Integrated Program Package For Power System Studies

A number of digital computer programs are currently available for power system studies. These programs are being used to model networks of increasing size and complexity and the provision of effective data management facilities has become crucial to their successful implementation. The paper describes an integrated interactive computer package for power system analysis ("POWSYS"). This package was developed at the Electricity Supply Commission (South Africa) and has been used extensively by its planning and operating engineers for a number of years. The package features a common file structure of network data and results which is accessed by a set of power system analysis programs. These programs provide the major digital simulation capabilities required to study the behaviour of power systems under both steady state and transient conditions. A simple free-format command language enables the user to control the sequence of studies interactively and to utilize the built in data management and reporting facilities provided. The package is open-ended and the addition of new commands and analysis programs is easily accomplished. The paper will describe the main features and facilities afforded by the data management software and will giveabrief overview of the analysis programs currently implemented.