Comparative Analysis and Numerical Validation of Industrial-grade Power System Simulation Tools: Application to Small-signal Stability

Several industrial-grade power system simulation tools are commercially available on the market. They are expensive to acquire and time-consuming to learn. As a result, very few institutions (utilities, academic/research organizations) can afford to use more than one power system simulation tool. The tools employ slightly different component models, analytical algorithms, and numerical approaches; therefore for the same benchmark electrical network, different tools can give different numerical results. This paper presents the experience gained in comparing a number of industrial-grade power system simulation tools. We carried out an eigenvalue analysis of the twoarea four-generator system using PSS/E, DIgSILENT, EUROSTAG and Power System Toolbox (PST). We validated the results using time domain simulations. Some of the features used for comparison are 1) modelling adequacy, 2) linearisation method used by the software’s solver, 3) capability of accessing system matrices, and 4) data exchange flexibility and capability.