Digsilent Powerfactory 2022 -

While PowerFactory is excellent for manual drawing, its true power lies in automation. This story follows a young engineer who learns how to save weeks of work by writing a simple script.

Short Circuit (IEC 60909 / ANSI)

Compliance is the name of the game here. PowerFactory 2022 ships with built-in compliance for IEC 60909-0:2016 and IEEE/ANSI standards.

  • Superposition Method: Beyond the standard Equivalent Voltage Source method, PowerFactory allows the Superposition Method, which calculates short-circuit currents based on the pre-fault load flow state. This yields more accurate results for meshed networks where the pre-fault voltage profile isn't flat.

Part 5: Licensing, Installation, and System Requirements for 2022

DIgSILENT moved to a more flexible licensing model in 2022: Digsilent Powerfactory 2022

  • Named User Licenses: Tied to a specific engineer (best for cloud environments).
  • Network Concurrent Licenses: Borrowed from a server.
  • Community/Educational License: A limited but free version is available for universities (maximum 50 buses).

System Requirements:

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit Pro/Enterprise), Windows 11, or Windows Server 2019/2022.
  • CPU: Intel Xeon or AMD Ryzen (minimum 4 cores; 8+ cores recommended for transient stability).
  • RAM: 16 GB minimum; 32 GB+ for models exceeding 20,000 buses.
  • Graphics: OpenGL 4.5 compatible (Quadro or GeForce RTX series for GPU solvers).
  • Disk: 20 GB free SSD space.

2. Advanced HVDC & FACTS Modeling

  • Line-Commutated Converter (LCC): Improved modeling for HVDC Classic systems, including detailed valve group modeling.
  • MMC (Modular Multilevel Converter): Enhanced performance for electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulation of HVDC Plus and FACTS devices (STATCOM, SVC).
  • Model Validation Tool: New tools to compare HVDC controller responses against recorded PMU or protection device data.

Key Innovations and Features in the 2022 Release

PowerFactory 2022 introduces several noteworthy enhancements that directly respond to industry needs: While PowerFactory is excellent for manual drawing, its

  1. Advanced Modeling of Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs): With global grids moving toward 100% renewable targets, accurate modeling of wind, solar, and battery systems is paramount. Version 2022 refines its generic dynamic models for IBRs, fully aligning with international standards such as IEC 61400-27 (wind) and IEEE 2800 (grid-forming and grid-following inverters). Engineers can now simulate fault ride-through (FRT) capabilities, reactive current injection, and frequency-watt responses with higher fidelity, which is essential for assessing system stability under low-inertia conditions.

  2. Grid-Forming Control Capability: Perhaps the most significant scientific contribution of PowerFactory 2022 is its robust support for grid-forming (GFM) converters. As synchronous generators retire, GFM inverters must artificially establish grid voltage and frequency. The 2022 release provides validated models for virtual synchronous machine (VSM) and droop-based GFM controls, enabling engineers to study black-start scenarios, islanded microgrid operation, and system strength quantification. Short Circuit (IEC 60909 / ANSI) Compliance is

  3. Performance and Automation: Recognizing that modern studies involve thousands of scenarios (e.g., Monte Carlo simulations for stochastic renewable generation), PowerFactory 2022 introduces enhanced parallel computing capabilities. Dynamic simulations can now be distributed across multiple CPU cores, drastically reducing run times. Furthermore, the integration with Python 3.10 (replacing legacy scripting) allows for powerful automation, from parametric sweeps to co-simulation with external machine learning models.

  4. Protection and Reliability Enhancements: The protection library has been expanded to include modern IEC 61850-based intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). The software now supports time-dependent fault behavior, allowing users to simulate protective relay responses with time-graded and distance coordination more realistically.

1. Advanced Modeling of Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs)

With the global energy transition accelerating, 2022 placed a heavy emphasis on accurate modeling of Type 3 and Type 4 wind turbines, solar PV plants, and battery storage. The release introduced:

  • Generic Dynamic Models (GDM): Enhanced models compliant with major grid codes (e.g., FERC 661/661A, NERC PRC-024-3, and European ENTSO-E requirements).
  • RMS and EMT Hybrid Simulation: Improved fidelity for studying fault ride-through (FRT) capabilities, where RMS (Root Mean Square) speed is combined with EMT (Electromagnetic Transient) detail only where needed—saving simulation time without sacrificing accuracy.