One-Line Diagram Module

The new One-Line workshop allows to create, view, edit and simulate single schematics of medium and high voltage systems in the following areas: 

• Energy Production,

• Energy Distribution

It is intended for power stations alone (e.g. oil platform) or plants (e.g. petrochemical, chemical, aluminum) or for national energy production and distribution.  The designer has all the components (parts) to implement its schematics (power supplies, bars, transformers, network equipment, protection, loads, measuring instruments ...). Assemblies allow the definition of cells. Each component includes properties and symbols that follow IEC and NEMA standards.

Flexible and intelligent tools now generate the component names, which simplify general designer tasks like management standards, naming rules based on the type of device, its connections and equipotential. Different diagnostic tools verify: component naming, equipotential uniformity, component connections … Using different measuring equipment during simulation can validate calculations or component measurements, supplying several solutions for choice equipment (e.g. energy savings).

Used in training situations, the trainer can explain to students how to install and operate features of the workshop, such as, simulation equipment starting conditions, detection of defects (i.e. device bound failures, switch manipulation). The use of SFC in conjunction with this workshop allows you to create and view different scenario maneuvers such as automatic replacement of a transformer or a circuit breaker.

This workshop, like its predecessors, includes all the user friendly editing functions, shortening the learning curve. It contains:

• Several symbolic standards in the Automation Studio™ library;

• Circuit and display standards, that can be configured by the user in the project properties;

• Its own dynamic measuring instruments;

• Its own reports

A new export project feature has been added to the ones that already exist in Automation Studio™ (Graphical export and export of the GRAFCET). This exports to an XML format that summarizes the logical connectivity between components that belong to one or more circuits. This works for all the technologies derived from the Automation Studio™’s library of symbols.

This feature responds to user requests to enable them to exchange the schematic structure of a document or multi-technology system with other applications in order to ensure the uniqueness of the design. Uniqueness that can be desired in order to rebuild the circuit created in Automation Studio™ in another tool, or simply to list the properties of the system or components themselves.
The file created by this export is named “Connectivity Report”.

Some of the export dialog boxes have been modified, for application consistency. A connectivity report can be used by other applications to access same technology component connectivity. It also contains many types of project and user configurable properties.

Our goal is to always improve on how effective, efficient and productive Automation StudioTM is. In this release we have implemented the following improvements to drawing and editing requested by you, the users of our system...

Editing Text in Groups

It is now possible to rotate a group containing  text without affecting the orientation of the text

Reference

References are more configurable. When displaying arrows, it is optional to have fix size bubbles with variable size text and vice versa.  Reference text format can also be configured.

Dynamic Measuring Instruments

It is no longer possible to edit a measuring instrument if the user has not correctly selected the related connectors. In other words, you can’t edit a measuring instrument that measures nothing. Dynamic measuring instrument comments can now be displayed on a diagram.

Plotter

The plotter is now more user friendly. An automatic scale and a link to the measured components using hyperlinks have been added.

Automatic Field

The automatic field  “Page Number” has been added.  Automatic fields are used to build textual content that is automatically filled by intrinsic project or document properties. Cartridges are an example of automatic fields.

Controller

The controller output variable is generally a combination of inputs. Those variables are from components inserted in one of the project documents. It is now possible to rename all the variables and the controller will not lose the different sources. In order to do this, all components that supply input or use the output variables need to be grouped with the controller so that the links will be corrected as they are modified. These groups can now be saved in a customized library or a catalog to be reused later without any user intervention.

Editing Fluids Workshops, Flowlines

When a multiple hydraulics or pneumatics pressure lines selection is realized, it is possible to apply to it in one step, the type of line using the multi selection context menu.

Using the multi selection contextual menu, it is now possible to change the type of flowline on all selected hydraulic or pneumatic flowlines.

Editing Electrotechnical,
Electric Wires Management

The electrical wires management has been enhanced so that the wires in Automation Studio™ represent wires in the real world. Each connection is now fixed to a real component that reflects reality.

Editing Electrotechnical,
Wires Thickness in Simulation

To be consistent, the electrotechnical workshop now contains the electrotechnical wires in simulation option. Two thicknesses can be specified, the first one for command wires and the other one for power wires.

Editing Electrotechnical,
Electrotechnical Assemblies

The displayable tagname is in the assemblies is to be consistent with the other electrotechnical components.

Numerous improvements have been implemented in the catalog import and export tools.  This was done to support companies that depend on different stock part management systems (ERP system companies). 

Now designers using Automation Studio™ can fully benefit from suppliers of such catalogs.  These catalogs provide libraries of components preconfigured according to the specifications of manufacturers.

New Exchange File

To create, import, update, or general data exchange of catalog information with Automation StudioTM a new system based on Access or SqlServerCE database files is used.  Automation StudioTM version 5.7 no longer uses the excel file for this purpose.

The exchange file takes into account the product categories proposed by Automation Studio™ and the customized ones. It now accepts the customized properties defined by the user. Groups of components can be included. The component model notion has been added for similar product management. This file structure offers the possibility to specify documents, logos and images and their destination directory as well

New Import Function

A new simplified import tool improves the data importing process global time in the catalog. It is possible to import a part of the catalog or more than one type of catalog at the same time in the same database. The import tool also enables the adding of default properties to Automation Studio™ categories used for products.
Now a synchronization process maintains data integrity between the catalog and the exchange file, insuring updates and maintenance.

The import dialog box now includes an error report on data that has not been imported. This list can be saved in a file.

New Export Function

A new export catalog data tool can be used to transfer a part, or all of a catalog, to an existing exchange file.

A lot of work has gone into improving how components behave during simulation in order to meet manufactures specifications or reality.

Hydraulic Simulation,
Valve Simulation Modeling

New valve simulation modeling has been developed to allow designers to accurately assign component characteristics as supplied by a vendor literature. This finer modeling requires a complete configuration from the user.

The previous modeling technique as made in previous versions still remains available to allow for rapid deployment of existing systems.

The aim of this tool is to provide a data entry environment for models that is in line with the information supplied by vendors.

Hydraulic proportional valve specifications

• The position response of these valves can be defined by exactly two curves also defining the hysteresis

To define a proportional valve, the simulation model of each internal channel may be specified by the curves expressing the surface of the opening or the flow depending on the signal controlling the valve. The parameters of the oil used for the performance tests are dependent on the valve being specified.

The pressure drop will be calculated automatically if a model of the orifice or the flowline is chosen, however, the user can choose to directly define the pressure drop profile.

Power capacity curves to specify the values of working pressure behavior limitations.

Hydraulic Simulation,
Telescopic Cylinder Builder

The telescopic cylinder builder allows you to set simulation specifications for a simple or double acting telescopic cylinder with 2 or 8 rods or a simple synchronous acting cylinder with 2 or 3 rods.

Hydraulic Simulation,
Multiport Cylinder Builder

The multiport cylinder builder allows you to set simulation specifications for a double effect cylinder by defining more orifices. Each orifice will have its own flow coefficient and will be located anywhere on the cylinder body.

Hydraulic Simulation,
Accumulators - Real Transformation Modeling

The accumulator model has been improved according to the needs registered. It is possible to specify the gas and the type of compression of the hydraulic gas-loaded accumulators.

Hydraulic Simulation,
Accumulators - Hydropneumatic

An accumulator with 2 rooms has been added. It has a hydraulic connector and a pneumatic connector. The two rooms are separated by a flexible membrane.

Hydraulic Simulation,
Accumulator with piston

A model of an accumulator with double piston has been added; the two pistons are separated by a volume of air.

Hydraulic Simulation, Cartridge Valves

Cartridge valve modeling has been enhanced in order to illustrate in a realistic way how real cartridge valves work. Major manufactures components have been addressed by this development.

Hydraulic Simulation, Fluid Conditioning

The cooler/heater can receive a variable representing the thermal power absorbed/evacuated.

Hydraulic Simulation,
Fan, Fly Wheel and Wheel

In order to fulfill the demands concerning the operational parts that can be connected to hydraulic or pneumatic motors, fan modeling has been completed following the development of the inertia wheel. Those 2 components simulate the inertial effects due to their mechanical properties. Also, it is possible to assign resistive torque curves function to the training speed.

Hydraulic Simulation,
Mechanical Transmissions

For all components with transmission mechanical shaft, has been added a property specifying the direction of the rotation. Two components linked mechanically by their shaft must have the same value for their property specifying the direction of the rotation. If it is not the case, the simulator will display a message in a dedicated window. The following symbol is going to blink if the project  « Display Faulty Components » is activated

Hydraulic Simulation, Motors Plate

Three motor swashplates with displacement have been added in order to offer to the user the possibility to construct its own motors.

Hydraulic Simulation, Actuators

Force or couple curves resistive or motor have been doubled in order to manage the 2 directions of the rotation or the cylinders movement. This removes the ambiguity on the interpretation of those curves, as some clients told us.

Hydraulic Simulation, Variable generator Y = Y(x)

A variable generator has been added in proportional pneumatic.

Hydraulic Simulation,
Cylinders linked mechanically

Cylinders linked mechanically have been added in the Pneumatic Workshop.

Hydraulic Simulation, Hydraulic Pumps

Variable displacement pumps hydraulically piloted have been added with hydraulics connectors. The oldest using the same symbols have been deleted as they were commanded by variables.

Electrotechnical Simulation,
One-Line Components

Three-phase one-line components have a behavior in simulation that allows users to view the global functioning of an electric circuit: as in the Electrotechnical Workshop, the color of the components in simulation allows easily identification of voltage levels in a circuit. Load monitoring functions on disconnectors and circuit breakers allow to view the functioning state of the circuit.

Electrotechnical Simulation,
Progressive Starters

Progressive starters have been added to the Electrotechnical Workshop. A panel of main manufacturer models is offered in the main library. A specialized builder allows you to select the starter model according to the manufacturer.

Electrotechnical Simulation,
New motor behavior in electrotechnical

Asynchronous motor behavior has been updated to be more realistic and compatible with the new starters.