Software
Available in PDF
NAP is a planning software for electric power transmission and distribution networks (HV, MV).
NAP is composed of the following calculation modules:
NAP results from more than 30 years of experience of Systems Europe through the various planning studies carried out world-wide by the company.
NAP is a modern software based on state-of-the-art methods and algorithms of which many are original. The software was recently updated in order to take advantage of the most modern user interface and programming technologies.
NAP is:
Networks are displayed by a one-line diagram schematic representation. A single network may have several views representing either
the complete network or a part of it. The user may select the data and/or result parameters to be displayed in each view.
Color and thickness of network elements may be determined by data- or result parameters as selected by the user. Several views can be simultaneously opened in different windows, allowing to compare at a glance different network alternatives. Standard drawing functions such as zoom facilities, dragging of elements, multiple selection or name-guided element selection, etc. are available.
Flexibility and Interactivity are NAP highlights. Creating a network is achieved by simply drawing its network elements, i.e. nodes, lines, DC lines and transformers. Several powerful drawing functions are available to allow for maximum flexibility. By simply clicking on a network element, a data frame appears, allowing to edit any of its data parameters or to visualize its results. All data are in physical units (MW, MVar, km,...), or in p.u. as selected by the user. A common database and a single graphical interface allow for easy access to the data and the results of all the calculation modules.
Planning studies definitely require the analysis of numerous scenarios corresponding to various hypothesis and possible alternatives of the problem data. To allow for easy creation and comparison of several alternatives, NAP uses a Scenario Manager module that organizes the various scenarios in a hierarchical tree structure using the inheritance principle. This means that, if a particular data item is not defined in a scenario, its value automatically equals the value defined in its parent scenario. This parent value can again inherit from its own parent, and so on. The Scenario Manager allows the user to easily create and manage in a well-organized way many study alternatives, and to compare their results.
This module is actually a sequence of three interrelated sub-modules.
In this calculation, power generation is fixed for all nodes, except at the slack node.
The classic Newton method is used to calculate the voltage plan. An option allows for the possibility to optimize the Newton move between two iterations.
A set of constraints is added to the solution generated by the ILF module. These constraints represent the limits on the node voltages, active and reactive generation, transformers taps and lines capacities. The CPF module, starting from the ILF solution, searches in the solution space for a solution satisfying the set of constraints. If such solution does not exist, the cause is identified.
To the solution that was generated by the CPF, an objective function of the state variables (active and reactive generation) is added. The OPF module searches in the solution space the solution that minimizes the objective function. In addition to this optimal solution, the marginal active and reactive node costs are calculated.
This module analyses the variation of the optimum load flow as a result of the variation of one of its parameters. For instance, one may analyse the variation of the system active losses (Y-axis) resulting from the installation of the reactive power bank of varying capacity (X-axis) installed in a particular node.
Starting from a reference load flow, this module calculates the consequences of a symmetrical or asymmetrical fault (one phase to ground, two phases to ground or phase to phase). The available results do include the node voltages, generators and tie-line currents.
This module calculates the consequences of a list of outages, including all the network elements or only a user-specified subset.
The unsatisfactory results of this analysis (e.g. violated voltage or capacity constraints) are presented in a list that is ranked according to their cause or to their effect, as selected by the user. When examining the consequences of outages, various corrective actions bearing on the active or reactive generation are available as an option.
This module examines the evolution of the power system's state variables after occurrence of a fault: symmetrical short circuit on a node or a line, or a sudden variation of load or generation.
The generator's speed and the voltage regulators are modelled through their characteristic parameters.
The results are presented through time curves showing the evolution of the various system variables.
Software presentation in Microsoft Powerpoint format: nap_presentation-E.pps (1.2 MB).
Article in Adobe Acrobat format: nap_article-E.pdf.
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