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Computing Element Currents in OpenDSS

The OpenDSS uses an admittance matrix formulation to solve for node voltages in a circuit. It then calculates element currents by having each element calculate its currents based on the surrounding node voltages and its admittance matrix. Very small impedances between nodes can lead to inaccurate currents due to small differences in the converged node voltages being multiplied by a large admittance. It is recommended to avoid modeling impedances below 0.001 ohms for primary circuits and 0.0001 ohms for secondary circuits where possible.

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Davis Montenegro
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94 views3 pages

Computing Element Currents in OpenDSS

The OpenDSS uses an admittance matrix formulation to solve for node voltages in a circuit. It then calculates element currents by having each element calculate its currents based on the surrounding node voltages and its admittance matrix. Very small impedances between nodes can lead to inaccurate currents due to small differences in the converged node voltages being multiplied by a large admittance. It is recommended to avoid modeling impedances below 0.001 ohms for primary circuits and 0.0001 ohms for secondary circuits where possible.

Uploaded by

Davis Montenegro
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Computing Element Currents in OpenDSS

Roger Dugan
December 9, 2008

Given some recent issues with very short lines or other elements with very tiny
impedances, it is worthwhile to go over how the OpenDSS computes currents in circuit
elements.

The OpenDSS uses an admittance formulation of the circuit. As illustrated below, the
system of equations that is solved includes the Y matrix formed from the impedances of
elements in the network, the node voltage with respect to ground (the zero voltage
reference), and the “injection” currents.

Vj
Ii
Vi Ij
Bus Voltages
Injection Currents
(With Respect to Ground)

[I] = [Y] [V]

The injection currents are currents being injected into the nodes from outside the network
represented in the Y matrix. These are currents from voltage sources and current sources
as well as “compensation currents” from nonlinear load or generator models. These are
NOT necessarily the currents in the terminals of the circuit elements.

Thus, the OpenDSS solves only for the node voltages. To obtain the currents, the
program goes back to each element and “asks” it what its currents are. The DSS
executive only keeps track of the node voltages. The process is illustrated below using a
simple 3-phase inductive power delivery branch that is represented entirely by its Yprim
matrix.

The circuit element knows where to find its node voltages in the main solution voltage
array. (For programmers: This is the index in the NodeRef array that is part of each

1
circuit element.) The terminal currents are computed by constructing a vector (array) of
the complex node voltages and then multiplying by Yprim.

I1 I4

I2 I5

I3 I6

I1 V1
I2 V2
I3
= Yprim V3
I4 V4
I5 (6 x 6) V5
I6 V6

Note that the order of Yprim is 6x6 in this case. There are 6 nodes (3 phases at each end).

A problem arises when users specify a very tiny impedance to represent a bus bar or
switch or a jumper between two buses. The DSS is generally pretty tolerant of this
because it uses double precision math throughout. However, in some recent cases
imported data has had line sections with a length of, for example, 1E-9 or sometimes,
zero. DSS converts the latter to a small impedance. The root of the problem is that the
voltages may not converged to sufficient accuracy to obtain accurate currents. With a
small impedance, the voltages from one end to the other have only tiny differences which
then get multiplied by a large admittance. The result is usually a very large current that is
not consistent with other circuit elements connected to the same bus.

The voltage solution is generally correct; it is the reported currents and powers that can
be significantly off. Energymeters that are connected to these elements can have
erroneous readings.

For primary (MV) circuits, there is seldom a need to represent an impedance less than
0.001 ohms. In fact, fuses throughout the system will often have more resistance than this
and it can be difficult at times to make a connection with less resistance. On LV circuits,
it may be necessary to allow for a smaller impedance, such as 0.0001 ohms to get an
order of magnitude below impedances of transformers if you have the need to represent
small jumpers, etc.

Recommendations: Avoid modeling tiny impedances where practical. If used, do not


connect energymeters to them. Be on the lookout for any bizarre currents or cases where
the reported zone losses (kW and kvar) do not add up to total values.

2
There have been reports that the EXE version computes to better precision than the COM
DLL version of OpenDSS. The reason for this is not known and is under investigation.

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