RTP/COMTRADE Recorder

The RTP/COMTRADE Recorder component can record up to a total of 28 simulated data signals. The user can store the recorded data in one of three standard formats:

Although designed especially for seamless use with the Real Time Playback (RTP) relay testing equipment, it may also be used for convenient recording in both COMTRADE 91 and COMTRADE 99 formats.

Although all 28 inputs channels accept real variables, Analog and Digital inputs are treated slightly different for the purpose of RTP and COMTRADE compatibility.

Start and End inputs are provided for control of a specified recording interval. Normally, a simple constant value may be attached to these inputs, however more complicated systems may be used to vary these times during a multiple run simulation. Typical usage is to connect two sliders to these pins and adjust start and stop times in a control panel.

Input Parameters

Name for Identification	Text		Optional text parameter 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 MS-DOS/ COMTRADE compatibility. Appropriate extension(s) will be automatically appended

Output File Format	Choice		Select RTP, COMTRADE 91 or COMTRADE 99 output formats

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. This parameter is required for COMTRADE output files only

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. This parameter is used only if Output File Format \| COMTRADE 91 or COMTRADE 99 is selected. 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 COMTRADE Header File Dialog. This parameter is used only if Output File Format \| COMTRADE 91 or COMTRADE 99 is selected

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). This parameter is used only if Output File Format \| COMTRADE 91 or COMTRADE 99 is selected

Analog Output Maximum	INTEGER	Literal	For uni-polar integer representation of the captured data, enter the appropriate non-zero value. This parameter is used only if Output File Format \| COMTRADE 91 or COMTRADE 99 is selected

Capture Trigger Time	Choice		Select Yes or No.

Analog Variable Name	Text		Enter the 'analog' input variable name. It should be less than 15 characters in length with no spaces between characters. This name is displayed in the legend window in the RTP Playback software preview window

Variable Description (COMTRADE)	Text		Enter the variable description to be used in the COMTRADE configuration file. This parameter is used only if Output File Format \| COMTRADE 91 or COMTRADE 99 is selected

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 the Playback and COMTRADE files to display the proper units. The RTP Playback program will automatically produce waveform displays based on 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. This parameter is used only if Output File Format \| COMTRADE 91 or COMTRADE 99 is selected

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. This parameter is used only if Output File Format \| COMTRADE 91 or COMTRADE 99 is selected

Status Variable Name	Text	Enter the 'digital' input variable name. It should be less than 15 characters in length with no spaces between characters. This name is displayed in the legend window in the RTP Playback software preview window.

Variable Description	Text	Enter the variable description to be used in the COMTRADE configuration file. This parameter is used only if Output File Format \| COMTRADE 91 or COMTRADE 99 is selected

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. This parameter is used only if Output File Format \| COMTRADE 91 or COMTRADE 99 is selected

RTP/COMTRADE Recorder

Description

Input Parameters