Is there an ideal voltage source model in PSSE?

asked 2026-07-13 01:57:35 -0500

PetrK
1 ●1

updated 2026-07-13 07:07:00 -0500

In PowerFactory, an infinite source is typically emulated using an ideal voltage source element, where you directly specify voltage magnitude and frequency. If you need to simulate a voltage or frequency step during a dynamic simulation, you simply change these two inputs on the source itself, at any point in time.

Questions:

Does PSS®E have an equivalent "ideal voltage source" model/element — something where I can directly set voltage and frequency as independent inputs? Or is the only way to represent an infinite/stiff source to use a synchronous generator (e.g. GENCLS with high inertia)?
How do you emulate a voltage or frequency step on the network in PSS®E? If a generator is indeed required, what's the standard/recommended approach to force a step change in terminal voltage or frequency during a dynamic run?
Is applying a shunt (Bus Fault / Calculate and Apply Bus Fault) the ONLY way to force a voltage step at a specific bus, or are there other supported mechanisms (e.g. a dedicated disturbance type, an API call, or a model) for this purpose?

Any pointers to relevant documentation sections, example cases, or standard practice would be appreciated. PSS®E 36.6.0.

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answered 2026-07-13 07:13:13 -0500

PetrK
1 ●1

I think I've actually found what I was looking for — posting for anyone who hits the same question later.

Short answer: yes, PSS®E has an equivalent — the native library model PLBVF1. It's formally a generator model, but it has no swing equation, no AVR, no governor — it just plays back internal EMF voltage and/or frequency straight from a file. Needs nonzero ZSORCE (same idea as a PF source with internal impedance), Pgen=0, Vscheduled=Vinitial. The .plb file format is Time, Voltage, Frequency — you can drive both signals independently or together, step or ramp, from one file at the same timestamps. No Change Vref/Gref, no shunt/fault tricks needed.

We've tested it live pretty thoroughly (shallow and deep V dips, isolated F steps, combined V+F with no cross-coupling) and it holds up well. One practical gotcha: for very deep instantaneous V steps (roughly below 0.3-0.4pu, depends on your dispatch point) you can hit ordinary SMIB transient instability (pole-slip) — that's not a PLBVF1 defect, just equal-area-criterion physics. Fix is trivial: use a mild ramp filter (Tv ~5-10s) instead of an instant step for anything that deep.

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Is there an ideal voltage source model in PSSE?

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