Distribution engineering tool features a flexible framework

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has been involved in developing a software package designed to meet the needs of distribution engineers. The result of these efforts is a workstation software package (DEWorkstation) that provides an open architecture environment with integrated data and applications. Analysis, design, and operation modules access database data and exchange data through common functions. The open architecture allows external application modules to be added to the workstation. External measurements such as voltage, current, and temperature may be imported and displayed on the circuit schematic. These imported variables are made available to any application program running within the workstation. This distribution engineering tool is designed to meet the analysis, planning, design, and operation needs of distribution engineering through its available application modules. Modules perform the following types of analyses: power flow, load estimation, line impedance calculation, fault analysis, capacitor placement, phase balancing, and more. External data such as customer information system data and distribution transformer data may be imported. The workstation is designed to provide utilities with a platform suitable for distribution automation evaluations