therefore, when
this option is used, anytime the rotor angle reaches its maximum value the
simulation will be stopped.

Fig. 0.22 Check first-swing oscillations

0-24 NEPLAN User's Guide V5

 Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Create passive network

The user has the possibility to compact all the passive elements (lines,
transformers, etc…) and consider them as a passive network: this will produce a
reduction in the number of equations of the overall system model.
The user should use this option when the simulation runs too slowly due to the
dimension of the system: in fact the reduction of the number of equations starts to
become relevant as the size of the system increases.

Update regulator library

Using this option the regulators included in a NEPLAN project can be updated to
the latest Regulator Library: old parameters will be removed, new parameters will
be added with default values, all the other corresponding parameters will keep the
values set by the user.

NEPLAN User's Guide V5 0-25

Tutorial - NEPLAN Simulator

Examples for the NEPLAN Dynamic Simulator

Since the NEPLAN dynamic simulator is a very strong tool, allowing entering data
in many different ways, we have included many examples specifically for the
dynamic simulator module. Among many others we have included these IEEE
benchmark systems:
- IEEE 9-Bus,
- IEEE 14-Bus
- IEEE 39-Bus
- IEEE 68-Bus

Some examples are benchmark examples, where the input data and the
results are available from universities on the web. The results of the NEPLAN
simulator may be compared and validated with the corresponding benchmark
data.

Other examples included are:

- Kundur Two-Area-System
- Nordel system
- WSCC system
- New England system
- SSR Sub-synchronous resonance benchmark (EMT simulation)
- DFIG and wind farm applications
- Simple FACTS applications
- User defined modeling with C++ and MATLAB

0-26 NEPLAN User's Guide V5