To represent the physical grid components, and the calculation results, this library uses a graph data model. In this document, the graph data model is presented with the list of all components types, and their relevant input/output attributes.

Component Type Hierarchy and Graph Data Model

The components types are organized in an inheritance-like hierarchy. A sub-type has all the attributes from its parent type. The hierarchy of the component types is shown below.

graph LR base-->node base-->branch branch-->line branch-->link branch-->transformer base-->branch3 branch3-->three_winding_transformer base-->appliance appliance-->generic_load_gen generic_load_gen-->sym_load generic_load_gen-->sym_gen generic_load_gen-->asym_load generic_load_gen-->asym_gen appliance-->source appliance-->shunt base-->sensor sensor-->generic_voltage_sensor generic_voltage_sensor-->sym_voltage_sensor generic_voltage_sensor-->asym_voltage_sensor sensor-->generic_power_sensor generic_power_sensor-->sym_power_sensor generic_power_sensor-->asym_power_sensor classDef green fill:#9f6,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px class node,line,link,transformer,three_winding_transformer,source,shunt,sym_load,sym_gen,asym_load,asym_gen,sym_voltage_sensor,asym_voltage_sensor,sym_power_sensor,asym_power_sensor green

Note

The type names in the hierarchy are exactly the same as the component type names in the power_grid_model.power_grid_meta_data, see Native Data Interface

This library uses a graph data model with three generic component types: node, branch, branch3 and appliance. A node is similar to a vertex in the graph, a branch is similar to an edge in the graph and a branch3 connects three nodes together. An appliance is a component which is connected (coupled) to a node, it is seen as a user of this node.

The figure below shows a simple example:

node_1 ---line_3 (branch)--- node_2 --------------three_winding_transformer_8 (branch3)------ node_6
 |                             |                                 |
source_5 (appliance)       sym_load_4 (appliance)             node_7

• There are four nodes (points/vertices) in the graph of this simple grid.

• The node_1 and node_2 are connected by line_3 which is a branch (edge).

• The node_2, node_6, and node_7 are connected by three_winding_transformer_8 which is a branch3.

• There are two appliances in the grid. The source_5 is coupled to node_1 and the sym_load_4 is coupled to node_2.

Symmetry of Components and Calculation

It should be emphasized that the symmetry of components and calculation are two independent concepts in the model. For example, a power grid model can consist of both sym_load and asym_load. They are symmetric or asymmetric load components. On the other hand, the same model can execute symmetric or asymmetric calculations.

• In case of symmetric calculation, the asym_load will be treated as a symmetric load by averaging the specified power through three phases.

• In case of asymmetric calculation, the sym_load will be treated as an asymmetric load by dividing the total specified power equally into three phases.

Attributes of Components

Attribute	Description
name	Name of the attribute. It is exactly the same as the attribute name in power_grid_model.power_grid_meta_data.
data type	Data type of the attribute. It is either a type from the table in Native Data Interface. Or it can be an enumeration as above defined. There are two special data types RealValueInput and RealValueOutput which are independent.
	RealValueInput is used for some input attributes. It is a double for a symmetric class (e.g. sym_load) and double[3] an asymmetric class (e.g. asym_load). It is explained in detail in the corresponding types.
	RealValueOutput is used for many output attributes. It is a double in symmetric calculation and double[3] for asymmetric calculation.
unit	Unit of the attribute, if it is applicable. As a general rule, only standard SI units without any prefix are used.
description	Description of the attribute.
required	If the attribute is required. If not, then it is optional. Note if you choose not to specify an optional attribute, it should have the null value as defined in Basic Data Types.
input	If the attribute is part of an input dataset.
update	If the attribute can be mutated by the update call PowerGridModel.update on an existing instance, only applicable when this attribute is part of an input dataset.
output	If the attribute is part of an output dataset.
valid values	If applicable, an indication which values are valid for the input data

Reference Direction

The sign of active/reactive power of the Appliance and Sensor depends on the reference direction.

• For load reference direction, positive active power means the power flows from the node to the appliance/sensor.

• For generator reference direction, positive active power means the power flows from the appliance/sensor to the node .