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ETAP or SKM or Other EE Software

12/05/2016 2:29 AM

My company wants to buy EE software like ETAP or SKM. Is ETAP getting to be the one standard that "everyone" uses or does anyone here use something else like SKM?

A typical use of it would be:

attach it to our power plant (20 MW) backed up by 16 MW from the national grid, record voltages, amps, phase angles, and transients, and determine which parameters in the power plant settings should be changed to minimize nuisance tripping on some of our busses.

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#1

Re: ETAP or SKM or other EE Software

12/05/2016 11:59 AM

We use SKM, and have for more than 20 years. It has worked well for us.

However, I think you misunderstand how it works. It does not measure real-time quantities and develop settings for protective devices on its own. You have to input the system and device parameters, and it can show you how the device characteristics (e.g., protective relay setting curves or breaker/fuse trip curves) coordinate, so you can try to coordinate the settings, which you then input to your protective devices (or replace equipment because it is not capable of what you need to do).

But you also have to understand how to perform the coordination and stay within standard requirements (NEC, IEEE/ANSI, BS, IEC, etc.). Your "nuisance trips" may really be that your electrical system is being driven out of its limitations or design parameters, and by "tweaking" the protective settings to eliminate them you could open yourself up to a catastrophic failure. If you are going to get and use the software, be sure you get proper training to understand its correct use!

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#2

Re: ETAP or SKM or other EE Software

12/07/2016 11:40 AM

I've been an ETAP user for almost a year now and have been really happy with the software.

I believe ETAP has real-time capabilities that can monitor your electrical system, but as mentioned by Peter it wouldn't provide protective device settings on the fly. I would contact them for more information.

You might be interested in their Automated Protection & Coordination software. I use it when doing coordination studies. it can automatically identify false tripping and mis-coordinations.

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