Fundamentals of PSCAD and General Applications

Fundamentals of PSCAD and General
Applications
Version 4.2
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Index
Tutorial 1 – Basic PSCAD Functions 4

Creating Cases
Saving your projects
Control Palette, Electrical Palette and the Master Library
Changing component parameters
Adding graphs
Displaying Channel units on graphs
Creating Libraries
Copying component definitions and creating instances
Modifying component definitions
Tutorial 2 – Graphing and Data Taps 11

Changing the solution and plot time step
Graph features (Zoom, Axis properties, crosshairs, curve properties, markers)
Component help
Single line and 3 line diagrams
Control signal arrays
Data Tap
Tutorial 3 – Simple AC System 20

Constructing a more advanced case
Adding controls
Fly by windows
Multimeter
Units System
Online Frequency Scanner
Adding Polymeters
Adding Meters
Adding a Sequence of Events
Creating a Page module (imports, exports, nodes, Xnodes)
Data Merge
Radio links
Tutorial 4a – Series Tuned Filter 29

File References
Reading external data files
Multiple Run component
Optimal runs
Harmonic Impedance Solution component
Tutorial 4b – Capacitor Switching Study 35

More practice with the topics covered so far
Tutorial 5 – Creating a Custom Component 39

Creating a simple leaf component using the wizard
Adding parameter pages
Creating script to define your component
Component graphics
Nayak Power Systems V4.2 Course Page 2 of 56

Tutorial 6 – Using Excel with PSCAD Data 41
Loading PSCAD output files in Excel
Pasting data points from PSCAD graphs in Excel
Tutorial 7 – Transformers 44
Transformers
Saturation
Making changes to PSCAD cases while they are running
Tutorial 8 – Transmission Models and Lines 46

Transmission Lines
Transmission Line Models
Tower Data
Transmission Line output files
Tutorial 9a – Machines and Snapshots 49

Initializing machines
Snapshots
Tutorial 9b – Machine, Governors, Exciters 51

Machine parameters
Governors
Exciters
Keyboard Shortcuts 56
Most commonly used keyboard shortcuts

Tutorial 1
Topics Covered:
Creating Cases
Saving your projects
Control Palette, Electrical Palette and the Master Library
Changing component parameters
Adding graphs
Displaying Channel units on graphs
Creating Libraries
Copying component definitions and creating instances
Modifying component definitions
T1.1 Create a new case by using either the Menu or Toolbar. A new case should appear in the Workspace entitled noname
[psc]. Right-click on this Workspace entry and select Save As… give the case a name.
NOTE: Do not use any spaces in the name!
Create a folder called c:……/PscadTraining/Tutorial_1. Save the case as case01.psc inside the folder you just created.
T1.2 Open the main page of your new case. Build the circuit that is shown below using the Master Library, Control Palette,
Electrical Palette and the Add Component Menu. You may use Wire Mode or the regular wires to connect different
components. Wire Mode can be initiated by pressing Ctrl + W.
You will have to double click (or right click and select Edit Parameters) on some components to enter the correct
parameters for this case.

The Data Label component can be understood as a local variable (local to the circuit page it is placed on). The Data Label
must be defined by some data signal (it can only be defined in one location). In the above circuit they are defined by their
connection to a wire that is carrying a data signal. They can also be defined on some parameter pages for certain components
(sometimes called internal output variables). Once the Data Label is defined it can be referenced any number of times. The
Output Channels are not directly connected to the circuit but are instead connected to the circuit via the Data Labels. The
Output Channel component is what allows data signals to be added to graphs and meters for viewing.
Change the Output Channel parameters so they display their name on the circuit and on the graph.
If a unit is entered into the Output Channel configuration page it will be displayed on any graph that contains that Output
Channel (it will also display on meters too). Experiment with this feature.
T1.3 Plot Signals Y, X1 and X2.

Main : Graphs
Y
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
y
-1.0
-2.0
-3.0
-4.0
-5.0
X1 X2
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
y
1.0
0.0
-1.0
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 ...
...
...
There are many ways to create plots in PSCAD. The first step is to place the Graph Frame (available on the Controls Palette
, or using the Add Component menu). Next a graph needs to be added to the frame. To do this, right click inside the
frame and select Add Overlay Graph (you can also place your pointer inside the frame and press the Insert key).
Next the signal must be added to the graph. Right click on the Output Channel for signal Y and select
Graphs/Meters/Controls Add as Curve

Now paste the curve by right clicking on the graph and selecting Paste Curve.

Alternatively, once you have created the frame and added the graph you can drag and drop (left click and hold, hold the Ctrl
key) the Output Channel inside the graph.
The entire process can also be done in one step by right clicking the Output Channel and selecting Graphs/Meters/Controls
Add Overlay Graph with Signal.
Try each method of creating plots.

To add an additional graph to the frame, right click on the Graph Frame and select Add Overlay Graph (Analog). Next
follow the above steps for adding the additional curves, make sure you add them to the graph you just created.
Can we change this circuit to calculate [Y = 9.75 * Tan 15t] without adding any new components?
T1.4 Save the case and then unload it. Create a new library by using File New Library. A new library should appear
in the Workspace entitled noname[.psl]. Right-click on this Workspace entry and select Save As. Save the library as
case02.psl in c:……/PscadTraining/Tutorial_1.
T1.5 Under the Definitions branch, copy the Definition called Multiplier from the Master Library into your new library. To
do this expand the Master Library and expand the Definitions (click the small + sign to their left). Find the Multiplier
definition, right click it and select Copy Definition.

Next paste the definition inside the definitions branch for the library you just created.
Rename the definition as my_mult by right clicking the definition name and selecting Properties. You can also enter a new
description.
Create an instance of the component by right clicking my_mult and selecting Create Instance. Open the Design Editor for
your library(double click the library name in the Workspace or right click it and select Open) and paste the instance of
my_mult.
T1.6 Open case01.psc and save it as case02.psc. Replace the Multiplier in this case with the one from your library. Run the
case to verify you get the same results. Save case02.psc. Unload both the case and the library. Reload the case and then the
library, Do Not Save the Case! Run the case again. What happens?

When the compiler reports an error with the case it will show up in the Output Window. Errors are denoted by red flags and
warnings are denoted by yellow flags. Clicking the plus next to red flag will allow you see what the error is. Double click
the error message to see where the problem lies on the Design Editor.
Unload the case again and this time load your library before the case. Did this correct the problem? Leave your cursor
stationary over the multiplier in case02.psc. This pop up indicates the location of the definition for this component. Verify
that this location is different then the locations of the other components in the case.
T1.7 Save case02.psl as case03.psl and save case02.psc as case03.psc.
T1.8 Change the function so Y = (2*X1) * X2. To do this we will edit the definition of my_mult. Right click on the
component definition (my_mult) in case03.psl and select Edit Definition. Click the Script tab located between the Design
Editor and the Output Window.
Change the equation to:

$OUT = 2 * $IN1 * $IN2
Replace the Multiplier in case03.psc with the one from case03.psl. Run the case and observe the results.

Tutorial 2
Topics Covered:
Changing the solution and plot time step
Graph features (Zoom, Axis properties, crosshairs, curve properties, markers)
Component help
Single line and 3 line diagrams
Control signal arrays
Data Tap
T2.1 In your …Program Files/pscad42/examples/tutorial directory, open the case project called simpleac.psc. Save the case
as simpleac01.psc in c:……/PscadTraining/Tutorial_2. Set the Plot Step to 50 s and run the case. The simulations run
time, solution time step and plot step can all be adjusted by right clicking an open area of the Design Editor and selecting
Project Settings. These setting can be modified by clicking the Runtime tab.
T2.2 Run the case. Try to get familiar with the graph functions and their keyboard shortcuts. Using the Zoom feature, zoom
into the area where the fault occurs. To view the various zoom options right click on the graph and then select Zoom.

Zoom in on the area where the fault occurs on the 3 Phase Breaker Current graph by left clicking, holding and dragging a box
around that section of the graph. Release the left mouse button and the graph will zoom in on the selected area.
T2.3 Change the X axis scale manually. To access the horizontal axis properties double click on the X axis or right click on
it and select Axis Properties. You can assign the axis a title, change the limits, adjust the grid and toggle the markers from
this window.

The X axis can also be modified by using the scroll bar at the bottom of the graph frame. You can adjust the size of the bar
to change the size of the aperture viewing the graph. Move your pointer to one of the vertical edges of the scroll bar, when
your pointer changes to the horizontal arrows click, hold and drag to resize it. Moving the entire scroll bar will move the
aperture to along the time axis.
The Y axis can be changed as well by double clicking on the axis or right clicking the graph and selecting Graph Properties.
Here you can toggle various graph preferences, assign a title, and change the limits and grid.

T2.4 Give the graph a title. To access the Graph Frame Properties double click on the top of the graph frame or right click
the top of the frame and select Graph Frame Properties. Several graph preferences can be toggled from this window as
well.
T2.5 Add the 3 Phase Source Current curve to the graph already containing the 3 Phase Breaker Current. This can be done
using several methods. This can be done by right clicking the curve name on the top graph and select Copy Curve. Then
paste the curve inside the second graph. Alternatively you can also left click on the curve name and hold while the Ctrl key
is pressed, then drag the curve name to the graph you wish to add that curve to. You can also hold the Ctrl key down and drag
and drop the correct Output Channel inside the graph. The curve order within the Graph Frame can also be changed using

the drag and drop method. You will see a bold placeholder (thick I beam) when you drag a curve or Output Channel inside a
graph. The placeholder indicates where the curve will be placed when you drop it. Change the order of the curves.
T2.6 Invoke the cross hairs mode and follow the curves using this function. To do this, right click on the graph then select
Preferences Show Cross Hair. Alternatively you can place your pointer over the graph and press the C key.
The cross hairs allow you to follow a curve point by point by left clicking, holding and sliding the mouse horizontally to
move along the curve. The X and Y coordinates for that point are displayed on the graph. To change curves within a single
graph use the space bar. The curve name which you currently have selected will be underlined.
Turn the cross hairs off, zoom out to the previous view and resize if necessary.
T2.7 Hide the Phase A and B traces (traces 1 and 2) from the 3 Phase Breaker Current channel and the 3 Phase Source
Current channel. Make the 3 Phase Breaker Current curve bold and change its color. To make Phase A and Phase B traces
invisible single left click the curve name and remove the check under V.

To change the color of the 3 Phase Breaker Current curve, double click the curve name or right click it and select Curve
Properties. Check Display the active trace with a custom style and then click Color and pick a new one, also put a check
in the box next to Bold. This will only modify the properties for the active trace, (the active trace is the one with the radio
button selected in the above picture) make sure trace 3 (C phase) is active.
Experiment with the different styles available in the Curve Properties window.
T2.8 Experiment with the markers. To turn the markers on, right click on the graph and select Preferences Show
markers. You can also place your pointer over the graph and press the M key. The markers will show up on the X axis
labelled as X and O. Drag the X marker to the peak of one of the 3 Phase Load Voltage traces before the fault has occurred.
Hide the remaining traces. Move the O marker to the next successive peak and observe the . Next right click on the X axis
and select Toggle Frequency/Delta (or press the F key while your cursor is over the X axis). What is the frequency of the
wave you are measuring? What is the ?

T2.9 Save simpleac01.psc and then save it as simpleac02.psc in c:……/PscadTraining/Tutorial_2.
T2.10 Convert the Sending End circuit to Three Phase format.
Double click on the components or right click and select Edit Parameters, change the Graphics Display to 3 phase view.

Use the 3 Phase Breakout component to interface the 3 Phase View to Single Line View. Compile the case and see what
happens (right click an open area and select Compile or use the Compile All icon ).
T2.11 Measure the line to ground voltage on the sending end. Use the Data Tap to derive the three voltage signals from the
voltmeter connected to the single line. Plot the voltages.
Place a Voltmeter to Ground on the sending end. This meter will measure all 3 phase voltages and place them in an array. If
the voltmeter was connected to one of the single phase wires it would only measure that phase voltage. Each position of an
array can be “tapped” using the Data Tap component. Change the Start at Index Number parameter for the Data Tap
component to choose which phase voltage will be pulled from the VSE data array (phase A is position 1, phase B is position
2 and so on). Create the structure shown below to plot each array position.

Now create a new graph and add the Output Channels. Run the case and compare both plots.
Single click on the three phase curve name and observe the difference between it and the three, single phase curves. Change
the active trace and experiment with the cross hairs. The space bar will allow you to change which curve you are following
on a single graph. If a curve has multiple traces, the crosshair will only follow the active trace.

Tutorial 3- Simple AC System
Topics Covered:
Constructing a more advanced case
Adding controls
Fly by windows
Multimeter
Units System
Adding Polymeters
Adding Meters
Adding a Sequence of Events
Creating a Page module (imports, exports, nodes, Xnodes)
Data Merge
Radio links
T3.1 Create a new case and save it as accircuit01.psc in c:……/PscadTraining/Tutorial_3
T3.2 Open the main page of your new case. Construct the circuit as shown below using the methods discussed up until now.
Use the Three Phase Source Model 2 and externally control it using a Real Constant tag for frequency and a Slider to control
the voltage. How do you make the source externally controlled? Open the Slider parameters and title it Vsrc, change the
min and max values to 0 and 20. Set the initial value at 14.4. Add the slider to a Control Panel so you can graphically
change its values. To do this right click on the slider and select Graphs/Meters/Controls Add as Control. Add the
Control Panel and then right click inside and select Paste. This component can also be dragged and dropped inside the
control panel.
You may wonder what type of voltage value the 3 phase source is going to output when controlled by the slider (L-G Peak,
L-L RMS etc…). If the source was controlled internally you could find this information on the relevant parameters page.

To view what will be output you can use a helpful feature in PSCAD called a fly-by window. Place your pointer over the
connection between the slider and source model (on the source side) and then leave the mouse stationary. You can see from
the window that the source is looking for L-G Peak at this connection.
Create a graph and monitor currents Ia, Ib and Ic using the Multimeter component (click the icon in the electrical
palette). The metering components take the electrical signals and convert them to data signals. The multimeter should be
connected in series, similar to that of the ammeter. The Multimeter component is new to version 4.2 and is convenient
because it can perform the function of several meters all combined into one component. Alternatively the phase currents
could have been measured using the Internal Outputs page of the Three Phase Breaker component.
Set the Timed Breaker Logic for 1 operation and set the breaker so it is initially closed and will open at 0.4 sec.
Externally control the Three Phase Fault with a Dial. Initiate the fault at 0.1 sec., with duration of 0.2 sec. How can you tell
which fault will occur at each dial position (if the sticky note wasn’t present)? Run the case multiple times, each time trying a
different Fault Type.
Experiment with different fault and breaker times. What happens when the series inductors are all set to 0.5 H? Why?
New to version 4.2 is a units system. Change the load resistances to 0.1 [kOhm] and make sure the results are the same. A
detailed description of the units system can be found under Help Index, type unit, press enter and then select Units

System. Most parameters have a target unit. Using a new unit simply means that a scale factor is applied to the value the
user enters to arrive at the target unit. The target unit, values and other information can be seen by right clicking the
component and selecting View Properties.
If you are loading a case from a previous version of PSCAD, by default the Units System will be disabled. You can enable
this function by right clicking an open area of the Design Editor, select Project Settings, click the Dynamics tab and put a
check in the box for Unit System. This process can also be used to disable the system in a 4.2 case.
T3.3 Save the case and then save it as accircuit02.psc.
T3.4 Your supervisor asks you to monitor the magnitude of the harmonic currents flowing through the breaker during each
fault: Use the On-Line Frequency Scanner component for this as shown below. Use the Data Tap component to pull only the
first 7 positions from the array (the first 7 harmonics). Set the starting index as 1 and the dimension as 7. Plot the
magnitudes in a standard time plot as well as in a Polymeter. To add a Polymeter, right click on the Output Channel and
select Graphs/Meters/Controls Add as Polymeter. Right click on an open section of the Design Editor and select
Paste. You will probably need to make the page bigger so you have enough room for your plots. To do this, right click an
open area of the Design Editor and select Page Setup. Choose a new paper size.

(Meters)

Take note of the various options within the Online Frequency Scanner component. Set the type as 3 phase, the base
frequency as 60 Hz and the number of harmonics to 63. It is important to note that the simulation time step needs to be small
enough to allow for at least 2 samples per period for the harmonics of interest. A good rule of thumb is to allow for 10
samples per period. Also it is important to set the maximum frequency of interest towards the middle of the total spectrum
you are measuring. This will allow for a sufficient number of samples to achieve accurate results. To see the difference in
the results change the number of harmonics to 7. With the above circuit we are only tapping the first 7 positions from and
array of 63 positions.
In the Polymeter, each bar represents the time varying magnitude of a harmonic. The first bar represents the fundamental; the
second bar represents the second harmonic and so on.
You can click on bar to see its magnitude at the end of the simulation. The above picture was obtained by only running the
simulation for 0.12 seconds.

Main : Graphs
HMaga
0.300
0.250
0.200
0.150
y
0.100
0.050
0.000
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 ...
...
...
In the time plots each curve represents a harmonic. Single clicking on the curve name will display the list of curves present
in the graph.
Run the case again multiple times, each time trying a different Fault Type.
T3.6 Add a Three Phase RMS Voltage Meter between the breaker and the fault branch. You can copy the example
implementation for the Meter page of the Master Library. Set the Rated Voltage for Per-Unitizing to the Line-to-Line,
RMS equivalent of the voltage specified in your source which is L-G Peak. Add the output to both a time plot and a meter.
To add the signal to a meter, place a Control Panel on the Design Editor. Right click the Output Channel and select
Graphs/Meters/Controls Add as Meter. Paste the reference inside the Control Panel. You can also hold down the Ctrl
key and drag and drop the Output Channel inside the Control Panel.

T3.8 Construct a Sequence of Events using components from the sequencer section of the master library, which performs
exactly the same timed control logic you are using now for your breaker and fault. When you are finished, delete the Timed
Fault Logic and Timed Breaker Logic components and provide the required control signals from your Sequencer.
A sequencer is useful when performing an event driven process instead of simple time driven processes in which case the
timed logic may be acceptable. The sequencer can also be useful when you wish to perform a number of time driven
operations that exceed the number allowed in the simple timed logic.
T3.9 Create a page module and move the Three Phase Fault component, along with the Dial, inside of it. Use the
Component Wizard to construct this page module (click the icon in the Main Toolbar or right click and select Create
New Component). Once the Wizard opens give your component a name, specify the number of connections needed (3
electrical and 1 data) and check the Page Module box.
Next go through each connection, the top 3 will all be fixed electrical connections and the bottom will be integer input data.
The dimension for each can be left as the default of 1. If we were using a single connection for all 3 electrical nodes (single
line view) we would set the dimension as 3.

Finish the wizard and place the component. If you made a mistake with the wizard (except for forgetting to check Page
Module box) you can correct it after the component is created. All of the connections are placed on the Graphics page and
the component name can be changed from the definitions section in the Workspace. You can double click on your
component and then click the Graphic tab at the bottom of the Design Editor or you can right click the component and select
Edit Definition.
Double clicking on any of the nodes will allow you to change its parameters. The electrical connections are black and the
data connections are dependent on their Data Type (Logical = Pink, Integer = Blue, Real = Green). You can change what
will be displayed on the main page of the circuit here, you also can add text and shapes to make your component more
presentable. Experiment with the graphics.

The graphic needs to be interfaced to the circuit components inside the page module. Go back to the main page and then
double click on your component and make sure you are in the circuit page (at the bottom left of the Design Editor). Here you
will paste the 3 Phase Fault component from the main page.
C B A
A
FAULTS
FLTin
You will also need to paste the dial on this page. Three Xnodes are needed to interface the circuit to the graphics, they need
to have the same name as the node they represent in the graphics. Also an Import is needed to bring in the data signal, this
also needs to have the same name as the data node in the graphic.
T3.10 Add a Default Module to the main page to house all the plots (click the icon). A Default Module is simply a page
module without any connections. However, you can add connections and have all the same functionality as the component
we created using the wizard. Cut and Paste all of the plots inside the page module you just created. Your finished circuit
should look like the one below.

Note that the graphs do not have to be on the same page as the Output Channels. Also the Control Panel housing the Dial
Interface and the Dial itself are not on the same page. Create a Control Panel for the dial inside the page module containing
the 3 Phase Fault. Change the Dial position and observe both Control Panels.
T3.11 Create a data signal to monitor the fault current by specifying Fault Current Names in the Three Phase Fault
Component dialog window. Transmit this signal out of the page module using the Radiolink. Receive this signal on the main
page and plot it. The module name where the transmitter is located needs to be specified for the receiver. The module name
can be found on the top bar of the PSCAD window or it can be found in the Workspace by clicking the plus sign next to the
case and then next to Main. All modules will be displayed as main.module_name. If modules are nested inside other
modules, their name will be displayed in a hierarchal format starting with main and working its way down.
All three phase currents can be output using one Radiolink by merging each current into an array (the dimension of the link
must be set to 3). Use the Data Merge component to perform this task.
Alternatively, you can export the signal the same way we imported the timing signal for the fault application. To do this the
Export component needs to be placed in the circuit as shown above. An output data node with the same name needs to be
placed in the graphic section as shown below. The dimension of this node needs to be set to 3.
An Output Channel can be directly connected to this node on the main page. Plot both signals and compare them. What is
the difference between the Radiolink and the Export/Import components?

Tutorial 4A- Series Tuned Filter
Topics Covered:
File References
Reading external data files
Multiple Run component
Optimal runs
Harmonic Impedance Solution component
T4A.1 Create a new case and save it as tunedfilt01.psc in c:……/PSCADTraining/Tutorial_4.
T4A.2 Open the main page of your new case. Construct the circuit as shown below using the methods discussed previously:
File Reader
(External Data Recorders & Readers)
Add a File Reference component to point to a file called signal.out in your course directory. To add the File Reference, right
click on an open area of the Design Editor and select Add Component File Reference. Right click the File Reference
and select Properties. Browse for the signal.out file. Double click the File Reference component to view the contents of the
file.
NOTE: signal.out is an output file created by PSCAD and is located on your course disk. The two columns of data represent
time and signal magnitude, which has an AC fundamental frequency, along with 5th and 7th harmonics.
Use the File Read component to input an external signal to the Single Phase Source, as shown in the diagram above. The
File Read component takes the data from the file and outputs it in an array. Use a Data Tap to take the second column of
data. Use that signal to control the voltage magnitude of the source. Under File Name in the File Read parameters page,
enter signal.out and change the number of columns in the output file to 2.
Note: The signal.out file was created by copying the waveform from PSCAD plot channel, imported to Excel and saved as
CSV text file. For more details on loading PSCAD output in Excel, please refer to Tutorial 6.

Set the Single Phase Source to Ideal, DC and External Input. Set the default variable R, L and C values to 0.1 , 0.07036 H
and 100 F respectively.
In the Project Settings dialog window set the simulation time to 0.15 sec and time and plot step to 50 s. Run the case and
plot the signals Vin and Vout as curves on the same graph. The series filter is tuned by default to pass only one frequency.
What frequency does the signal Vout appear to be? HINT: Use markers- mode on the graph.
T4A.3 Save the case and then save it as tunedfilt02.psc.
T4A.4 Change the value of the Variable Capacitor to variable name (such as C). Add the Multiple Run component and set
it up to sequentially vary the capacitance. Your circuit should resemble the one below.
Multiple Run
(I/O Devices)

Enable the Multiple Run component, set it to control 1 signal that is Real and set the value when disabled under the
dropdown menu option “Real Values When Disabled” as 100. Start from 10 and go to 200 with 10 as the increment under
the “Real Value 1 Config” menu. Set the number of channels to record as None under the “Recording Data Config” menu.

Run the simulation and observe the results. What happens?
T4A.5 Save the case and then save it as tunedfilt03.

T4A.6 Add the Online Frequency Scanner component to measure the magnitude of the fundamental. Use the Multiple Run
component to record the maximum of this value for each run and indicate which value of C results in the optimal run.
Set the Multiple Run component to record 1 channel and set the optimal run criteria as max for channel 1.
Control the measurement enable signal for the Multiple Run component using a Switch. Run the case and then create a File
Reference to view the multiple run output file which is created in the temporary .emt folder (tunedfilt03.emt). Observe which
value of C resulted in the optimal run.
T4A.7 Save the case and then save it as tunedfilt04.psc.

T4A.8 Modify the case to change the values of R, L and C to identify the optimal run. This time set the Multiple Run
component find the optimal run based on the minimum sum of the magnitudes of the 5th and 7th harmonics. Also record the
magnitude of the fundamental for each run.
T4A.9 Open tunedfilt01.psc and then save it as tunedfilt05.psc.
T4A.10 Open circuit the voltage source and connect the Interface to Harmonic Impedance Solution component in its place.
Set the Minimum frequency to 50 Hz and the Maximum to 70 Hz. Set the increment to 2 Hz. Run the case and add a File
Reference to the Harm.out file that was just created (inside this case’s .emt directory). See Tutorial 6 for instructions on
plotting the data in Excel.
Harmonic Impedance Solution
(Meters)
The Harm.out file should look like the one below:

Tutorial 4B- Capacitor Switching Study
Topics Covered:
More practice with the topics we have covered so far
T4B.1 Create a new case and save it as Cap_switching.psc in c:……/PSCADTraining/Tutorial_4B
T4B.2 This circuit represents a 230 kV capacitor bank with 4 steps per phase. Each step is rated at 25 Mvar/phase. The
capacitor banks are solidly grounded. The inrush and the outrush reactor sizes are to be determined so that the switching
transients do not exceed the breaker capabilities and are within the IEEE standards. The values of the outrush/inrush reactors
have been determined using IEEE C37.06.2000. Peak inrush currents depend on POW (Point On Wave) switching. This
should be studied to ensure that the breaker meets the TRV and di/dt capabilities.
Parameters for the source component are on page 37.
The circuit inside the “230 kV Capacitors” page module is as follows:

3 Phase Short
(Passive)

Use manual breaker controls to switch the breakers RL, R1, R2 and R4. Measure the currents in breakers RL and R3. Also
measure the line voltage to ground after breaker RL.
Add a Timed Breaker Logic component to control breaker R3. Set the breaker as initially open. Add a Multiple Run
component to vary the time when breaker R3 closes.
Record the maximum phase current flowing through breaker RL and base an optimal run on this criterion. Increment the
breaker close time to cover 180 degrees of point on wave switching in 10 degree increments.
Add a Gain component at the output of the Multiple Run component to convert the output from degrees to seconds. Set the
starting time for the breaker close signal at 0.4 seconds by adding 0.4 to the output of the Gain component. The sum value
corresponds to Tclose, the variable used to alter the state of the breaker R3 in the Timed Breaker Logic component. It begins
with Tclose at 0.4 second and increments 10 degrees with each run until 180 degrees of POW are covered (i.e. Tclose = 0.4,
0.4+10deg, … 0.4+180deg.) There will be a total of 20 runs – 19 runs and 1 additional run with optimal values.

The Source parameters are as follows:

Tutorial 5
Topics Covered:
Creating a simple leaf component using the wizard
Adding parameter pages
Creating script to define your component
Component graphics
T5.1 Create a new case named gain_block.psc and save it in your c:\.......PSCADTraining\Tutorial_5 directory.
T5.2 Create a new component using the wizard. The component will not be a page module and it needs a total of 2
connections. The first connection will be a Real, Input Data and the second connection will be Real, Output Data.
T5.3 Once you have created your new component, right click on it and select Edit Definition. Click on the Parameters tab at
the bottom of the Design Editor. Create a New Category by right clicking an open area and selecting New Category.
Alternatively you can use the icon on the top menu bar. Call your new category main and then click OK. Add a new
Input Control. To do this, right click on the category (grey box) and select New Control Input Field. You can also use
the icon.
Double click on the new input field or right click and select Properties. Pick a symbol name to represent the value that the
user inputs into this field. Also choose a descriptive caption so the user knows which parameter to enter. Pick a default
value and check Allow Signal Names. This option allows the use of variable names so parameters can be defined outside the
component.

T5.4 Click on the Script tab at the bottom of the Design Editor. Here you will enter the FORTRAN code that defines the
relationship between your input and output. Be sure to lead your code with at least 6 spaces so it is F77 compliant. Enter the
following code:
$Output_Node_Name = $Input_Node_Name * $Symbol_Name
The $ is the substitution prefix operator

Output_Node_Name is the name you chose for the Output Data connection
Input_Node_Name is the name you chose for the Input Data connection
Symbol_Name is the symbol name you chose for the Input Field
T5.5 Click on the Graphics tab at the bottom of the Design Editor. Clean up the graphic for your new component. Add
some text to describe it. You can also add text that will display the value input by the user. To do this, add a text field by
right clicking on an open area and selecting New Graphic Text. You can also click the icon. The text needed to
display the input parameter on the component graphic is $Symbol_Name.
T5.6 Go up one module to the main circuit page and construct the circuit that is shown below. Use sliders to control the
input and the gain. Plot the output on a meter. Also, you can input the gain directly into the component instead of using a
variable name. Run the circuit to verify its operation.

Tutorial 6
Topics Covered:
Loading PSCAD output files in Excel
Pasting data points from PSCAD graphs in Excel
T6.1 To open a PSCAD .out file in Excel, use the following steps. Start Excel and then got to File Open. Change the
Files of Type: drop down menu to All Files (*.*). Navigate to your Tutorial_4 directory and open the tunedfilt05.emt
directory (you will need to have run the case for this directory to be available). Find the Harm.out file and select Open.
The Text Import Wizard will open, change the Original data type to Delimited and click Next.

Set the Delimiters to Space and make sure Treat Consecutive delimiters as one is checked. Click the Finish button. Your
data is now available for plotting in Excel.
T6.2 Data used for graphs in PSCAD can also be copied and plotted in Excel. To do this, run a PSCAD case (tunedfilt01.psc
for this example). Right click on the Graph and select Copy Data to Clipboard. You have three options at this point; you can
copy all of the data points, only the visible data points (depending on your zoom, axis limits, etc…), or all the data points
between the markers (if you have them enabled).

Start Excel and go to Edit Paste Special. Paste the data as CSV (comma separated values). The left most column
contains the time values. Each column to the right contains the curve data points from the PSCAD plot. These curves are in
the same order as they are shown in the PSCAD plot from left to right.

Tutorial 7
Topics Covered:
Transformers
Saturation
Making changes to PSCAD cases while they are running
T7.1 Create a new case with a Y-Y transformer as shown in the figure.
Save the case as case01.psc in c:……/PSCADTraining/Tutorial_7
T7.2 Set the transformer to be 100 MVA, 100/50 kV, 60Hz. Select an Ideal transformer and enable saturation on winding
number 2 (when enabling saturation, the transformer must be set Ideal so that only the saturation is modeled and not the
magnetizing branch). Set time to release flux clipping to 0.001s. Run the case for 0.5 s with a suitable time step and plot
step. Plot the primary and secondary side line currents and voltages. Do they show signs of distortion?
T7.3 Remove the ramp time from the voltage source (you will need to set the source as internally controlled to do this, after
you remove the ramp time reset the source to be externally controlled). Do you observe saturation? Disable saturation and
run the case.
T7.4 Enable the tap changer on winding # 1. Control the tap position with a Slider. Set the Slider max and min. values at 0.1
and 1.2 (default = 1). Run the simulation for 5 seconds. Decrease the tap position from 1 to 0.1 while the case is running.
How does this affect the turn ratio? Save the case.
T7.5 Save the case as case02.psc. Modify the circuit as shown below.

Set the fault to occur at 0.25 s with duration of 0.1 s. Run the case.
T7.6 Experiment with different winding configurations (Y-Delta, Delta-Y, Delta-Delta, Delta leading or lagging). Observe
the Phase differences between the primary and secondary as well as the differences in fault current. Save the case.
T7.7 Save the case as case03.psc. Make the changes shown below.
Monostable
Multivibrator
(CSMF)
Set the case to run for 2 seconds. Set the duration of the Monostable Multivibrator to 0.1 s. Run the case and use the Push
Button to apply an overvoltage while the simulation is running. Adjust the Real Constant connected to the Multiplier to
apply different overvoltages.

Tutorial 8
Topics Covered:
Transmission Lines
Transmission Line Models
Tower Data
Transmission Line output files
T8.1 Create the circuit shown in the diagram.
Save the case as transline1.psc in c:……/PSCADTraining/Tutorial_8
To add the Tline Configuration component to your circuit, click the icon. To edit the line length and set the component
for direct connection, double click the Tline Configuration component or right click it and select Properties. Set the line
length to 1000 km.
Click Edit from the Tline Configuration window or right click the configuration component and select Edit Definition. In
this window you will need a Tower, Ground Plane and Model. Each of these can be added by right clicking on the
background and selecting Add Tower, Choose Model or Ground Data. The components can also be copied from the Tline
section of the Master Library. Use the Bergeron Model with default parameters, 3 Conductor Delta Tower with default
parameters and a Ground Data component with default parameters.

T8.2 Run the simulation. Go back into the Tline Configuration Editor and view the various files created by the Tline
program. There are tabs for each file between the Design Editor window and the Output window. Add a File Reference to
the .out file for your transmission line on the main page. What is the Characteristic Impedance of the transmission line?
Would it be acceptable to use this simulation time step if the line is only 10 km long? Save the case.
T8.3 Save the case as transline2.psc.
T8.4 Terminate the line with its characteristic impedance and observe the results. Characteristic impedance (Z) may be
calculated as following:
-1 Data for the characteristic impedance calculation may be found

R 0.338915513 10
in Line1.out. Double-click on Line1.out File Reference. Scroll
XL 0.716453297 down towards the end of file values of R, XL and B. Take the
positive sequence values.
B 2.01727439
1
XC
( B)
2
230
Z (R i XL ) ( i XC )
100
Z 315.347 7.455i
1
C
377 7.455 The line should be terminated with a resistor of 315.347 and
6 a capacitor of 355.804 µF.
C 355.804 10
Verify the travel time found in the .out file. Save the case.
T8.5 Save the case as transline3.psc.

T8.6 Set the termination style of the transmission line to Remote Ends. Add two Tline Interface components (click the
icon). Place the receiving end of the line inside a page module. Also, add an A phase to ground fault on the receiving end
inside the page module. Set the fault to begin at 0.25 seconds and last for 0.1 second. Use RadioLinks to transmit the
receiving end current and voltage to the main page.
Inside Receiving end page module:
T8.7 Run the case with the Frequency Dependent (Mode) Model, Frequency Dependent (Phase) Model and the Bergeron
Model. Are there any differences in the results? Save the case.

Tutorial 9A
Topics Covered:
Initializing machines
Snapshots
T9A.1 Copy initialization.psc and initialization2.psc from the Tutorial_9 directory on your course CD to your hard drive and
then open initialization.psc.
T9A.2 Run the case and observe the time it takes for the machine to reach steady state.
T9A.3 Change the Threshold Input Value to 0 in the Single Input Level Comparator that controls signal S2M. This will set
the machine to start as a machine instead of a source. Run the case and observe the results.
T9A.4 Change the real and reactive power values on the Initial Conditions if Starting as a Machine parameter page to
correspond to the steady state values. Run the case and take note of the amount of time it takes the case to reach steady state
T9A.5 Change the Threshold Input Value to 0 in the Single Input Level Comparator that controls signal L2N. This will set
the machine to start with full dynamics instead of with a locked rotor. Run the case and observe the results. Remove the
feedback connection from Tm0 to Tm and Ef0 to Ef. Connect the nearby Real Constants to Tm and Ef. Run the case and
observe the results. What is the main purpose of the various initialization methods and parameters?
T9A.6 Open initialization2.psc and run the case. The fault is set to occur once the machine has fully settled into the steady
state at 9 seconds. Use a snapshot taken at 8 seconds to start the simulation. To take the snapshot right click on an open area
of the Design Editor and select Project Settings. Select the Runtime tab and then Set Timed Snapshot(s): to Single, (once
only), give the file a name and set the time as 8 seconds.

Run the simulation. Once it has completed go back into Project Settings and changed Timed snapshot(s): to None, change
the Startup method: to From snapshot file and browse for the location of the .snp file (it will be inside the
initilization2.emt directory created by PSCAD inside the directory where the project resides.
Run the simulation for 10 seconds and observe the results. Why does it look like the fault occurs at 1 second? Can this be
changed?

Tutorial 9B
Topics Covered
Machine parameters
Governors
Exciters
T9B.1 Create the circuit shown in the diagram.
Save the case as machine1.psc in c:……/PSCADTraining/Tutorial_9B

T9B.2 Switch in the second load at 5 seconds. Use the following machine parameters (most of them have been left as the
default values):

Run the case for 30 seconds with a 50 uS time step and a 200 uS plot step. Take note of the drop in machine speed and the
drop in terminal voltage. Save the case.
T9B.3 Save the case as machine2.psc.
T9B.4 Add a Model 1 Hydro Governor and Hydro Turbine to the circuit as shown below.
Use the following parameters for the governor and turbine (most are left as defaults):

Run the case and observe the results. Save the case.
T9B.5 Save the case as machine3.psc.
T9B.6 Add a Type ST Exciter to the circuit as shown below.

Use the following exciter parameters (most are left as default):
Run the case and observe the results. Save the case.

Most Common Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
Circuit Layout Plots
Wire Mode Ctrl + W To select/change curve within a
single graph when using crosshair Spacebar
Cut Ctrl + X
Copy Ctrl + C Add an overlay graph place pointer
inside frame and insert Insert
Paste Ctrl + V
Rotate Left L Zoom In +
Rotate Right R Zoom Out -
Mirror M Previous P
Flip F Next N
Refresh F5 X Extents X
Up One Module Backspace X Limits E
Copy/Paste Ctrl + Left Click Y Extends Y
(Drag and Drop)
Zoom In + Y Limits U
Zoom Out - Reset all extents R
Reset all limits B
General Gridlines G
New Case Ctrl + N Tick Marks I
Load Project Ctrl + O Curve Glyphs K
Save Ctrl + S Show Markers M
Unload the project Ctrl + U Show Y Intercept W
Master Library Ctrl + Right Click Show Cross Hair C

Fundamentals of PSCAD and General Applications

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Fundamentals of PSCAD and General

Tutorial 1 – Basic PSCAD Functions 4

Tutorial 2 – Graphing and Data Taps 11

Tutorial 3 – Simple AC System 20

Tutorial 4a – Series Tuned Filter 29

Tutorial 4b – Capacitor Switching Study 35

Tutorial 5 – Creating a Custom Component 39

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Tutorial 8 – Transmission Models and Lines 46

Tutorial 9a – Machines and Snapshots 49

Tutorial 9b – Machine, Governors, Exciters 51

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T1.3 Plot Signals Y, X1 and X2.

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Try each method of creating plots.

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T1.7 Save case02.psl as case03.psl and save case02.psc as case03.psc.

Change the equation to:

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T2.10 Convert the Sending End circuit to Three Phase format.

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T3.1 Create a new case and save it as accircuit01.psc in c:……/PscadTraining/Tutorial_3

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T3.3 Save the case and then save it as accircuit02.psc.

Online Frequency Scanner

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T3.5 Save the case and then save it as accircuit03.psc.

T3.7 Save the case and then save it as accircuit04.psc.

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T4A.1 Create a new case and save it as tunedfilt01.psc in c:……/PSCADTraining/Tutorial_4.

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T4A.3 Save the case and then save it as tunedfilt02.psc.

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T4A.5 Save the case and then save it as tunedfilt03.

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T4A.7 Save the case and then save it as tunedfilt04.psc.

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T4A.9 Open tunedfilt01.psc and then save it as tunedfilt05.psc.

The Harm.out file should look like the one below: