System Diagrams 

NOTE: Viewing the System Diagram while Aurora is running will slow down run time significantly and is not recommended. Always use Pause or Step on the Aurora Home Tab in conjunction with this feature.

This window provides a graphical representation of the system being modeled. The System Diagram is created by Aurora when you create a new system in the Zone Definition table and opens the System Diagram form by selecting the System button on the Home Tab Ribbon.  Summary price and transmission flows are displayed on this screen.

The System Diagram will show various information depending on the active data Source applied.

General Description

File Menu

Toolbar

Details

Right-Click Menu

 

 NOTE: Change Sets should not be used with the System Diagram table. A new System Diagram will need to be created when a new Zone Definition is created or an existing Zone Definition is modified. See the tutorial article: Creating Zone Definitions and System Diagrams.

 

General Description

The diagram shows the following information depending on settings and reported output tables:

Zonal Information

Source = Configuration

Zone ID and Short Zone Name, or Pool Name

 

Input Link capacity between zones/pools.  If a link capacity is referencing a vector (e.g., Time Series Monthly Table) instead of being entered as a static number the capacity will be shown as zero (0).

Source = Memory or Output

Link Loading (color coded)
Red
= 99% loaded
Dark Orange
= 90 to 99% loaded
Blue
= 30 to 90% loaded
Green
= Under 30% loaded

Additional information is available in the detail bar when a zone/pool is selected.

Nodal Information

Source = Configuration

LoadFlow Area Number and LoadFlow Area Name, or Aggregate Area Name

 

General tie flow connections. Input ratings are not available for viewing.

 

Source = Memory or Output

  • Nodal tie flows for the hour/time period
    (Flows are not color coded like Zonal views)

Additional information is available in the detail bar when a node is selected.

 

File Ribbon

The File Menu with many useful features.

New System Diagram

This button creates a new system diagram after a new system is defined in the Zone Definition input table. Another box will pop up requesting you to select a system from a list of available options and to name the new table. For consistency, we recommend naming the system and the table the same thing. See Creating a System Diagram for more information.

Save to Input Database

This button saves changes in the diagram to the System Diagram table (the table is used to configure the diagram when it is first loaded).  Editing the table directly is not recommended.

Copy to Clipboard

This button copies an image of the diagram to the clipboard. The image can then be pasted into other documents or reports.

Print

This button prints an image of the system diagram as displayed on the screen. The image will be condensed to fit on one printed page.

 

Results and Appearances Ribbon

Source: This setting determines the reference data for the diagram.  

Options: Configuration (input), Memory (simulation must be running), and Output.  

If the model is not running, the form will default to Configuration. When running, it will open with Memory selected.

 

NOTE: For nodal diagrams, some output information is needed to build the diagram for the first time in Configuration mode. An informational warning may be written to the screen requesting the user to step or run the study.

These settings are only available when Source = Output.

 

The last section of the toolbar includes: View/Templates: The dropdown button opens a menu used for saving custom views of the system diagram.  

 

NOTE: These views are different from the typical Project Templates (.atz file) shown in the Explorer Bar.

 

The options are:

Save/Save As: Saves the view in the project file.This is useful for arranging nodes and setting zone/pool or LFArea/Aggregate Area aggregation. Note that this option only saves the view to memory. The main project must be saved to permanently save the template.

Select Template: Depending on whether the Zonal or Nodal system is active, this option always offers Zones/Pools Only or Loadflow Area/Aggr Area Only. This offers a quick way to aggregate or disaggregate the entire system with one click. (Alternately, single nodes can be adjusted using the right-click menu discussed below.) Additionally, this dropdown will show any custom saved views.

 

Details Bar

The details bar shows additional information when a node or link/flow is selected. The information displayed will vary depending on which screen is active, zonal or nodal. The details bar offers quick access to additional information about a zone, pool, LFArea, or aggregate area and/or the flows between those regions.

         

Right-Click Menu

The right-click menu is only available when a node has been selected.

  • Show...: The option will vary depending on what kind of node has been selected. Options include to show: Zones, Pool, Loadflow Areas, or Aggr Area (aggregate area). This option will roll-up or expand the view to show more or less granularity, depending on the initial selection.

  • Resize Nodes of Same Type: This option will resize all nodes of the same type applying the size of the selected node. For example, if a Pool node is selected and its size has been altered, all remain Pool type nodes will be resized accordingly.

 Run Management

 System Diagram


For further assistance, please contact Aurora Support.

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