Overview of Power System Analysis

An electric power system is a network of electrical components used to generate, transmit and use electric power. This could be the elaborate network that supplies power to a region’s home and industry through an electrical grid transmission system from generating plants located faraway or even a captive power plant/microgrid which generates and consumes power within the same premises itself. The planning, design, and operation commercial and industrial power systems require indepth engineering studies to evaluate existing and proposed system performance, reliability, safety, and economics. Due to high risk of human life and costly equipments associated with any power systems, properly conceived and conducted power system studies and simulations are the only cost-effective way to prevent surprises and to optimize equipment selection. These power system studies identify and help avoid potential deficiencies in the system before it goes into operation. In the case of existing systems, the studies help locate the cause of equipment failure and misoperation, and determine corrective measures for improving system performance. 

In power engineering, an oneline diagram or single-line diagram (SLD) is a simplified notation for representing a three-phase power system. The one-line diagram has its largest application in power flow studies and in engineering design. Electrical elements such as circuit breakers, transformers, capacitors, bus bars, and conductors are shown by standardized schematic symbols. It is a form of block diagram graphically depicting the paths for power flow between entities of the system. Instead of representing each of three phases with a separate line or terminal, only one conductor is represented.  Elements on the diagram do not represent the physical size or location of the electrical equipment, but it is a common convention to organize the diagram with the same left-toright, top-to-bottom sequence as the switchgear or other apparatus represented. A typical SLD is illustrated below for reference:

Today, with the advent of digital computers, Power System Simulations are the basis of modern design of power systems for all industries. Typical studies most likely needed are load flow studies, ground mat design, harmonic measurements, cable ampacity studies, short-circuit studies, switching transient studies, coordination studies, and motor starting studies. The responsible engineer for system design must decide which studies are needed to ensure that the system will operate safely, economically, and efficiently over the expected life of the system. 

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