ReticMaster - Basic Operation Methodology
Main Interface
ReticMaster provides the user with an interface screen that is equivalent to a sheet of paper onto which a design can be implemented.
Node Types
Nodes can be displayed as circles or rectangles at user defined orientation and size. Ten node types are defined to enable network data creation and manipulation:
- Source nodes,
- Transformer nodes,
- Load nodes,
- Motor Load Nodes,
- Series Capacitor Nodes,
- Series Reactor Nodes,
- Shunt Capacitor Nodes,
- Co-Generator Nodes,
- Protection Device Nodes,
- Loop Nodes.
We are only showing the first three here:
Source Nodes
The first step is to place a source node or a number of source nodes. The source base voltage and impedance will be available at this stage. (The user can use fault currents to automatically calculate the per unit source impedance.)
Source nodes can be defined as non-infinite to allow voltage drop calculations over source nodes if required. The user may drag the source nodes to any position on the screen using the mouse left button. Default data is automatically placed into the source node. Source node data may be altered at any time by moving the mouse over the source position and by pressing the mouse right button - A dialogue box would appear and the user may change any data at leisure.
Load Nodes
The second step is the placement of load nodes for quick load modelling. These nodes also include a section of line or cable between a from node and a the current node. The user will be prompted to select the “from” node which initially may only be a source node. Once the “from” node is selected, the mouse may be moved over the screen and by clicking the mouse left button the user is capable of placing load nodes at any position on the screen. The new node placed will now become the “from” node for the following nodes to be placed. The system will continue the placement of load nodes as per the user’s requirement until the mouse right button is clicked to indicate the end of placing load nodes. Load node data may be entered and changed during the placement of each of the nodes or afterwards as described for the source nodes. Line or cable lengths and /or sizes can also be entered and changed on the fly. Results are instantaneously displayed as the network develops.
If the user selects scaled distance measurement, then the line lengths would be calculated automatically and placed into the node’s data record. Subsequent placement of load nodes may be from any other existing node which will then automatically become the “from” node of the new node.
Transformer Nodes
Transformer nodes are similar to load nodes and may be connected to any existing node. No line data is associated with transformer nodes.
Backgound Images
The following Sample network shows ReticMaster with a background image to allow digitising with automatic conductor distance scaling.
