PSCAD | Manitoba Hydro International Ltd.

PSCADVersion Enerplot -Offline Plotting and Analysis Software

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Offline plotting and analysis are critical aspects of many engineering and scientific studies. Having the right tool to quickly and efficiently view, analyze, and modify large quantities of data is equally important.

Process Data Quickly and Efficiently

Enerplot™ is a fully automatable application that allows you to perform highly repetitive tasks at lightning speed. You can write scripts using the embedded Python interface or record your actions to create custom script macros.

Application-level functions include loading data, creating graphs, and generating curves. Additionally, Enerplot’s Python math library allows you to create custom curves.

Transformer core flux density vs. magnetic field intensity.

Three-phase voltage transient.

Enerplot Supports the Import of Data in Many Formats

  • PSCAD™/EMTDC™ output (*.inf, *.out, *.psout);
  • PSCAD™ Harmonic Frequency Scanner output files;
  • COMTRADE (*.cfg) – 1991, 1999 both ASCII and binary;
  • PSS®E (*.out, *.asc) (licensed by Siemens AG); 
  • GE PSLF (*.acf and *.chf) (licensed by General Electric Company)
  • RSCAD® (*.out) (licensed by RTDS Technologies Inc.);
  • DCLFL (*.ana) (DC Line Fault Locator licensed by MHI, Ltd.)
  • Comma Separated Values (*.csv) – formatted and unformatted;
  • Text Files (*.txt) – formatted and unformatted.

Datasets sourced and loaded from any of the supported types above can be converted and saved as either COMTRADE or Comma Separated Variable (*.csv) format.

Features and benefits

  • Automated scripting with embedded Python interface;
  • The ability to create custom scripts by recording user actions;
  • Speed optimized loading allows for huge amounts of data to be loaded in seconds
  • Powerful, embedded math parser for creating and modifying new and pre-existing curves;
  • Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis tools;
  • Saving time with the ability to template projects when performing similar studies;
  • Quickly switching between curves by toggling references and loaded datasets;
  • Easily shifting, scaling, smoothing, and manually adjusting curves;
  • Option to update graphs using data file change detection.
Fast, Efficient and Mature Plotting Tools

The plotting tools available in Enerplot have been in use in industry for almost 25 years. Built initially for use in PSCAD/EMTDC, a world-renowned electro-magnetic transients simulator, these mature tools are optimized for speed and efficiency.

Automation: Embedded Python Scripting with Recording

Automation of the Enerplot application, utilizing custom-made Python language scripts, was first introduced in v1.0. It includes commands to launch the software, load and run simulations, change parameters, and analyse data, among many others. In v1.1, the automation interface has been updated to our latest design, which is the same one used in other MHI, Ltd. products, such as PSCAD.

Embedded Python Automation Interface, in Enerplot v1.1

Users can continue to maintain their scripts from within Enerplot, using the upgraded Script pane, from which custom scripts may be recorded, edited, or launched.

Support of Output Files from Popular Software

Enerplot supports output data files from several different applications. Data from any of the following types of output files may be loaded as a dataset and used to create curves in graphs:

  • PSCAD/EMTDC files:
  • EMTDC output (*.inf, *.out, *.psout)
  • PSCAD Harmonic Frequency Scanner Output File
  • COMTRADE files (*.cfg) – 1991, 1999, both ASCII and Binary
  • PSS®E (*.out, *.outx, *.asc) – v33 and v34
  • RSCAD (*.out)
  • PSLF files (*.acf, *.chf)
  • dcLFL Analog Trigger files (*.ana)
  • Comma Separated Values (*.csv)

Note that any data file from any format, loaded as a dataset in Enerplot, may be converted and saved to either Comma Separated Value (*.csv) or COMTRADE (*.cfg) ASCII and Binary formats (except PSCAD Harmonic Frequency Scanner Output File, which may only be converted to *.csv).

New Record Creation

Users can generate custom records, based on existing records already loaded into the work environment, by using the record wizard.

The record wizard utilises a text-based math parser to calculate a new set of record data, based on the data from one or more existing records. Records may be added or subtracted from each other, for example. Or mathematical functions may be applied directly to a set of record data, such as a scale factor or other more complex operations.

Paramater Grid View Pane

Parameter Grid View Pane

The Parameter Grid pane provides a convenient means to display the various properties of a canvas objects in Enerplot. More importantly, it enables the ability to modify multiple property values in multiple objects, simultaneously. Simply right click on an object and select View Parameter Grid… to invoke this pane.

The parameter grid is supported for the following objects:

  • Books, Sheets and Data Sets.
  • Standard Graph Frames, FFT Graph Frames and XY Plot Frames.
  • Curve Properties
  • Sticky Notes, Captions and Dividers.
Multiple Language Support in Sticky Notes (Unicode)

The Enerplot code base has been updated to fully support Unicode, which enables users to use all known writing systems within sticky notes. This of course includes the Cyrillic alphabet, Chinese characters, etc. This is a very important new feature, which has been passionately requested by many of our Asian users.

Unicode support also allows Enerplot files that are stored within folders with multi-language names, to be opened/saved.

Searching

Search facilities have been added to Enerplot! Now you can search for text in a single book or across the entire workspace. Simply enable the Search pane from the ribbon bar, or press Ctrl + f on your keyboard. When a search is performed, the results are displayed in a Search Results pane containing navigable links.