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Software

ETAP: A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR POWER QUALITY

SOLUTIONS

ETAP (Electrical Transient Analyzer Program) is the most comprehensive solution for the
design, simulation, and analysis of generation, transmission, distribution, and industrial power
systems. In addition, using its standard offline simulation modules, ETAP can utilize real-time
operating data for advanced monitoring, real-time simulation, optimization, energy management
systems and high-speed intelligent load shedding.
ETAP has been designed and developed by engineers for engineers to handle the diverse
discipline of power systems in one integrated package with multiple interface views such as AC and
DC networks, cable raceways, ground grid, GIS, panels, protective device coordination/selectivity,
and AC and DC control system diagrams.

ETAP primarily has several electrical engineering software that includes the following
PQ-related modules: Harmonic Analysis, Load Flow Analysis (AC & DC), Transient Stability,
Optimal Capacitor Placement, Motor Starting and Generator Start-up.

Harmonic Analysis

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Sample ETAP Harmonic Analysis

The wide and ever increasing applications of power electronic devices, such as variable
speed drives, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), static power converters, etc., power system
voltage and current quality has been severely affected in some areas. In these areas components
other than that of fundamental frequency can be found to exist in the distorted voltage and current
waveforms. These components usually are the integer multipliers of the fundamental frequency,
called harmonics. In addition to electronic devices, some other nonlinear loads, or devices
including saturated transformers, arc furnaces, fluorescent lights, and cycloconverters are also
responsible for the deterioration in power system quality.

Harmonic Load Flow

ETAP's Harmonic Analysis module let you simulate harmonic current and voltage
sources, identify harmonic problems, reduce nuisance trips, design and test filters, and
report harmonic voltage and current distortion limit violations. Comprehensive load flow and
frequency scan calculations are performed using detailed harmonic source models and
power system component frequency models. Results are shown graphically, including
harmonic order, harmonic spectrum plots, and harmonic waveform plots, as well as Crystal
Reports.
Harmonic Frequency Scan
ETAP Frequency Scan module is the best tool to investigate the system resonance
problem. It calculates and plots the magnitudes and phase angles of bus driving point
impedance over a frequency range specified by the user; thus, any parallel resonance
condition and its resonance frequency can be clearly identified. The harmonic frequency
scan study also allows users to tune their harmonic filter parameters and test the final
results.
Harmonic Filters and Sizing
Harmonic filters are extensively used to mitigate harmonic problems. A properly
designed harmonic filter can prevent the harmonic current from injecting into the system, or
it can provide a low impedance path at the tuned frequency to remove a parallel
resonance. The Harmonic Filter editor provides all the practical and popular filter structures
for you to choose from.

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Load Flow Analysis

ETAP Load Flow Analysis module calculates the bus voltages, branch power factors,
currents, and power flows throughout the electrical system. ETAP allows for swing, voltage
regulated, and unregulated power sources with multiple power grids and generator connections. It
is capable of performing analysis on both radial and loop systems. ETAP allows you to select from
several different methods in order to achieve the best calculation efficiency.

Sample ETAP Load Flow Analysis

Optimal Capacitor Placement (OCP)

The majority of power systems operate at a lagging power factor due to inductive loads and
delivery apparatus (lines and transformers). Power systems are inductive in nature, and require
additional reactive power flow from the power grid. But excessive reactive power demands result in
reduced system capacity, increased losses, and decreased voltage, as well as higher operating
costs. Shunt capacitor banks are able to compensate for var requirements, but bank size, location,
the capacitor control method, and cost considerations are important issues that need to be
optimized during the design phase. An ideal solution would be a capacitor placement tool able to
weigh all these factors and that considers load levels. This solution should also be able to place
capacitors for voltage support and power factor correction, while minimizing the total cost of
installation and operation. ETAP now provides just such an application in its Optimum Capacitor
Placement (OCP) module.

Transient Stability

ETAP Transient Stability Analysis program is designed to investigate the system dynamic
responses and stability limits of a power system before, during, and after system changes or
disturbances. The program models dynamic characteristics of a power system, implements the
user-defined events and actions, solves the system network equation and machine differential
equations interactively to find out system and machine responses in time domain. You can use
these responses to determine the system transient behavior, make stability assessment, set
protective device settings, and apply the necessary remedy or enhancement to improve the
system stability.

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Sample ETAP Transient Stability Analysis

Motor Starting / Acceleration

The purpose of performing a motor starting study is twofold: to investigate whether the
starting motor can be successfully started under the operating conditions, and to see if starting the
motor will seriously impede the normal operation of other loads in the system.

Sample ETAP Motor Starting Study

It is necessary to perform a motor starting analysis for the reason that during the motor
starting period, the starting motor appears to the system as a small impedance connected to a
bus. It draws a large current from the system, about six times the motor rated current, which
therefore results in voltage drops in the system and imposes disturbances to the normal operation
of other system loads. Since the motor acceleration torque is dependent on motor terminal voltage,
in some cases the starting motor may not be able to reach its rated speed due to extremely low

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terminal voltage.

Generator Start-up

ETAP Generator Start-Up Analysis is a special feature of the ETAP Transient Stability
program. This type of analysis is particularly necessary for nuclear generation plants and for special
conditions when the connection to a power grid is lost and recovery of the power supply to some
critical loads is mandatory. In these cases, a cold stand-by generator is started up as an emergency
condition and progresses through acceleration and load acceptance stages, before finally reaching
steady state condition.
The generator start-up analysis can simulate the entire process of a synchronous generator
during start-up, from the cold stand-by mode to the full operation mode. The synchronous generator
and all of its associated controls, including turbine/engine and governor system, excitation/AVR
system, and other associated controls, are modeled in a very detailed and extensive way, including
both frequency dependency and saturation correction. The Event and Action editors in the Transient
Stability Study Case Editor, along with Frequency and Voltage Relays, allow you to start the
generator and operate circuit breakers exactly the same as in a real system. Induction motors are
dynamically modeled with frequency dependent models to allow acceleration at under frequency and
under voltage conditions. Other system components are also correctly and accurately modeled.

(WATCH OUT FOR TUTORIAL POSTS OF THE ETAP MODULES)

Reference:

1. ETAP HELP File

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About Me

yepyep

I am an Electrical Engineer with a Masters Degree in Business Administration. My interest is in Power

Quality, Diagnostic Testing and Protective Relaying. I have been working in an electric distribution utility for
more than a decade. I handle PQ studies, power system analysis, diagnostic testing, protective relaying
and capital budgeting for company projects.
View my complete profile

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