The Open Distribution System Simulator, OpenDSS
Copyright (c) 2008-2024, Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Version 9.8.0.1
Changes this version
====================
- Includes an integrated help file that brings together all the information for users and developers in a single source.
- Solves issues with the follwing interfaces for DirectDLL: BusV.
- Grid Forming Capabilities for PV/Storage.
- CapControlMode Follow added for helping to represent deterministic capacitor behavior.
- Load shape EDGE and Averaging (linear) interpolation for facilitating the description of loadshapes in time.
- DirectDLL methods for accessing structures updated to reflect the structures in other versions.
- solves bug found in the Circuit interface (COM), preventing users from enabling/disabling elements through it.
- Solves a bug introduced in version 9.6.1.2 when using CapControl in time or follow control modes.
- Bug in Yprim formation for 1-ph and 2-ph delta-connected capacitors fixed. Fix to user-specified NormAmps and EmergAmps for capacitors, which were always being overridden with default values. Pending to check for same issues on Reactors.
- Variant-like interfaces updated to pointers to faciltiate its adoption cross platform and to match the Cpp version.
- Fixes losses in UPFC model, there was a bug introduced several years ago when trying to redefine losses based on residual currents.
- CapControl updated with control mode Follow, in this mode the capacitor activation depends on the value of a given loadshape (ControlSignal).
- New flag added to avoid displaying reports automatically when generated (ShowReports).
- New color themes added to the GUI. Go to Set -> Color Themes and check if you like it (Just added 2 as an experiment).
- Adds grid forming inverter capabilities to Inverter-base resources (Storage and PVSystem) for microgrid studies in QSTS.
- Adds dynamics simulation capabilities to Inverter-based Resources (Storage and PVSystem), including Black start operation. Includes DynamicExp compatibility. Examples and documentation included.
- Adds LL faults between all pair of nodes of a bus to FaultStudy reports. Adding RegControl name, Transformer Winding number, DirectionMode and Cogen flag to Taps reports.
- Adds functionality for closing all but one or all tabs when using the standalone editor.
- Adds option EventlogDefault to the global context for setting the default for enabling/disabling the eventlog in control objects.
- Adds "Element" property to UPFC for triggering the reactive power compensation mode. Not needed in the past, but given the new control mode it requires it.
- Adds DOC_P1Blocking property to relays. This enables/disables a positive sequence power blocking element according to IEEE Std C57.12.44-2014.
- Solved issue introduced with long-line correction changes of rev 3464. Single-phase lines without symmetrical component definition were being affected by change.
- Adding command for getting the line type list as string for reference.
- Includes new command for checking if there is a new version of OpenDSS available for download. The same command was implemented in the GUI's menu -> Help options.
- Solves an issue found in the LineTypeList container. It was generating an unexpected issue when clearing memory during parallel processing operations. It was also creating redundant constants between Line, LineCode and LineGeometry classes.
- Adding alternative method for accessing PCE state variables through the ActiveCktElement interface.
- First version of DynamicExp object released, still under test.
- The ActiveCktelement interface includes new properties to allow users get/set state variables by name or index in the active circuit element.
- Corrects a recent bug introduced while fixing pu values for VSource when working on Dynamics mode.
- Fixes version sync between exe, COM and DLL versions.
- Solves old bug located within the fmonitor variables (proposed by UCF).
- Fixes DumpProperties procedures for conductor objects by utilizing the proper indexing.
- Brings back GetPropertyValue functions for ConductorData and child classes that allows properties to be kept in synch. Fixed indexing that was preventing those functions from properly working
- Adds conditional compiles for debugging during Dynamic mode. Update comments in Vsource.
- Fix bug in Dynamics calc where PerUnit was not taken into account.
- Fixes issue when reporting Elements in class.
- Normalizes the progress form.
- Solves an issue detected when presenting the help form, the button at the bottom were missing.
- Solves a bug inserted when updating the sequence impedance entries through COM/DLL.
- COM interface help link added to Help option at the menu bar in EXE.
- UPFC device updated to operate at the control queue increasing the stability of the device when widely installed on a large-scale model.
The Version 8 was the first to be delivered with parallel processing capabilities in both 32-bit (X86) and
64-bit (X64) versions. Version 9 is the latest update. The files are still listed under the 'Version8' folder on Sourceforge.net.
The OpenDSSInstaller download includes both X86 and X64 versions of Version 9, along
with optional documentation and examples.
If you have 64-bit Windows, you may install both the 64-bit and 32-bit
versions. The 32-bit version is required if you plan to automate OpenDSS
from Excel or any other 32-bit program. The 64-bit version is required to
automate OpenDSS from 64-bit MatLab or other 64-bit apps on a 64-bit system.
Installation
============
The installer will give you a choice to install the executables and
optional files under a target directory of your choice, such as
c:\opendss. Files that are specific to the 32-bit version will be written
to an x86 subdirectory, such as c:\opendss\x86. Files that are specific
to the 64-bit version will be written to an x64 subdirectory, such as
c:\opendss\x64. The EXE and DLL files should not be moved after
installation, but may be updated in place with newer versions.
On a 64-bit system, you may install and use both the 32-bit and 64-bit
versions with no conflict between them.
Short-cuts to the program and manual are created under Start Menu/OpenDSS.
Please see the manual, OpenDSSManual.PDF, for an overview of the program.
The most up-to-date reference information will always be found through the
software's "Help / DSS Help" menu command.
If you have an earlier version of OpenDSS installed and registered, such as 7.4.3,
remove it completely. Otherwise, Windows may retain a registry entry to the
old 32-bit COM server when you start it up from a 32-bit program.
COM Automation
==============
The COM Server in OpenDSSEngine.DLL may be automated. The installer will
register either or both versions, depending on your selection. Even
though the file names and registration commands match, they are in
separate locations and Windows will activate the correct version required
by the calling program. For example, 64-bit MatLab will call the 64-bit
OpenDSSEngine.DLL and 32-bit Microsoft Excel will call the 32-bit version.
(Note: The 64-bit version of Excel is rarely installed.)
Background
==========
The OpenDSS is a simulator specifically designed to represent electric
power distribution circuits. OpenDSS is designed to support most types of
power distribution planning analysis associated with the interconnection
of distributed generation (DG) to utility systems. It also supports many
other types of frequency-domain circuit simulations commonly performed on
utility electric power distribution systems. It represents unbalanced
conditions, stochastic processes, and other aspects of electrical power
distribution systems and equipment in far greater detail than many other
tools, including commercial products. Through COM and scripting
interfaces, other programs can drive OpenDSS in highly customized
simulations, Monte Carlo analysis, etc. Users can define their own models
through dynamic linking, scripting, or automation.
Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (http://www.epri.com) uses
OpenDSS in its research and services work, and continues to enhance the
software. Earlier proprietary versions were used in dozens of studies for
electric utility clients, and in a Web-based wind power simulator.
There were several goals in making OpenDSS an open-source project in 2008:
1 - Enhance the modeling capabilities available to government
laboratories, universities, and other researchers engaged in grid
modernization work.
2 - Encourage interfaces between OpenDSS and complementary tools, such as
communication system simulators or model compilers.
3 - Encourage the adoption of items 1 and 2 into commercial products used
by electric utilities.
4 - Encourage collaborative efforts between industry, government, and
university researchers in power distribution system analysis for grid
modernization efforts.
5 - Provide a capable testing platform for data and object modeling
efforts currently underway in the electric utility industry.
Source Code
===========
The programming language for OpenDSS is Delphi
(http://www.embarcadero.com), currently version Delphi 10.4 Sydney. A free community version is available
to certain non-commercial users (see license requirements on Embarcadero site).
There is also a Free Pascal (Lazarus) version of the program. Some of the supporting modules may
require a C++ compiler to build from source. OpenDSS source code is
available from the following SVN repository:
https://sourceforge.net/p/electricdss/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/
Third-party Components
======================
KLUSolve.DLL is open source software, available from
www.sourceforge.net/projects/klusolve
Other convenient Sourceforge.net Links
======================================
OpenDSS Download Files:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/electricdss/files/
Getting Started
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/electricdss/index.php?title=Getting_Started
Latest Tech Notes in Wiki
Selected Tech Notes are available in the Doc Folder
Questions and Answers
Selected Q&A files are available in the Doc Folder
OpenDSS Forum
http://sourceforge.net/p/electricdss/discussion/861976/
What is Unique About OpenDSS?
OpenDSS was derived from a family of power system harmonics solvers designed for analysis of distributions systems. This analysis requires very detailed models of the circuit topology. This gives the program the capability to represent nearly any circuit topology that might be encountered on a power distribution system. While the power flow solution is the most common application, the program is technically not a power flow program. The solution method and circuit modeling has more in common with harmonics and dynamics solvers.
The program was developed because users realized in 1996 that they were not getting the correct answer for distributed generation problems when using only the typical static power flow analysis used for distribution planning. OpenDSS was one of the first programs to implement an efficient quasi-static time series (QSTS) simulation for DER analysis. The capability was built into the program from the start.
It was recognized that it is not possible to anticipate everything that users will want to do in DER analysis and build a single user interface for this. This issue was addressed by building the program around a scripting interface that is user defined. Also, the COM interface was added so that users could drive the program from other software such as MATLAB and Python. This feature is popular among researchers and graduate students who want to do things not already supported in the program. Of course, EPRI uses this feature extensively in its research. A direct function call DLL interface (OpenDSSDirect.DLL) was also developed to allow this feature to be used on platforms and computer languages that do not support COM.
IEEE Test Cases
https://sourceforge.net/p/electricdss/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/Version8/Distrib/IEEETestCases/
EPRI Test Circuits
https://sourceforge.net/p/electricdss/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/Version8/Distrib/EPRITestCircuits/
Source Code
https://sourceforge.net/p/electricdss/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/Version8/Source/
Top level of Distribution area (Releases)
https://sourceforge.net/p/electricdss/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/Version8/Distrib/
Examples
https://sourceforge.net/p/electricdss/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/Version8/Distrib/Examples/
License
=======
Use of this software is subject to a license. The terms are in:
1 - A file called "license.txt" distributed with the software,
2 - The user manual, and
3 - The executable program's Help/About dialog box
