Advanced Power Concepts
PO Box 49116, Atlanta GA 30359,
Phone / FAX : (404) 325-5411
WinIGS Overview
The program WinIGS performs analysis and design of a grounding system or multiple grounding systems that are an integral part of an electric power system. Specifically, it allows the user to model any power system together with its grounding structures, it analyzes the performance of the system under steady state, normal, and fault conditions, and evaluates its performance against industry-standard criteria. The user may select either the IEEE Std. 80 criteria or the IEC-479-1 criteria, both of which have been integrated into the program.
In addition to safety analysis, WinIGS includes a number of analysis tools, namely:
Lightning Shielding Analysis
This tool performs lightning shielding analysis of a system consisting of buildings, substation outdoor equipment, buswork, etc. The system model is constructed graphically using the grounding system editor. Several modeling elements are available in the WinIGS Ground Editor which facilitate modeling of civil structures, electrical equipment, shield wires etc. The analysis is based on the Electrogeometric Model. Three analysis options are available, namely the full electrogeometric method, the rolling sphere method and the shielding angle method.
Structural Dynamic Analysis (SDA)
This tool permits the user to perform mechanical analysis of substation bus structures. The mechanical analysis is based on a dynamic time domain simulation of bus structures under various excitations including: Magnetic Forces, Wind and Ice Loading, Earthquakes, Thermal Expansion, Gravity, User Defined Forces and Moments. The dynamic analysis results include time histories of the following quantities: Magnetic Force Magnitude, Structure Displacements, Tensile, Compression and Shear Forces, Torques, and Moments, Tensile, Compression and Shear Stresses. These quantities are reported in time plot format, as well as in tables of maximum values. The reported quantities are selected using meter objects. Meter objects can be manually positioned at desired locations, or automatically positioned at the locations where maximum displacement, force, or stress values occur. Several options are provided that determine how these automatic selections are made.
Note: the SDA tool has been first released with WinIGS version 5.3, and is now available as an extra cost option. Please Contact AGC for more information.
Phase Conductor Clearance Analysis
The WinIGS geometric ground editor includes a tool which evaluates phase conductor clearances. Specifically, the minimum distances between all modeled conductors (rigid or flexible) and other objects (such as buildings, fences, antennas, lighting poles etc.) are computed and compared against user specified clearance limits. Any identified violations are reported in tabular and graphical forms,
The WinIGS Integrated Modeling Environment
The power system network data as well as the grounding system geometric data are edited via specialized GUI based editors, which are tightly integrated into the WinIGS program. Specifically, the network data are edited via a network editor, which displays the power system in single line diagram form. The network topology can be manipulated using the mouse. Device parameters can be accessed by double clicking on the device drawing. Analysis results, corresponding to a specific device, can be displayed by double clicking on the device drawing. The grounding system geometric data are edited via the ground editor, which displays the grounding system as a scaled drawing, either in top, side, or perspective views. The size, shape, and position of any ground electrode can be altered using the mouse or by numeric entry. Furthermore, analysis results, such as earth voltage or touch and step potential distributions are directly displayed on the grounding system drawing, in the form of contour plots.
The power system may include any number of symmetric three phase devices as well as asymmetric elements. Presently the program supports power systems comprising any combination of devices including
• Sources
• Transmission lines
• Transformers
• Loads
• Grounding SystemsOf great importance is the grounding system geometric model. This model allows the user to model complex grounding systems and evaluate their performance. The grounding system model is built from a set of ground electrode objects including:
• Ground Rods
• Ground Mats
• Horizontal Ground Conductors, both bare and coated
• Concrete Blocks, Metallic Post Fences, etc.The WinIGS program has four operating modes:
• The Editor Mode.
• The Analysis Mode.
• The Reports Mode.
• The Tools Mode.The user can switch between these modes at any time by clicking on the corresponding buttons, located at the top of the main program window. A typical program session starts at the Editor mode where both network topology and ground systems models are defined. Next, the Analysis mode is selected, and the desired computations are performed. Finally, the Reports mode is selected in order to view the results of the analysis. Note that in order to avoid confusion, the program enforces the following constrains:
• The system topology and device parameters can only be modified in the Editor mode.
• The analysis results can only be accessed in the Reports mode.
• The analysis results are deleted once the program is switched back into Editor mode.The tools mode provides several auxiliary features that are not part of the Edit-Analysis-Reports cycle. Specifically it includes the following:
• Conductor Library Editor
• Cable Library Editor
• Transmission Line Tower/Pole Library Editor
• Smart Ground Meter Export Function.
• Lightning Shielding AnalysisThe WinIGS program is provided CD, or a download from this site.
Minimum Computer Hardware Configuration
- IBM-compatible personal computer.
- 512 Mbytes of RAM (Larger amount of RAM will allow faster solution of large scale systems).
- 512 Mb of free Disk Space.
- Mouse. A mouse with a wheel is preferable (The wheel is used for zooming).
- Display system with at least 1280 x1024 pixel resolution. Even though WinIGS will run on computers with lower resolution, some of the functionality of the GUI may be lost. For example, some toolbar buttons may become inaccessible, and the quality of the graphs and drawings may deteriorate.
- Open GL Graphics Hardware.
Supported Operating Systems
Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11
64 bit version OS recommended
