Reliable and safe power systems are critical for any profitable and successful operation. Appropriate modelling and analysis of transient phenomena, minimises the risk of damage to equipment and increases the system’s resilience and plant profitability.

A well-designed system ensures robust transient performance and maximises plant availability under all operating conditions by assessing transient conditions like motor starts, short circuits, transformer energisation, load rejection, VSD response and generator loss.

Effects of poorly assessed systems include: outages, faults, poor power quality and arc flashes. These can result in large income and production losses, or worse, personnel injuries.

Electrical transient power system performance studies assess various operational scenarios to ensure they meet the system Design Criteria and National/State Technical Rules.

Full network modelling links the facility model with the network providers model. This provides a full dynamic network response transient analysis because all cable and equipment responses are included in the analysis.

Alternatively, the model can be confined within the facility electrical distribution system to the terminal connection points at the Main Switchboard. The results of the transient analysis in this case will be determined by the influence of the upstream minimum and maximum short circuit currents which provide the input system impedances with respect to the upstream X/R ratio.

A transient analysis study should demonstrate that the step voltage change on the buses remain within acceptable limits. The studies also confirm that the system will operate in compliance with the clauses as stated in Technical Rules for: 1) step changes in voltage levels resulting from switching operations, 2) voltage stability and 3) faults.

The modelling can be done in ETAP, Digsilent Power Factory or SKM Power Tools. Powertech provide the experts and the software to determine the capability of your power facility or network and ensure your investment remains profitable.

For a full sample power system study white paper, visit the following link in the Powertech Engineering page in the Downloads option.