Phase to Phase Quarterly Update:

Vision Network Analysis

Maximum Simultaneous Moments

A new function has been added to the profile load flow: Maximum Simultaneous Moments (Maximaal Gelijktijdig Momenten, MGM). This function estimates peak moments for the grid and for generation:

• across the network;
• per area (that section of the grid behind the HV/MV transformer);  
• per direction (MV string);
• per element (e.g., MV/LV transformer load or bulk consumer).

You can choose the level of detail you want in the profile load flow settings. The feature then calculates only the peak moments for the entire network. This means you can perform calculations very rapidly for an entire network, with hourly or 15-minute profiles for one or more years—in a matter of seconds even for large networks. And this without compromising on the accuracy of the full profile load flow.
 
Calculate All
The so-called Calculate All option allows you to calculate grid load, short-circuit current (IEC 60909), failure analysis, and security in one run for the entire network. You can select the required calculations yourself. The result offers an overview of potential problems per object, including not-selectively disconnected short circuits or overloaded cables. The results of each individual calculation can also be consulted via Image | Mode | Result.
 
Why this is important
The MGM function gives you very rapid profile load flow calculation. This can be useful for example to perform a rapid assessment of various switchability options in case of failures. The Calculate All function gives you an overview of the potential vulnerabilities in your network in one go.
 
View all details on the What’s new page:

Gaia LV Network Design

Unmesh quicker

Unmeshing large LV networks can take a lot of time in Gaia LV Network Design, up to several hours. This is so because unmeshing requires intensive use of grid load calculation. Beginning with version 8.11.1 of Gaia, you can choose yourself what type of grid load is performed during unmeshing:

• Standard (default)
• Linear (approximately 5x faster)
  Uses constant current models for loads and generators. There is a larger margin of error compared to Standard: +/- 10 percentage points for load levels and +/- 3V for currents.
• Average (approximately 50x faster)
  Stochastic loads are modeled using their equivalent average value, and stochastic load behavior is ignored. This can be used to rapidly identify potential unmeshing points.

Profile Type Generator

The Profile Type Generator in Gaia 8.11.1 automatically generates a profile type on the basis of a profile with times (dates and times). To give one example: a profile for hours of workdays, Saturdays, and Sundays for all months. The profile type can be saved in the type file and is also suitable for use as an internal profile within a Gaia network file.

Why this is important

These new options allow you to unmesh large LV networks much more quickly. The Profile Type Generator is useful for converting measured or synthetic data into a reusable profile type.

View all details on the What’s new page:

Vision Grid Navigator

Starting with version 4.1.0, Vision Grid Navigator now allows you to display the entire network. This gives you a full overview of the network situation, which can help localize information.

In addition, we have added various improvements to Vision Grid Navigator, including:

• a measuring tool to determine distances;
• support for reading in in KML files;
• support for displaying Voronoi surfaces.

For more information on new functionalities in Vision Grid Navigator, please refer to the manual.

Vision Cloud Solution

Insight into grid model quality

Grid models are an important basis for Vision Cloud Solution functions such as bottle neck analysis and scenario planning. In addition, we are noticing that VCS users are asking more often for decision support functionality. The quality of the input is very important in this type of function—you have to be able to trust the results provided by these functions.

This is why we have included a grid model quality indicator in release 3.11 of VCS. A quality determination will be made for every grid model that you upload. This will be displayed using a color indication (red, orange, or green) in the network list for every grid model.

In this first version of the grid model quality indicator, VCS determines ‘quality’ on the basis of the connectivity of the model (presence of islands) and the results of the grid load calculation. In doing so, the application checks for extreme values of voltages and overloads.

You can try out this function over the coming months. NB You will need to upload your networks again to do this. We are very interested in hearing your experiences as we plan to further expand and fine-tune this function in a following version.

Why this is important

Better insight in the quality of grid models will mean you can have greater confidence in the conclusions you draw from them and in the decisions you take on the basis of analyses and schedules in Vision Cloud Solution. View all details of release 3.11 of Vision Cloud Solution on the What’s new page:

Stay informed

Would you like to be kept up to speed on any changes to our solutions? Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us in LinkedIn for regular updates on releases, applications, and practical examples.