Aissa SOULI1, Abdelhafid HELLAL2, Slami SAADI1

Nuclear Research Center of Birine-Algeria (1), Electrical engineering Department, Laghouat University- Algeria (2)

Programming EMTP-ATP-PSCAD Software Functions using

MATLAB for Power Systems Transient Analysis
Abstract. This article aims to create a simulation software MATP for power systems transients, replacing the two transients simulation softwares
ATP and PSCAD. Were presented a brief description of the ATP and PSCAD softwares. We described the program MATP, and then we simulated
several defects that can cause transients in different networks by ATP, PSCAD and MATP with interpretations of results.

Abstract. W artykule przedstawiono zastosowanie programu symulacyjnego MATP w systemach mocy, jako uzupełnienie programów
symulacyjnych ATP i PSCAD. Przedstawiono krótki opis programów ATP i PSCAD. Opisano także program MATP a następnie przedstawiono
symulacje różnych defektów jakie mogą się zdarzyć w sieciach zasilających. (Programowanie funkcji w EMTP-ATP-PSCAD przy użyciu Matlaba
na potrzeby analizy sieci zasilających)

Keywords: Transients in power systems, ATP / EMTP, MATP, MATLAB / SIMULINK.

Słowa kluczowe: Stany przejściowe w sieciach zasilających, Matlab, MATP, ATP, EMTP.

Introduction electromagnetics) but solve the differential equations of

The MATP "Matlab Transients Analysis Program," [1], is machine mechanical dynamics (i.e. rotational inertia).
a transient’s simulation program in electrical networks
MATLAB
created to replace the simulation softwares such as ATP /
MATLAB [6] is a high-performance language for
EMTP and PSCAD. As we have previously mentioned,
technical computing. It integrates computation,
these programs are black boxes for us, and if their use is
visualization, and programming in an easy-to-use
simple, modification is impossible. We are obliged to use
environment where problems and solutions are expressed
them according to their own characteristics, and we have no
in familiar mathematical notation
way to change their content (which is obvious since we
MATLAB is an interactive system whose basic data
must be authorized and agreed by authors who hold rights
element is an array that does not require dimensioning. This
over their product). But if we need to have changes such as
allows you to solve many technical computing problems,
adding new models of components or another mathematical
especially those with matrix and vector formulations, in a
resolution tool, or non-existent applications in the versions
fraction of the time it would take to write a program in a
available, it is absolutely necessary to develop our own
scalar non interactive language such as C or FORTRAN.
program. This is without mentioning the costs that such
programs can claim. Structure of MATP
Our program called MATP was developed to analyze
Description of the computer tools
Alternative Transient Program (ATP) various functions issuing from transients like those for ATP
ATP is a universal program system for digital simulation or PSCAD. MATP can analyze actually two types of
of transient phenomena [2].of electromagnetic as well as functions, the first type “Commutation transients and
electromechanical nature. With this digital program, defects” represented by defects: opening and closing a line,
complex networks and control systems of arbitrary structure short circuit defect and Their removal, loss of a generator,
can be simulated. over load defect, The latter contains the loss of load and
ATP has extensive modeling capabilities and additional load power supplying While the second type concerns
important features besides the computation of transients. It “shots and lightning surge” represented by the defects
has been continuously developed through international caused by lightning strikes [7] on current.
contributions over the past 20 years.
PSCAD/EMTDC
EMTDC is a transients simulator [3] which has been
evolving since the mid-1970. Originally inspired by Dr.
Hermann Dommel from his classic April 1969 IEEE paper
published in the Transactions on Power Apparatus and
Systems, its development has always been completely
independent of EMTP and its many derivatives.
PSCAD [4] is a powerful graphical user interface that
integrates seamlessly with EMTDC, a general purpose time
domain program for simulating power system transients and
controls. Together they provide a fast, flexible and accurate
solution for the simulation of virtually any electrical
equipment or system.
PSCAD/EMTDC [5] represents and solves the
differential equations of the entire power system and its Fig. 1. Structure of program MATP
controls in the time domain (both electro-magnetic and MATP is a program implemented in MATLAB
electro-mechanical systems). This class of simulation tool environment and allows you to run multiple applications and
differs from load flow and transient stability tools, which use functions (Simulink files). The structure of MATP is based
steady state equations to represent electrical circuits (i.e. on graphical interfaces made by MATLAB (GUI), so if one

PRZEGLĄD ELEKTROTECHNICZNY (Electrical Review), ISSN 0033-2097, R. 86 NR 6/2010 285

runs the program MATP (MATP.m), a graphical interface If we click on the first fault of the first function the
called MATP appears as shown in Fig 2. following window appears with systems: system1 (Network
2genrator, 4node [8]), system2 (network 2generator, 5node
[9]), system3 (network 3generator, 9node [10])

Fig. 6. System selection with Fault1 of the Fonction1 in MATP

Application example
Example: Opening and re-closing a line in network system1

Fig. 2. Principal Window of MATP Program

The graphical interface MATP program contains a title

which signify the objective of this program "Simulation of the
functions of ATP and PSCAD by MATLAB," under a
program called Liste_Fonctions and three push buttons:
The first button Réalised by: the author of this program.
The second button Help: gives an overview of the program.

Fig.7. Opening and re-closing of the line side node 2 in network

system1

Nodes voltages (example)

With ATP

Fig. 3. Help window of MATP program

The third button close: You can quit the program MATP.
If we click on Liste_Fonctions, another window pops up and
we can choose to study the function
Fig. 8. Voltages of example
"Switch_Transi_Faults"or " Lightning_Overvoltage"
If you click on the first function Switch_Transi_Faults the With PSCAD
following window appears

Fig. 4. Types of defects in the function 1 in MATP

Fig. 9. Voltages of example
If you click on Help the window below appears: With MATP

Fig. 5. Fonction1 Help of MATP program Fig. 10. Voltages of example

286 PRZEGLĄD ELEKTROTECHNICZNY (Electrical Review), ISSN 0033-2097, R. 86 NR 6/2010

Analysis of the results REFERENCES
During normal operation nodes2 and 4 voltages vary [1]. Souli Aissa, ‘’Programmation de Fonctions du Logiciel EMTP-
around 113kV, but when the incident occurred at t = ATP-PSCAD à L’aide de MATLAB‘’Mémoire de Magistère,
0.03sec (opening line), the voltage of noeud2, VN2 Université Amar Telidji, Laghouat, Algerie2008.
[2]. Marin Gaudet, ‘’La Théorie des Graphes Appliquée à la
decreases up following a 81kV transient fluctuation deaden
Conception Assistée par Ordinateur des Circuits de Contrôle
(the current discontinuities due to the discontinuity of the pour les Systèmes d'électronique de Puissance‘’, Maîtrise Es
derivative di / dt during the extinction of current passing Sciences Appliquées, Université de Moncton, Canada, 2001.
through its zero) until the end of the incident at t = 0.06sec. [3]. PSCAD Version 4.0.2 Copyright2003 (all rights reserved),
The tension of the node 4, VN4 increases to the value Manitoba HVDC Research Centre Inc., July 17 2003.
200kV (transformer empty). A t = 0.06sec, the breaker is [4]. PSCAD/EMTDC, Manitoba HVDC Research Centre,
closed and both voltages VN2 and VN4 return to their initial Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
value, oscillations are justified by the line capacitive effect. [5]. Paul Wilson, ‘’EMTDC Transient Analysis for PSCAD Power
System Simulation‘’, Manitoba HVDC Research Centre,
Canada, April 2005.
Conclusions [6]. Owyong Siew Leng, ‘’ Simulating Power Quality Problems‘’,
The implemented program is called MATP (Matlab- Bachelor of Engineering, University of Queensland,
ATP), developed in Matlab environment, and using the October 2001.
Simulink package has been tested using the same [7]. M.A. Uman,”All About Lightning”, PP.1-158, Toronto, Canada,
examples, and gave full appreciation for the simulations 1986.
carried out which confirmed the relevance of the project. [8]. H Saadat, ‘’ Power System Analysis‘’, Second Edition, Mc Graw
Hill, Printed in Singapore, 2004
The results have virtually the same appearance and overlap
[9]. P M. Anderson, ‘’Analysis of Faulted Power Systems‘’, The
completely with those obtained with the ATP / EMTP and Iowa State University Press/Ames, USA, 1973
PSCAD, and we have confirmed the possibility of analysing [10]. J. Jatskevich, O.Wasynczuk, N.Mohd Noor, E.A.Watters
other types of transients on other power grids. ‘’Distributed Simulation of Electric Power Systems‘’, Session
Based on various simulations carried out for a number 33, Paper 2, pp 1-7, 14th PSCC, Sevilla, Spain, 24-28 June
of functions and on a number of different networks, which 2002.
we consider quite representative to validate our software,
and allow a reasonable comparison with other similar tools, Authors: Aissa Souli. Researcher Nuclear Research Center of
we can conclude that MATP software gives results similar Birine-Algeria, E-mail: souliaissa@yahoo.fr; prof. dr Abdelhafid
Hellal, Electrical engineering Department, Laghouat University-
to the ATP and PSCAD softwares.
Algeria, E-mail: a.hellal@mail.lagh-univ.dz, Slami Saadi
Researcher Nuclear Research Center of Birine-Algeria, E-
mail:saadidzyahoo.fr

PRZEGLĄD ELEKTROTECHNICZNY (Electrical Review), ISSN 0033-2097, R. 86 NR 6/2010 287