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Simulation and analysis of power systems often involves modeling extremely complex systems. This is particularly true when the model involves not just the electrical power system, but also other networks layered on top of the power system, such as the accompanying financial transactions. Such layered networks can often involve interactions that are not at all obvious. Interactive visualization can be a very effective means for determining otherwise hidden relationships between various elements in the network. This paper describes the application of interactive 3D for the visualization of electric power system operational and economic data. The paper first presents a 3D, one-line-based visualization and then provides several examples of how it could be used to display power system data.

Effective power system operation requires power system engineers and operators to analyze vast amounts of information. In systems containing thousands of buses, a key challenge is to present this data in a form such that the user can assess the state of the system in an intuitive and quick manner. This is particularly true when trying to analyze relationships between actual network power flows, the scheduled power flows, and the capacity of the transmission system. With restructuring and the move towards having a single entity, such as an independent system operator or pool, operate a much larger system, this need has become more acute. This paper presents several power system visualization techniques to help in this task. These techniques include animation of power system flow values, contouring of bus and transmission line flow values, data aggregation techniques and virtual reality data visualization.

Effective power system operation requires power system engineers and operators to analyze vast amounts of information. The authors have developed several techniques for visualizing large amounts of data including contouring, animated flows, and 3D visualization. These techniques have been completely integrated into PowerWorld Simulator, an offline system study tool for use in the energy industry. Integrating these visualization techniques with real-time data sources, such as those available in energy control centers, however, has presented a separate challenge to the wide dissemination of these visualization abilities. The paper presents a case study of integrating these abilities with control centers that utilize the Plant Information (PI) System for data storage and archival. Projects have been completed that integrate these visualization techniques into control centers for Commonwealth Edison in Lombard, Illinois and City Water Light and Power in Springfield, Illinois. A separate pilot project has also been completed with the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Various proposals have been made for new paradigms for operating the restructuring electrical system. One of the key challenges associated with this restructuring is to effectively analyze and evaluate the effects these alternative paradigms may have on major aspects of power system operations, including the so called ancillary services. The paper provides preliminary results on the development of a simulation tool to perform this analysis. Since power systems are ultimately governed by the laws of physics, the heart of the tool is a power system simulation engine, valid over a simulated time frame of minutes to days. The modular structure of the tool then allows other packages to be superimposed on this structure to represent different proposed paradigms. Integration of effective visualization into an interactive simulation environment is then used to gain understanding and insights concerning the attributes of each paradigm.

One area in need of new research in information visualization is the operation and analysis of large-scale electric power systems. In analyzing power systems, one is usually confronted with a large amount of multivariate data. With systems containing tens of thousands of electrical nodes (buses), a key challenge is to present this data in a form so the user can assess the state of the system in an intuitive and quick manner. This is particularly true when trying to analyze relationships between actual network power flows, the scheduled power flows, and the capacity of the transmission system. With electric industry restructuring and the move towards having a single entity, such as an independent system operator or pool, operate a much larger system, this need has become more acute. This paper presents several power system visualization techniques to help in this task. These techniques include animation of power system flow values, contouring of bus and transmission line flow values, data aggregation techniques and interactive 3D data visualization.