PowerFactory offers with the simulation scan also the possibility to observe the solver. This allows the user to define a parameter simulation scan which can stop the simulation in case of high number of divergence messages. This can also be used together with the System Parameter Identification to give non-convergent solutions an infinite penalty.

The following steps are required for this:

1. Activate in the command "Calculation of Initial Conditions" the Simulation Scan on the corresponding page.
2. Create a new Variable Scan Module via the button "Edit Simulation Scan"
3. Select under Scan location --> User defined --> the used result object (ElmRes). The result object is stored by default in the active study case under the name "All calculations.ElmRes".
4. Enter as variable either:
   • "b:warnA" for cases where PowerFactory cannot find the solution for the continuous equations of models. The simulation results might be wrong.
   • "b:warnB" for cases where the simulation had some major convergence problems or time step issues. The simulation results may still be correct in many cases.
   • "b:warnC" for cases where the simulation had some minor convergence problems. The simulation results may be correct in most cases.
5. Enter under "Settings:
   • Maximum limit: The maximum number of warnings you accept before the simulation will stop.
   • Minimum limit: -1 (the warnX will only count up, starting from 0).
6. Action: Stop Simulation, enable "Stop with error" if the simulation run should get an infinite high penalty.

Hint: You can also add a variable selection (IntMon) for the result object (ElmRes). The warnX values - beside of others - can be done selected from the "Basic Data" page, under the variable set "Calculation Parameter". This way the values can be plottet to get a better feeling for the amount of counted warnings.