Merging, prototyping and hybrid tools for power system transient simulation

Traditional power system transient analysis is based on established large scale applications with separate input graphical user interfaces and output visualization software. These applications (TAP, Transient Analysis Program) have a closed and complied code architecture, but can provide communication channels, mainly for establishing user-defined models. Such channels can be designed to allow "merging" application capabilities for sophisticated user-defined modeling, moreover separate applications can deliver the solution of separate network sections. Tools become "hybrid" when different simulation and solution technique families are combined. Several general purpose mathematical modeling packages (MMP, Mathematical Modeling Package) are now providing advanced environments for solving complex network problems. The general purpose nature and high-level programming can often lead to slower computational speeds and consequently decrease the numerical efficiency of embedded applications for large network cases. In this case, again, merging with an external specialized software, brings in the large scale simulation capabilities while maintaining advanced expressive power and visualization capabilities. Another major benefit of a general purpose mathematical modeling package is the fast prototyping capability. This paper illustrates and demonstrates the above concepts. Programs such as EMTP and EMTDC fall into the TAP category. Packages such as MATLAB and Mathematica fall into the MMP category.