Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Contents
Introduction
General capabilities
Load flow
Fault (classical)
Fault (IEC909)
Protection co-ordination
Transient stability
Hardware requirements
Operating environment
Quality
Sales information
Introduction
The economic design of power systems is critically dependent on being able to predict the system behavior
under both normal and abnormal operating conditions.
Hand calculations and estimates are possible for small systems but are expensive in engineers' time. In
addition, for safety reasons, the hand calculation methods are conservative and in some cases lead to a
much more expensive design than would be needed if more accurate methods were used.
The consequences of deficient power system design can include:
injury to personnel
damage to network
In order to design power systems efficiently and responsibly the engineer needs appropriate tools.
Modern computer methods allow the rapid and accurate prediction of system behavior once the network
topology and data have been entered into the computer. The amount of data required to describe a power
system can be quite large and it is highly desirable that the engineer has a reliable and easy to use
interface to enter data. Similarly, the engineer must have ready access to the results of the calculations in a
way that is clear and unambiguous
ERA TECHNOLOGY LTD CLEEVE ROAD LEATHERHEAD SURREY KT22 7SA UK
TEL: +44 (0) 1372 367000 FAX: +44 (0) 1372 367099 E-MAIL: info@era.co.uk
WWW.ERA.CO.UK
way that is clear and unambiguous.
ERACS software has been at the forefront of development taking account of both the continuing pressure
for ever easier operational software and the increasing technical needs of modern engineering. For many
years now the name ERACS has been synonymous with quality, reliability, accuracy, ease of operation and
adaptability to changing market needs.
Ease of use has always been the criteria for a successful design and is a major benefit to users of ERACS
in time and effort saved when conducting network analyses.
As expected, the programs are PC based and fully integrated. Data is entered once only in a central
database making data management a very simple procedure.
An extensive range of facilities has been incorporated allowing users to simulate electrical power system
networks quickly and easily and to judge their correct, safe and timely operation under user defined and
sometimes arduous situations. Networks for simulation by ERACS may be both simple radial systems or
fully interconnected (meshed) or a mixture of both.
General capabilities
graphical user interface (GUI) manages the ERACS network databases
fault IEC909 simulates the application of fault conditions using IEC 909 techniques
harmonic injection allows harmonic current injections and calculates their proliferation
harmonic impedance plots network impedance against harmonic number and identifies
resonance conditions
transient stability for the dynamic study of the effect of system disturbances applied to the
network
protection co-ordination analyses the application of protection devices and their interaction
under fault conditions
universal dynamic modeller (UDM) is used to create controller models (AVRs and Governors)
constructed from a range of validated building blocks which is easily understood by engineers
creation of a single line diagram of the study network including a wide variety of CAD style
functionality (move and scale diagram, cut, copy and paste elements etc)
elements include: series inductors and capacitors, induction and synchronous machines, lines,
cables, busbars bus-sections, transformers (up to 4 windings), auto tap changers, 20 types of
!
shunt loads, neutral earthing etc
up to eight windows may be open simultaneously each re-sizeable, images re-scalable, with or
without results
single data entry and block copy saves time and improves data integrity
text annotation on diagram; hide/display of element data/results; memo fields for networks; data
states and libraries; reporting etc
multi-user databases
optional password and access level controls including supervisor and operator modes
Loadflow
The loadflow module serves a number of purposes in the ERACS suite the first of which is to convert the
network database into a format that is both easier and faster to access. This converted data is then used,
along with the initial condition, by the other programs in the suite.
!
The second purpose of loadflow is to calculate the steady state conditions of the power system network.
Under given constraints the program will determine the network voltage profile, current and the real and
reactive power flows. Convergence is achieved by modifying the voltage magnitude and angle of the
synchronous machines, tap position of on load tap changers, and slip for induction machines.
The loadflow program will allow quick and efficient solutions in the following areas leading to an overall
improvement in the design, efficiency and operation of the network:
Typical applications for the use of the ERACS loadflow program are:
selection of transformer tap changer settings
system planning
equipment specification
training
ERACS loadflow options and facilities:
user specified busbar voltage alarms
embedded generators
more than 100 calculated result types available for display per loadflow calculation
Fault (classical)
The fault calculation program enables the user to establish currents and voltages around a network
immediately following a fault condition. The program provides facilities to simulate the following types of
fault: phase to earth, two phase to earth, phase to phase and three phase to earth, single phase open
circuit and two phase circuit and apply them to most element types.
The ERACS fault program will allow quick and efficient solutions in the following areas leading to an overall
!
improvement in safe operation and system design.
Typical applications for the use of the ERACS fault program are:
calculation of data for circuit breaker and switchgear ratings (maximum and minimum 3 phase fault
currents)
user specified additional fault impedance for both phase and earth paths
more than 90 calculated result types available for display per fault calculation
Fault (IEC909)
The IEC 909 program calculates balanced and unbalanced short circuit currents in three phase ac systems
to standards specified in IEC 909, edition 1988. The fault types considered are: three phase short circuit,
phase to phase short circuit without earth connection, phase to phase short circuit with earth connection
and phase to earth short circuit.
The aim of the IEC 909 standard is to establish a general approach for the calculation of short circuit
currents, which would provide conservative results with sufficient accuracy. To this end it ignores the state
of the network prior to the fault.
The ERACS Fault (IEC909) program will allow quick and efficient solutions in the following areas leading to
an overall improvement in safe operation and system design.
Typical applications for the use of a ERACS fault program are:
calculation of data for circuit breaker and switchgear ratings (maximum and minimum 3 phase fault
currents)
all classical fault types (single phase to earth, phase to phase, two phase to earth and three
phase)
!
fourteen calculated result types available for display per Fault calculation
transformer resistance is modified to adjust for skin effects and core eddy current effects
more than 34 calculated result types available for display per fault calculation
The harmonic impedance calculation provides the ‘impedance’ viewpoint and provides the facility to
determine the impedance at selected busbars over a range of definable harmonic frequencies. This is
achieved by injecting a one per unit current into a selected injection busbar. The resultant harmonic voltage
is calculated for the injected busbar and any other specified busbars, known as a transfer busbars. The
voltage to current ratio gives the harmonic impedances.
ERACS harmonic impedance options and facilities
graphically selected injection and transfer busbars
up to six transfer busbars may be selected from any location on the network at any voltage level
transformer resistance is modified to adjust for skin effects and core eddy current effects
!
Protection co-ordination
Any practical power system has a number of protective devices (relays, fuses, circuit breakers etc.)
between the power sources and its loads. A well co-ordinated protection system will disconnect as little of
the network as possible whilst isolating faults as quickly as practical to improve safety and minimise
possible equipment damage.
The ERACS protection co-ordination program is designed to analyse the behaviour of the protection
devices in a power system so that the engineer can check that acceptable discrimination is achieved within
the desired protection philosophy.
The protection co-ordination program allows the user to place protective devices around the network and to
graphically select the appropriate settings. It then analyses the behaviour of the network, and these
devices, under specified fault conditions. A special zoning algorithm determines, for the given set of
protection devices, whether or not adequate discrimination is achieved and reports the results to the user.
Before a protection co-ordination study is allowed to proceed, a stability check is undertaken to determine
whether any of the devices in the network will operate with the steady state loadflow current. Devices failing
the check are highlighted and will require data modification or switching out to enable the study to proceed.
The ERACS protection co-ordination program will allow quick and efficient solutions in the following areas
leading to an overall improvement in the safely, reliability, operation and design of the network.
Typical applications for the use of the ERACS protection co-ordination program:
selection of protection devices
protection devices defined by time, current data or user specified or international formulas
faults applied any where along the length of cables and lines
!
more than 90 calculated result types available for display per calculation
Transient stability
The stability of a system of interconnected dynamic components is its ability to return to normal or stable
operation after having been subjected to some form of disturbance. Transient stability is concerned with
sudden and large changes in the network condition such as those brought about by faults etc.
The ERACS transient stability program will allow quick and efficient solutions in the following areas leading
to an overall improvement in reliability, quality of supply and system design.
Typical applications for the use of the ERACS transient stability program:
motor starting studies including starting techniques
loss of generation
system synchronising
more than 100 result types available for display per transient stability calculation
!
governor validation.
ERACS universal dynamic modeller options and facilities
32 control functions
models stored in the ERACS library for use by the transient stability program.
programs
version Price
GLF-10 Graphical User Interface (GUI), Loadflow and Fault (10 busbar £1999 + VAT per
version) copy
GLF9HP- Graphical User Interface (GUI), Loadflow, Fault, IEC909, £2999 + VAT per
10 Harmonic Injection and Protection Co-ordination (10 busbar copy
version)
Hardware requirements
ERACS requires the following:
a personal computer with a Pentium 266 Mhz or higher processor.
64 MB of memory
CD-ROM drive
super VGA video adapter that supports a resolution of 800 x 600 and 256 colours or higher
Operating environment
ERACS has been developed for the Microsoft® Windows® 95, 98, NT Workstation 4.0 and 2000 operating
systems running on a personal computer, either standalone or across a network. To achieve this two
!
versions of ERACS are available: single user and multi user.
Quality
ERACS is designed under ERA's ISO9001 and TickIT certified quality system.
Sales information
ERACS prices - The ERACS software can be fully configured according to the specific user requirements.
Multi-user and site licence discounts are available. full customising service also available upon request.
For educational and training establishments, we supply the full software and support package at preferential
rates on the understanding that the software will not be used for commercial purposes..
To satisfy a short-term requirement ERACS may also be leased on a monthly basis. Please contact ERA
Technology Ltd for details.
Programs
graphical user interface (GUI) (diagram building, display, reproduction, library management, data
storage and retrieval).
loadflow
fault (classical)
harmonic impedance
harmonic injection
transient stability
protection co-ordination
Options
network version
additional manuals
training
All purchases are subject to ERA Standard Terms and Conditions of sale and the ERACS Software Licence
Agreement.
Demo request
The demonstration program is interactive, allowing users to operate the majority of functions of the full
suite. Users can display results from previously calculated networks, which have been installed in the
software. If you require any further information, would like an engineer to telephone to discuss your
requirements or perhaps to demonstrate ERACS please do not hesitate to contact ERA Technology Ltd.
!