PSCAD® is a fast, accurate, and easy-to-use power system simulation software for the design and verification of all types of power systems. PSCAD® is also known as PSCAD®/EMTDC™ because EMTDC™ is the simulation engine, which is now the integral part of PSCAD® graphical user interface. PSCAD® is most suitable for simulating time domain instantaneous responses, also known as electromagnetic transients orinstantaneous solutions, in both electrical and control systems.
The PSCAD® graphical user interface greatly enhances the power and usability of the simulation environment. It allows the user to efficiently construct a circuit schematic, run a simulation, analyze the results, and manage the data in a completely integrated graphical environment. PSCAD® provides intuitive and interactive control input, meters, and online plotting functions and graphs.
PSCAD® has been adopted worldwide by utilities, manufacturers, research & educational institutions, and consultants as the premier tool for transient simulation. These people rely on the extensive library of power and control system models, as well as, the accuracy and reliability PSCAD® provides.
PSCAD®: A comprehensive design and analysis environment
The PSCAD® environment has been designed with users in mind; great care and attention has been paid to ensure that operations are smooth, fast, and intuitive.
For more detail on the various core elements of PSCAD® , separate PDF documents are prepared and linked below for your review.
Showcase for Manitoba HVDC Research Centre
By Eng. V. M. Diez Interconexión Eléctrica, Colombia
At Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. ESP in Colombia, PSCAD® is used for studying Harmonic Analysis, the Development of Restoration Policies, Detailed Static Var Compensation (SVC) Modeling, and the Generation of COMTRADE Files for Relay Testing. PSCAD® has proven to be a very valuable tool where transients in HV transmission systems are studied and control design is important. The latter can be seen in the control strategy developed for the electrical interconnection between Colombia and Ecuador at 230 kV where a Volts Vars Control (VVC) was developed. The VVC has a straightforward response under steady state, however the impact of different aspects , such as high impedance faults, single phase reclosing functions, mutual coupling in transmission lines and other effects and phenomena can lead to the control system making incorrect decisions. This can take the system and taking the system to a severe operating condition or even a full collapse. PSCAD® plays an important role in analyzing and avoiding these types of situations.
