PowerGraf: an educational software package for power systems analysis and design

The purpose of PowerGraf is to present a graphical user interface (GUI) and a convenient tool for building one-line diagrams displaying data. The GUI is open and friendly for power systems design, analysis and control, because a picture provides a better illustration of cause and effect relationships than a tabular printout does. Basic elements such as buses, lines and transformers are given such that the power system topology is easily drawn with this tool, and the system parameters are entered on the picture and checked visually. This enables the power system topology and the system data to be shown on one picture page. Advantages of these graphics are that users can view overloads, low voltage problems, and outages on overall (total) system. In addition, it is possible to see the impact of contingencies on the system. To date, PowerGraf 3.0 together with an instructional demo has been used to teach power systems courses in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Missouri-Rolla (UM-Rolla). It is also available on the Computer Learning Center network to help students design their own optimal power systems.