RTP/COMTRADE Recorder

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)

COMTRADE File Format

Choice

Select ASCII or Binary. This parameter is used only if Output File Format | COMTRADE 99 is selected.  The COMTRADE 99 specification allows binary output files to reduce disk storage requirements.

NOTE:  Binary format is presently not compatible with either of the Fortran 90 compilers.  This parameter will default to ASCII if a Fortran 90 compiler is detected.

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

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. 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