COMTRADE Recorder

 Name for Identification

Text

Optional name for identification of the component.

Output File Name

Text

Enter the output file name with no extension. The length of the file name is limited to 8 characters for COMTRADE compatibility. Appropriate extension(s) will be automatically appended.

Recording Time Step (microseconds)

INTEGER

Literal

Enter the recording time step. If this value is less than the simulation time step, the simulation time step will be used instead. If the recording time step is greater than the simulation time step, interpolation is used for synchronization between the two [ms].

Low Pass Filtering Enable

Choice

Select Rstep > Tstep to enable low pass filtering of input signals when Recording Time Step is greater than the simulation time step.

System Frequency

Choice

The fundamental system frequency. Select 50 Hz or 60 Hz.

Station Name

Text

Enter a descriptive station name.

Recorder Device Number

INTEGER

Literal

Enter a number from 1 to 99. This parameter allows EMTDC to distinguish between multiple recorders used in the same simulation. If this is the case, then each recorder must be assigned a unique device number

Number of 16-bit Analog Channels

INTEGER

Literal

Enter the number of 'analog' input channels to be recorded (12 maximum).

Number of Digital Channels

INTEGER

Literal

Enter the number of 'digital' input channels to be recorded (16 maximum).

Output files

Choice

Select Single or Multiple. The COMTRADE specification permits large output files to be split into smaller files suitable for transfer between computers via 1.44MB floppy disks

Number of Extra Header File Lines

INTEGER

Literal

Select the number of lines to be added to the COMTRADE header file (5 maximum). The text is entered via the Header File category page. 

Analog Output Minimum

INTEGER

Literal

For uni-polar integer representation of the captured data, enter 0. For bipolar representation, enter the appropriate value (ex. -4096). 

Analog Output Maximum

INTEGER

Literal

For uni-polar integer representation of the captured data, enter the appropriate non-zero value. 

Capture Trigger Time

Choice

Select Yes or No.

Extra Header File Line #

Text

The user can enter descriptive text desired in these lines. This parameter is used only if Number of Extra Header File Lines is non-zero

Analog Variable Name

Text

Enter the 'analog' input variable name. It should be less than 15 characters in length with no spaces between characters.

Variable Description

Text

Enter the variable description to be used in the COMTRADE configuration file. 

Variable Source

Choice

Select Primary or Secondary source. This parameter accounts for the CT/PT ratio. If Secondary is selected, then the value at the recorder input is passed directly to the output file. If Primary is selected, then the value at the recorder input is divided by the CT/PT ratio.  The value sent to the recorder output file is always the secondary level

Variable Type

Choice

Select Voltage, Current or Other. This information is required by COMTRADE files to display the proper units. If Other is selected then ASCII text can be added to describe the units for Other, and no scaling occurs.

"Other" Unit

Text

The user can enter whatever units are appropriate for the enabled channels

Phase Identification

Choice

Select phases A, B, C, or N.

PT or CT Ratio

REAL

Literal

Enter the PT or CT ratio for each variable. Remember that in PSCAD, the default primary values are in kV or kA.

Component Being Monitored (COMTRADE)

Text

Describe the component that is being monitored as required by the COMTRADE configuration file.

Status Variable Name

Text

Enter the 'digital' input variable name. It should be less than 15 characters in length with no spaces between characters. 

Variable Description

Text

Enter the variable description to be used in the COMTRADE configuration file. 

Normal Operating State

Choice

Select 0 or 1. This information is required by the COMTRADE configuration file and is used to assign a default initial value to digital signals.