System Integration
The DIgSILENT products PowerFactory and StationWare are used by our customers in complex business processes and use data from other information systems (GIS, SCADA, etc.). In close cooperation with the customer, the DIgSILENT project team develops customer-specific integration solutions that enable centralised and efficient data management and the automation of processes.
GIS Integration
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) together with Asset Management Systems are the main sources of network topology and equipment data. Many utilities use GIS exports as a basis for the PowerFactory network model. These exports may comprise detailed substation data including topology, line/cable data, load/generation data and GPS coordinates/schematic diagram information, etc.
The symbols of stations, line style and colouring can be customised according to technical properties of the objects. The built-in Compare & Merge Tool and the versioning mechanism perfectly support frequent data exchange with GIS.
PowerFactory engines can directly be integrated into GIS systems providing calculation functionality such as evaluation of renewable generation connected to the low voltage grid.
Geographic representation of a fictitious medium voltage grid in PowerFactory. Yellow circles indicate load; purple shows installed production.
SCADA Integration
The PowerFactory OPC interface is utilised worldwide for real-time integration of PowerFactory with SCADA systems. The applications range from online state estimation, simulation mode functions (dispatcher load flow, contingency analysis, switching validation) to dispatcher training simulator with real-time transient grid simulation. Controller manufacturers use the PowerFactory OPC interface for controller development and hardware-in-the-loop tests, e.g. for smart grid controllers, PV or wind park control schemes.
Business Process Automation
PowerFactory supports standard ENTSO-E operation planning processes such as D2CF, DACF and IDCF (Intraday). The Intraday process runs as a fully-automated, parallelised process. The ESB interface adapter features message-based data exchange such as load forecast, planned generator dispatch, day-ahead cross-border exchange programs, UCTE-DEF files, EMS snapshots, dynamic line ratings and market coupling data.
Likewise, PowerFactory is the product of choice for business process automation in distribution planning and operation. As an example, the combined MV/LV calculation for the distribution grid of a whole country (>2 000 primary substations and > 25 000 MV feeders and > 845 000 LV grids) has been automated using PowerFactory and bulk exports of GIS data.
Processes in strategic and operational network planning that are well supported by DIgSILENT PowerFactory in customised automated solutions.
System architecture automation for operational processes.
Integration Components
PowerFactory operated in engine mode provides complete PowerFactory functionality for external systems. The engines can be controlled via a PowerFactory Engine Manager, PowerFactory API, DPL or Python scripts. Various interfaces such as CIM, UCTE-DEF, OPC and DGS support bi-directional data exchange with different systems.
The ESB interface adapter connects to an enterprise service bus enabling modern message-based data exchange. The PowerFactory Engine Manager component provides access to multiple PowerFactory engines via web services. The built-in queuing and scheduling simplifies the integration of the PowerFactory engine into other applications.
