PSS E 34.0.

2 Release Notes
February 2016

Introduction
This update fixes several issues involving data structures used to operate on substations. If
your network .sav files contains substation data, we recommend that you RAWD the case
out to a .raw file and then READ the .raw file back in, saving it as a .sav file if necessary.
This will update the internal data structures contained in the original .sav file.

Special Installation Note regarding wxPython

Certain functions in the PSS E user interface and the PSS E Python API rely on the open
source wxPython package. At this time, wxPython is not able to be installed along with the

PSS E installer. In order to install wxPython, please use this link:

www.wxpython.org.
Without wxPython installed, the following functions will not work, or will have limited
functionality:

Environment Manager Used to build user libraries and manage search paths.

excelexport Used to export ACC and PV/QV results to Microsoft Excel from PSS E.

plot2word Used to export plots to Microsoft Word. wxPython is only for certain
plotting capability.

dyntools Used for dynamics simulation plot analysis. wxPython is only for certain
plotting capability.

pssarrays Used for post-analysis of ACC and GIC results files. wxPython is only
needed for certain GIC-related functionality.

For further information regarding finding and installing Python modules used by PSS E,
please see the Updating Python and its modules: Installation Guidelines page available
via the following link:
ReadMePYinstall.pdf

Program Enhancements
Engine Updates

PSSE Environment Manager has been updated to 7.0.1 to address all known issues.

Updated progress output messages from the topology processor.

All material contained in this documentation is proprietary to Siemens Industry Inc., Siemens Power Technologies International.
1

PSSE 34.0.2 Release Notes

Network elements connected to Bus Sections are now reported in their correct order
throughout all PSSE reports.

Improvements in Python Dyntools module to aid in inserting plot files into Word
documents.

XFRINT now supported SIDCOD to return the controlled bus side code.

Subsystem fetch routine, GET_VSC_DC_CONV_TYPES and related routines modified

to recognize Bus Sections.

Subsystem fetch routine, GET_TWO_TERM_DC_CONV_TYPES and related routines

modified to recognize Bus Sections.

Subsystem fetch routine, GET_MULTI_TERM_DC_CONV_TYPES and related routines

modified to recognize Bus Sections.

Subsystem fetch routines for induction machines modified to recognize Bus Sections.

Subsystem fetch routines for returning flows modified to recognize Bus Sections.

Subsystem fetch routine, GET GET_FACTS_BUS_TYPES and related routines modified

to recognize Bus Sections.

Updated all example Python files to fix issues and allow improved un-attended
operation.

GUI Updates

Preselect the station number in substation selector so that hands dont have to move
from keyboard to select for edit.

Added support for the machine selector from the Id cells in the OPF Generator
Reactance and Reserve spreadsheets.

Added support for the machine selector from the Bus and Id cells in the NCSFCC
spreadsheet.

Delayed import of several Python modules until actually required. This should
eliminate startup errors for Python modules that are not required for the basic
operation of PSSE.

Improved layouts for automatically generated substation diagrams.

Improved import of v33 diagrams. Branch symbols are now correctly added and layer
assignments preserved.

Improved creation of Psse34.grd file to prevent conflicts with future updates.

Improved the range checking on decimal fields in dialogs.

All material contained in this documentation is proprietary to Siemens Industry Inc., Siemens Power Technologies International.
2

PSSE 34.0.2 Release Notes

Program Corrections
Engine Updates

In WECCDS, fixed an issue when converting WTDTA1 when Kshaft is zero.

Fixed an issue when the zero-sequence factored matrix was bigger than the positive
sequence matrix.

Fixed an issue with incorrectly referenced substation nodes. This would occur when
a great number of substations are present in the case with isolated elements.

Fixed several issues with three-winding transformers in a substation when topology

changes are introduced through switching actions.

Fixed a sorting issue with branches when the bus output option was set to Names.

Fixed an issue reporting a bus number that was JOINed.

Fixed an issue that prevented identifying wind auxiliary and wind torque control
models during model edits.

Fixed an issue with changing the Model Status for CCT models.

In OLTC3T, OLPS1T, OLPS3T, OLTC1T, fixed an issue that was causing problems when
doing DYDA or DOCU using a .snp file which was paused during a simulation run.

Fixed issues with Python pssaccss module when when reading .acc, .pv and .qv files.

Fixed an issue with flow direction in the calculation of effective GIC of auto
transformers.

Fixed several issues with DISPATCH commands in contingency analysis.

Fixed several issues recognizing Bus Sections in two and three-winding transformer
fetch routines.

GUI Updates

Fixed selection issues with Load, Fixed Shunt and Machine selectors. Selectors could
crash if a bus sequence number of zero was passed to them.

Branch selector was not handling MSL selection properly.

The configuration file builder was not writing out real number with a . decimal point
as recognized by the contingency engine.

Fixed issues displaying terminal connections on switched shunt spreadsheet.

End location for tapping a line were reversed when the additional bus was added.

All material contained in this documentation is proprietary to Siemens Industry Inc., Siemens Power Technologies International.
3

PSSE 34.0.2 Release Notes

Fixed several issues dealing with transformer data in the GIC transformer data
spreadsheet.

Model boxes used to identify the presence of associated dynamic models were not
displayed in GOUT diagrams.

Bug Fixes
Engine Updates

Resolved an issue in AccBrwsGrid.exe when reading a v33.6 and 32.2.4 .acc file.

Resolved a problem with OPF Bus Shunts when changing data through the API and
utilizing default values.

Resolved an issue where very large sensitivities were showing up on Slider diagrams
displaying OPF results.

In PSS4B, use VAR(L+4) instead of VAR(L+3).

In WTTQA1, WNDSP4 was not being converted to the proper base (Torque controller
base) before being used in MODE 2 and 3.

Fixed several issues discovered when deleting substations.

RDCH had issues when reading in data changes to equipment associated with a Bbus
S-section.

RAWD and LIST incorrectly exhibited star point buses for cases with 3-winding
transformers and substation Bus Sections.

PURGSHUNT() and PURGLOAD() could crash or enter an infinite loop.

Tapping a line that is connected to nodes at one or both ends could result in an error.

Validation of a fault in the substation reliability API was using the wrong connection
index.

System mismatch, SYSMSM and related routines, calculated mismatch incorrectly at

buses that contained Bbus Ssections.

Several utilities could not read .acc files created in v33.6 and v32.2.4.

GUI Updates

Changes to RateC from the Node Breaker Switching Device spreadsheet were not
getting saved.

Results for VSC and Two-Term DC lines were not displayed correctly on diagrams.

All material contained in this documentation is proprietary to Siemens Industry Inc., Siemens Power Technologies International.
4

PSSE 34.0.2 Release Notes

Wrong bus voltage was displayed on substations in substation diagrams.

Wrong bus voltage was displayed on substation nodes in substation diagrams.

Results for FACTS devices could be displayed on diagrams wrong depending on

whether they were series or radial devices.

The wrong converter numbers were displayed when bringing up the dialog to change
annotation for VSC and Two-Term DC lines.

Check diagram could fail if Bus Sections were present in the network.

Selecting model from the Model Box on a diagram could select the wrong model for
edit.

PSS E 34.0.1 Release Notes

This release of PSS E includes major modeling enhancements, usability enhancements,

and program corrections, particularly for the new Node-Breaker functionality.

Program Enhancements

Added information message if model could not be added due to conflict between
machine type and model type (for example, Wind or Non-Wind machine).

Default names for substation and substation nodes are enforced.

Dynamics data files can now be opened directly, just as other network files are.

Improvements to substation layout algorithms for cleaner automatic layouts.

For substation terminal records in the RAW file, the TYP field can be either '2' or 'B'
for non-transformer branches and two-winding transformers (for readability).

On RAW file generator records, when <4 owners are specified in the case and has
Wind machine data specified, the string ",0,1.0" is written as default owner number
and owner fraction values rather than ", , "

Separate UNDO buffers are maintained for each active diagram for better UNDO
behavior.

Substation numbers can now be up to 6 digits to align with bus number length.

Now able to specify no ShortCircuit output file by entering the SCFILE filename as
"nooutput"

1.

When an actual SCFILE is specified:

a.

Create contributions reports to TEMP files as calculation progress.

All material contained in this documentation is proprietary to Siemens Industry Inc., Siemens Power Technologies International.
5

PSSE 34.0.2 Release Notes

b.

Create total fault current reports using SCFILE so that all fault types are reported
together for each bus when cases have MOVs. This is the way the program has
always operated .

2.

When the SCFILE is "nooutput":

a.

Create all reports without needing SC results file - create report as calculation
progress. Added in PSSE 33.6 and later to allow not writing SC results file.

b.

Case without MOV - report output will look exactly as in (1) as they always did. 3PH,
LG, LLG, LL total fault currents reported together.

c.

Case with MOV - report output will look different 3PH, LG, LLG, LL total fault currents
reported separately, because that's how calculations are done. For example, PH3
bus fault, PH3 LINOUT and PH3 LINEND faults applied and their reports created.

Program Corrections

3 winding transformer connections in GOUT and substation diagrams have been

improved.

Added initialization of dynamics models WNDSP4 in WTTQAU1.

An increased number of diagrams that contain large embedded images can now be
opened at once. The number available to open depends on system resources and
image size.

Added better error handling and reporting when importing PSSE Python modules.

Added better search performance for Study files.

Bus data values changed on any substation bus section are now reflected on all the
bus sections associated with that bus.

Bus sections created through switching operations on substations are now reported
in correct ascending numerical or alphabetical order.

Busbars that are aligned vertically or horizontally now display link connections
between them in a more consistent manner.

Diagram grid style is now accurately displayed on the diagram.

Fixed an issue with the length of the name displayed in the spreadsheet for the DC,
VSC and FACTS devices.

Fixed formatting on numerous reports to support by Node-Breaker bus section

reporting.

All material contained in this documentation is proprietary to Siemens Industry Inc., Siemens Power Technologies International.
6

PSSE 34.0.2 Release Notes

Improved the GENTPJU1 model output formatting.

Addressed the situation when a diagram was opened before the associated save case
and results on the diagram would not appear.

Improved the process of unzipping and locating files contained in a Study zip file.

Improvements have been made to editing arguments in the Study editor dialog.

Improvements in searching for files contained in a Study.

Improvements made to the process of unzipping a Study file.

Improvements made to search functions for loading existing substation diagrams

associated with a case.

Issues with the Study Files Tree View have been fixed.

Line mode help is now directed to the Progress window rather than a report.

Multi-section line toggling now performs as expected.

Plant data on a bus section can now be properly changed.

Data changes on a bus in a substation are now propagated to all bus sections
associated with that bus.

The PSSE34 EXAMPLE folder path can now be accessed by Python through the
variable EXAM_PATH.

The REGCAU1 model DOCU format has been improved.

Station bus symbols in substation diagrams now accurately reflect the correct voltage
limit coloring and line style.

Substation Node numbers can now be changed.

The substation spreadsheet can now display all buses associated with the substation.

Substations can now be deleted.

Substations numbers can now be changed.

Fixed an issue in the SVSMO3U1 model with deadband checking.

Fixed the SVSMO3U2 description for ICON(M+2), and fixed an issue with deadband
checking.

The dialog to open an Incremental Save Case did not always work correctly. This has
been fixed.

All material contained in this documentation is proprietary to Siemens Industry Inc., Siemens Power Technologies International.
7

PSSE 34.0.2 Release Notes

Issues with handling the full pathname for loaded model libraries is now fixed.

The Multi-Section line reporting toolbar button has returned.

The per-unit voltage of the parent bus displayed at a Substation Node is now directly
related to the Bus Section base voltage.

The VPERHZU1 model is now categorized as Machine Protection rather than Machine
Other.

When a diagram is open, the diagram now automatically zooms to the extents (fits
the full diagram in the viewing area).

Bug Fixes

Fixed an issue where adding a DC or VSC DC line interactively in a diagram would

result in a crash.

Fixed an issue where annotation labels could not be added to a diagram when Bind
Mode is off.

Fixed an issue where automated printing of more than one PV curve at a time did
not work.

Fixed an issue where bringing up the OPF interface flow dialog would sometimes
crash the program.

Fixed an issue where clicking on a 3-winding transformer on a diagram would not

always yield the correct spreadsheet/data record entry.

Fixed an issue where the contour flag was always set to true even if the user canceled
out of the dialog.

Fixed an issue where creating a diagram for a substation that contained two buses,
each attached to a leg of a common 3-winding transformer, would result in a crash.

Fixed an issue where creating a new Summation on a diagram did not work.

Fixed an issue where default Short Circuit data on the Load data record dialog was
not getting set correctly.

Fixed an issue where the Drag and Drop operation from the Study Tree would not
always work correctly.

Fixed an issue with models with a negative NUMTRM value.

Fixed an issue where an automatically built ring bus of only 2 nodes required 2
switching device links between them.

Fixed an issue with INTFLW model MODE 1 and 6 operation.

All material contained in this documentation is proprietary to Siemens Industry Inc., Siemens Power Technologies International.
8

PSSE 34.0.2 Release Notes

Fixed an issue in the ADD_CCTBRNOMOD_MODEL() API.

Fixed an issue where the length of the argument strings passed when opening files
was calculated incorrectly.

Fixed an issue where the links were not always attached correctly when copying and
pasting items on a diagram.

The machine contributions are now properly included in the substation flow
calculation. Previously was using whatever flow was calculated from another load,
shunt device or branch element connected to the same bus within the substation.

Fixed an issue where moving items with IDs did not honor the ID entered in the dialog.

Fixed an issue where opening a new Plotbook without any other windows open
caused a crash.

Fixed an issue where the Out-of-Service option is not read correctly from the .pssxml
file.

Fixed a problem in RMAX and RMIN handling in the GET_TWO_WINDING_DATA_5 and

TWO_WINDING_CHNG_5 APIs.

Fixed an issue where renamed Studies did not stay in the same location in the Study
Tree View after being renamed.

Fixed an issue where, in the REPCAU1 model, Pbrnch was not getting set correctly,
as well as an error in MODE 4. Also fixed description for ICON(M+6) and remote bus
checking.

ThevZ is now reported for each fault type separately for cases with MOVs.

Fixed an issue where results coloring on diagrams would not always accurately reflect
the state of the network.

Fixed an issue where rotation of items on diagrams sometimes did not work as
expected.

Fixed an issue where splitting a bus that has bus sections and attached machines
results in a crash.

Fixed an issue where the SVSMO1U1, SVSMO1U2 and SVSMO2U2 models POD signal
added incorrectly and the MVAR in VAR(L+28) was calculated incorrectly.

Fixed an issue where tab names on some spreadsheets was being displayed as
Network Data.

Fixed an issue where the Print Preview presentation did not always accurately reflect
what was being printed.

All material contained in this documentation is proprietary to Siemens Industry Inc., Siemens Power Technologies International.
9

PSSE 34.0.2 Release Notes

Fixed several issues reading PV/QV results files.

Fixed an issue reading SVSMO3T2 model DYRE data.

Fixed issues where Unicode characters in filenames caused issues in Python files.

When converting from a V34 file to a previous RAW version, bad data could result if
not all values on 3-winding transformer records: 3, 4 and 5 were entered.

Fixed an issue where, when multiple machines at a bus are moved to bus sections,
associated plant data was not always updated correctly.

Compiler Information
General Information

PSS E 34 is built using the Intel Parallel Studio XE 2015 Composer Edition (Intel Visual

Fortran, or IVF, 15.0) compiler and the Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 (Microsoft Visual
C/C++ 12.0) compiler. This is the recommended platform to use for building user-written

extensions to PSS E 34, such as CONEC, CONET, and user-written dynamics models. Fortran

code must be compiled with IVF 10.1 or later. Intel Parallel Studio comes with a Visual

Studio Shell, which will work with PSS E 34 as well. When using a version of IVF other

than 15.0, please be aware that the later run-time libraries must be used. The PSS E

Environment Manager, which is delivered with PSS E 34, or can be downloaded from

our website, can be used to build extension libraries for PSS E or assist with maintaining
environment variables associated with controlling the compiler versions in use.

Additional Notes

A compiler is not required to run PSS E because the Fortran and C run-time libraries are

included with PSS E. A compiler is required only if you are compiling CONEC and/or CONET,
user-written dynamics models, or programs that call USRCAS.

Intel has offered a special discounted upgrade fee to Siemens PTI customers. To purchase
either the upgrade or a new license of IVF compiler under this offer, you must contact
Frankie Terlecki at [email protected]. Please be sure Siemens PTI customer is
included in the subject line.

User-Written Model Notes

Since PSS E 31, DC line and FACTS devices are identified by 12 character device names
instead of numbers. To retain backward compatibility of old Saved Case files, device
names are now set to the old device number left-justified, for example, 1 becomes "1 ".
However, User-Written models of these devices that are called in CONEC and/or CONET
will have to be modified to map the old device number to its corresponding new internal

device index. If you have any questions, please contact PSS E support at https://siemensenergy.secure.force.com/pti.
All material contained in this documentation is proprietary to Siemens Industry Inc., Siemens Power Technologies International.
10

PSSE 34.0.2 Release Notes

Program Documentation

Documentation can be found in the DOCS folder in the PSS E 34 installation directory.

Important Compatibility Notes

The following items address issues with backwards compatibility:

PSS E 34 SAV files are not compatible with previous versions of PSS E.

PSS E 34 SNP files are not compatible with previous versions of PSS E.

PSS E 34 SLD files are not compatible with previous versions of PSS E.

All material contained in this documentation is proprietary to Siemens Industry Inc., Siemens Power Technologies International.
11