GridPortal®, available both as an online software service and as a downloadable software system, is a multi-faceted set of applications created for electric power industry's visualization, modeling and system study needs, and an integrated platform to meet power system big data challenges in an automated, computer aided approach with high degree of artificial intelligence to enable users design and operate power systems with polymorphic models/visualizations and much needed cross-software, inter-organization information exchange, data validation and process coordination features.
GridPortal®
GridPortal® is currently comprised of 4 major modules: Smart Oneline, Model Master, Diagram On Demand and StudyPro, which are discussed in details below. Two key adaptors in the Model Master module, the Power Flow adaptor and the PI Vision adaptor, are presented in the next 2 videos.
The main delivery method of GridPortal® is through a web application driven by cross-departmental databases. GridPortal® converts all forms of one-line diagrams into relational databases using AI, enhances the diagram databases with inputs of electrical equipment, transmission lines, project executions, grid planning, system protection and real-time operational data, and provides interactive schematics on the web pages that can be collaboratively used across departments.
The GridPortal® web deployment and the GridPortal® interactive schematics are shown in the images below.
GridPortal® Web Deployment
GridPortal® Interactive Schematics
Smart Oneline
One key feature of GridPortal® is to read raw substation and transmission line diagrams (AutoCAD, Microstation, pdf, jpg, png, etc.) and use GridPortal®'s advanced artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze the files and generate an in-memory power system one-stop-shop data model, i.e. the digital twin of the power system. The in-memory model then displays in GridPortal® UI and allows users to visualize and manage. The following is a side-by-side comparison of a pdf substation diagram and a GridPortal® livened display.
New Cathay Substation CAD Display
New Cathay Substation GridPortal® Display
Tree structure of the electric components is also built for easy navigation. By clicking on the tree view items, the UI will take users right to the component on the diagram. GridPortal® exports the in-memory network model in CIM and other common industry data model formats.
The key functions of Smart Oneline are the following:
- Intelligently scanning drawing files (pdf, AutoCAD, Microstation, etc.)
- Using AI to build in-memory network model and serving as an interactive UI
- Exporting the network model into a CIM file and other common industry data model formats
The Oneline Symbols and Powerflow Elements Mapping image on the left below demonstrated GridPortal®'s capability of linking the converted oneline diagram symbols of a connectivity node with a power flow node element after merging the AI recognized oneline schematic model with a power flow case. An AutoCAD plugin module that builds GridPortal® key data modeling features into the AutoCAD software is also available for easy adoptions and better cross-department collaborations. The AutoCAD Electrical GridPortal® Plugin illustrated in the image on the right below has widely sought features such as custom symbol builder, powerflow case adaptor, CIM import/export, attributes download/upload, and running python automation, etc.
Oneline Symbols and Powerflow Elements Mapping
AutoCAD Electrical GridPortal® Plugin
Model Master
Another innovative and highly-demanded GridPortal® feature is the Model Master, the IPE network model management tool. Model Master uses APIs of CAD software, transmission line engineering tools, common ERP databases and so on to 1) retrieve the equipment electric parameters and ratings, the network topology and transmission line configurations, 2) calculate transmission line impedances, 3) generate in-memory network node-breaker model, 4) do topology analysis to produce bus-branch model, 5) export the in-memory model into requested operations, planning and protection network model formats, 6) maintain and version control the models.
Advanced artificial intelligence in heavily used in this feature and the following is an illustration of the Model Master feature in GridPortal®.
The Model Master also exports the GridPortal® in-memory electric network model with diagram information to a number of industry common formats, such as CIM, EMS custom formats, PSS/E, OSISoft PI, PSCAD, and ASPEN as well as performing conversions between those formats, bus-branch and node-breaker alike. The Model Master One Pager Illustration is shown below.
Model Master One Pager Illustration
The key functions of Model Master are the following:
- Creating network model from all relevant sources firsthand and managing the models with version control
- Intelligent ratings and impedance calculations for FERC Order 881 compliance
- Exporting the model into industry common formats
- Converting models between different formats
Diagram On Demand
The GridPortal® Diagram On Demand module automatically generates substation onelines and regional multi-station network schematics in the form/style/content users specify, which embodies the visualization polymorphism in GridPortal®. Diagram On Demand reads the plain network model in CIM XML, .raw, or EMS exported text tables, performs in-depth topology analysis and creates substation/transmission line onelines. Furthermore, DiagramOnDemand intelligently lays out the substation/transmission line onelines and generates regional electric network schematics (digital mapboard).
The diagrams generated can be configured to be in a full gamut of forms, styles and contents, including but not limited to, substation block mode, bus mode, breaker mode, switch mode, grayscale, user defined color schemes, bus summary, etc.
The key functions of Diagram On Demand are the following:
- Importing network model in plain text/xml formats and performing in-depth topology analysis
- Creating facility oneline diagrams (substation, transmission line, etc.)
- Laying out substation and transmission line on a regional schematic diagrams
- Exporting diagrams according to users specifications on forms, styles and contents
StudyPro
The StudyPro module providers a computer-assisted on-submittal studies with great degree of automations for grid planning, system protection and real-time operations. GridPortal® provides a UI for users to interactively enter study assumptions, project status, outage requests and so on for the studies. Combined with weather/load forecasts, GridPortal® also allows users to run on-the-fly power system studies as well as to run as a study-on-submittal server.
The key functions of StudyPro are the following:
- Computer assisted planning studies such as steady state, short circuit and stability studies for generation and load interconnections
- Automated common planning periodic studies, such as Annual Planng Assessment, Regional Transmission Expansion, etc.
- Diagrammatization and animation of outage requests
- On-the-fly power system studies and running as a study-on-submittal server
