Manitoba HVDC Research Centre - PSCAD Power System Simulation Software

PSCAD™ (Power Systems Computer-Aided Design) is developed at the Manitoba HVDC Research Centre, a division of Manitoba Hydro, a large Canadian electrical utility.

Through the introduction of the PSCAD time domain simulation software, the Manitoba HVDC Centre has helped revolutionalise power system simulation.

PSCAD POWER SYSTEMS SIMULATION SOFTWARE SUITE

The PSCAD Power Systems simulation software suite is used by engineers and technologists at energy utilities, electric power research organizations, and original equipment manufacturers in 60 countries around the world.

PSCAD is a fast, accurate, and easy-to-use power system simulator for the design and verification of all types of power systems.

For power quality studies, power electronic design, distributed generation, and transmission planning, PSCAD improves your power system performance and reliability.

A product of 25 years of power system simulation research, PSCAD is the visual design tool of choice at over 1,000 commercial, industrial, and research organizations worldwide.

INTERACTIVE POWER SYSTEM DESIGN TOOL

Whether you are a student first experiencing the design of electrical power systems, an experienced engineer, or a technologist performing advanced power system simulation studies, you will find PSCAD to be a very effective and easy-to-use interactive design tool. PSCAD does not require an investment in specialized computer hardware, nor does it require extensive training to use.

PSCAD is used for the modelling and simulation of the following applications:

• Wind energy system design and integration to the electrical grid
• Power quality studies showing the full frequency response of the system including harmonics
• Power electronic design for high voltage applications including HVDC, facts
• Control systems design and optimisation
• Protection system validation studies
• Training and curriculum in power system applications

ACCURATE POWER SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY

PSCAD performs electromagnetic transient analysis on the electrical network, while providing the end-user with easy-to-use, online and offline plotting functions and graphs.

PSCAD acts as a powerful and flexible graphical user interface to the EMTDC™ transients and POWER FLOW simulation engines. The world-renowned Fortran based EMTDC solution engine is most suitable for simulating time domain instantaneous responses (also popularly known as electromagnetic transients or instantaneous solutions), in both electrical and control systems. The POWER FLOW engine will provide a very fast and accurate load flow solution.

ABOUT THE MANITOBA HVDC RESEARCH CENTRE

The Manitoba HVDC Research Centre performs innovative research and development into advanced power system technologies, power electronics and power system simulation. As part of Canada’s Manitoba Hydro, we offer specialized engineering services and develop leading-edge technology products for the power systems and power electronics community. Founded in 1981, 2006 marks our 25th anniversary of innovation in power systems technologies and services.

Longstanding strategic technology alliances with organisations such as ABB, and Siemens, and a technology advisory board with representation from research organisations, universities and electrical equipment manufacturers have fostered our success. In 2005, the Manitoba HVDC Research Centre was awarded the prestigious National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada "Synergy Award" for excellence in research and development.

"PSCAD has extended our analysis capabilities. The level of support, and the turn around time for responses is commendable."