MicroTran version 3.11 - legacy

Version 3.1 of Microtran has been superseded by version 3.2. The description of version 3.1 follows for the sake of reference.

Version 3.10 of Microtran has a combination of Windows-based and 32-bit DOS-based applications. It contains a number of programs and utilities designed to address most practical needs:

MicroTran.

This is the simulation  tool for the simulation of electrical networks under transient conditions.  It is the fastest PC-based network analysis programs presently available.  MicroTran is very reliable and efficient.: a network consisting of 2000 nodes and 2000 branches requires less than 2 MB of memory.

The program's capabilities include the modelling of:

	Lumped R, L, C elements.
	Multiphase pi-circuits.
	Single and three-phase n-winding transformers.
	Transposed and untransposed distributed parameter transmission lines with constant or frequency dependent parameters.
	Nonlinear resistances and surge arrester models (including metal oxide arresters), as well as nonlinear inductances with user-defined residual flux.
	Switches with any number of opening/closing sequences, and other switching control criteria to simulate circuit breakers with multiple closing- opening sequences, spark gaps, etc.
	Diodes, thyristors, and anti-parallel thyristor models with either fixed, or user-defined firing controls.
	Voltage and current sources. In addition to standard mathematical functions (sinusoids, surge functions, steps, ramps), the user may specify sources point by point as functions of time, or calculate them inside the user-supplied subroutine SOURCE.
	Synchronous machines with armature, field, and damper windings. The model also includes a shaft- mass system representation for the simulation of torsional oscillations.
	Initial conditions can be determined automatically by the program or they can be supplied by the user. The program can also be used to obtain steady-state phasor solutions at a given frequency or over a user-defined frequency range. The "frequency scan" capability is particularly useful for harmonics, resonance and subsynchronous resonance studies.
	User-supplied linear or nonlinear models using the entry point routine CONNEC. The procedure is quite simple: the user compiles his version of CONNEC with any compiler capable of creating a DLL. A sample version of CONNEC and detailed interface information is available to would-be developers.

	Unlike other versions of the EMTP, such as the ATP, MicroTran does not suffer from numerical oscillations during the opening/closing of switches in inductive and capacitive circuits, respectively. This makes MicroTran ideally suited for the simulation of power electronics devices without having to resort to snubber circuits with unrealistic R-C values, and other traditional forms of suppression of numerical oscillations.

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mtData.

This is truly ancient input data pre-processor. Unfortunatelly, it does not work properly in operating systems newer than XP SP2 without some rather involved workaround. This program provides user-friendly data entry which significantly reduces the steep learning curve traditionally associated with the family of EMTP programs. Some of the features of mtData include:

	Menu-driven data case builder which assists in the step-by-step creation of a new data case;
	Intelligent data editor, with data error checking;
	Context-sensitive help with a substantial portion of the Reference Manual readily available on-line .	Click to enlarge
	Easy-to-assemble devices such as transformers with built-in defaults and data sanity checks.	Click to enlarge

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mtPlot.

The latest version of the output processing and plotting program mtPlot has a simple interface, but the underlying graphing engine is extremely powerful and cutomizable. It transparently identifies file formats of most EMTP-type programs, COMTRADE files, and plain column-based data in ASCII files:

	Automatic scaling in linear and/or logarithmic scales.
	Add text and lines to the plotted image
	Line, bar, and scatter plots
	Plot data from multiple files
	Combine MicroTran results with data from other sources in the same plot file	(click to enlarge)
	Print to a system printer or generate output as "jpg", "gif", "bmp" and other popular graphic formats files
	Curve math

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mtLine.

The MicroTran package also includes a full-featured line parameters program mtLine.  Some of the capabilities of mtLine include:

	Calculation of series impedance and shunt capacitance matrices of overhead transmission lines with an arbitrary arrangement of up to 100 phase conductors and/or ground wires.
	Output in phase or modal quantities or as symmetrical components.
	Elimination of ground wires and bundling.
	Multiphase pi-circuits. Calculation of mutual impedances between power lines and communication circuits for interference studies.
	Calculation of the electric field strength below transmission lines.

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fdData.

This program provides support for the modelling of frequency dependent overhead lines.  MicroTran's frequency dependent line models can accurately take into account line asymmetries, skin effect and the effect of the ground return path and variable depth of penetration.

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MicroTran version 3.2

Version 3.20 includes a new cable constants support module as well as major upgrades in Mtline, Mtplot and the new Graphical user interface Mtdiagram.

Mtline.

In version 3.2, Mtline combines the capabilities of the previous version of fDdata and mtLine into a single intergarted application with an easy-to-use interface, and full-featured on-line help

All modelling options previously split between mtLine and fDdata, are now integrated into a single-application

Library conductor and tower management functions are integrated into the user interface.   The package comes populated with typical commonly-used conductor  and tower types.  However, they can easily be changed or added to the library to suit specific needs.

Earlier versions of mtLine allowed the calculation of electric field strength at ground level.  This capability has been extended and expanded to both electric and magnetic fields at an arbitrary height above ground

This capability is very useful for quick EMF assessments!

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Mtcable

This is a  new support program for the calculation of slef-contained direct buried underground cables.  The user interface is very similar to that of version 3.2 of Mtline.

Since the electric field (above ground) of a buried cable is zero, only magnetic field calculations are available.

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Mtplot

Version 3.2 of Mtplot continues in the tradition to provide a powerful output processor with a very simple and intuitive user interface.  The new features introduced in version 3.2 include:

Phasor diagrams based on the steady-state solution of a Microtran simulation

Optional dual Y-axis to compare parameters of dissimilar magnitude in the same graph.

	Expanded curve math capabilities with an arbitrary number of elementary functions
	Volt-time air gap tool that can be superimposed to a transient simulation to see if a given air gap is likely to flashover
	TRV envelope assessment tool (both for IEC and ANSI specifications)
	ASCII file export in plain column-limited format
	COMTRADE conversion program now supports standard ASCCI and binary formats (C37.111.1999)
	Harmonic analysis (based on the old character-mode utility harmonic.exe).

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Mtproject.

The main command console has been streamlined for ease of use. The concept of a "Microtran project" has been simplified for additional ease of use.

However, with the development of Mtdiagram, this application has now been downgraded to "legacy application" status

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Mdiagram

Mtdiagram is a fully featured network schematic drawing tool and graphical user interface. All of Microtran command modules are integrated seamlessly.

The easiest way to catch a glimpse of the features of Mtdiagram is to download and view the introductory tutorials..

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Pricing and ordering

The following pricing information is given in US funds. Payment via direct bank transfer or with PayPal.  Credit cards cannot be processed.  Detailed payment instructions are provided along with the  invoice.

Starting in 2006 only the downloadable version of the package is available for purchase.  This means that only electronic versions of the documentation in pdf format are distributed with the package. 

Discounts are given to educational institutions.  The EMTP Theory book and hardcopy documentation can be purchased separately, although some restrictions apply.  Please contact customer support for details.

COMMERCIAL USERS

Product	Cost
Standard version single-machine license	$2,500.00
Standard version, second license:	$500
Multiple-license version (3-10 users):	$3,500.00 for first 3 licenses +  $375 per additional user

With the purchase of a standard MicroTran license, users also receive 10 hours of consulting time.  This service can be used for advice in modelling issues, or to ask any engineering questions pertaining to power system modelling.

For complex problems requiring more than 10 hours of engineering time, Microtran Power System Analysis Corp. also offers consulting engineering services at very competitive rates.  Please contract customer support for details.

Product	Cost
Standard version single-machine license	$500.00
Standard version, second license:	$400
NMultiple-license version (3-10 users):	$1,300 for first 3 licenses +  $100 per additional user

Starting in 2006, shipping and handling costs of hardcopy documentation are calculated on a case-by-case basis.  Note that the table below now shows average costs.  Actual costs will depend on destination. Note that all these documents are available in electronic form as part of the package

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Upgrade history

Version 3.23 of the MicroTran package is the latest version of the package, and it was released in mid 2008. It contains the new graphical user interface Mtdiagram which is still in the development stage (covering about 95% of the Microtran native models. The last 5% can be used via data modules)

New in version 3.23

Version 3.23 introduced the following features and improvements:

• Graphical user interface Mtdiagram
  

• Integration of Mtline and Mtcable into the Mtdiagram environment
  
• Statistical switching studies
  
• Sample reference cases created with Mtdiagram
  
• Mtproject and Mtdata downgraded to "legacy application" status

Version 3.11

Version 3.1 introduced the following features and improvements:

• Compatibility issues with Windows XP have been solved.
  

• Support for multi-user peer-to-peer network licenses
  
• EMTP Theory Book, second edition in pdf format.
  
• Fully downloadable version available

Version 3.1

Version 3.1 introduced the following features and improvements:

• Completely re-written version of mtPlot with a professional 32-bit underlying graphing engine.
  

• User-supplied routines are can attach to MicroTran via compiler-independent DLLs.
  
• Software protection moved from hardware to software keys (for single-user licenses).
  
• Updated, smaller Reference manual.
  
• All support programs (with the exception of lnData and mtData are Windows native 32-bit applications
  
• User-defined dimensioning limits
  
• Robust installation and uninstallation
  
• Compatible with Windows 98, 2000 and XP.

Version 3.0

• MicroTran project is introduced. This is a Windows-based application launcher that helps users organize input, output and plot files consistently and efficiently
  

• MicroTran is a native 32-bit Windows 95/Windows NT application. The following code-level improvements are added:
  • Node naming. By default node names are case insensitive and internally right-adjusted.  This should fix many data errors for users who do not rely on mtData for node name right-adjustment.
    
  • Ideal transformers. Just turns ratio.  Very useful in a number of simulation tricks, such as the connection of a voltage source between two nodes.
    
  • Induction machine Model.
    
  • More impulse functions. Short impulses, such as the 8/20 microsecond test impulse for surge arrester testing, cannot be described with the double exponential impulse function. Therefore, two other functions have been added, namely those proposed by Standler and Heidler. A CIGRE Working Group has proposed a new lightning surge function with maximum steepness around 90 % of the crest value. This function has been implemented as well.
    
  • Comprehensive error messages. All error messages have been revisited and substantial explanations are given to help users understand and debug data cases that refuse to run correctly.
    
  • Enhanced library of test cases. The standard library of test cases now include more cases to test and illustrate features of the program as well as practical simulations for power systems and power electronics.
• Install/uninstall is introduced
  
• Device modules. This feature allows the creation of standard modules to which one can pass parameters such as node names or any other data.  Node names local to each module are looked after automatically, so that the same module with different parameters can be used in different parts of the data case.
  A given module can have linear elements, sources, switches, voltage output requests. This means independence of correct positioning of blank cards within the data case. The old data file structure is supported for backward compatibility.
  
• Better plotting support. The old screen dump method in mtPlot to generate hard copy plots has been replaced with three hardcopy options:
  • Postscript output files
    
  • EPS (Encapsulated Postscript) files suitable for inclusion into documents
    
  • Portable Windows bitmap files, also suitable for import into any document. 
• A first-generation Windows-based plotting program is also provided.  This means hardware independence as far a viewing and printing is concerned.  Of course, the old mtPlot will still be supported for those users who like its simple but powerful character mode interface.
  
• Line Constants pre-processor lnData. This is a DOS-based data pre-processor for mtLine and fdData.  It allows the generation of input data files for mtLine and fdData, and runs these programs on the fly. This pre-processor offers some very convenient features such as:
  • Transmission line library (user customizable)
    
  • Standard conductor library
    
  • On-line help
    
  • Point-and-click data case construction

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