Global Slicing Block

Units:	-
Mode:	Input Only
Multi-band:	True
Default Value:	False (0)
Validation Rule:	False (0) or True (-1)
Key Property:	No
Description:	Defines blocks of time that should be kept together when performing time slicing e.g. for load duration curves

Global Slicing Block defines blocks of time that should be kept together when performing time slicing for partial chronology in LT Plan and MT Schedule e.g. for creating load duration curves. This is particularly useful when modelling systems with significant solar generation when it can be important to keep time periods with high and low solar activity in the same blocks regardless of the input system load.

Slicing Block is a multi-band property with each band defining groups of periods that should be kept together. The value of Slicing Block is either 0 (false) or -1 (true) with -1 indicating the period of time belongs to the group defined by the band. It is convenient to define the time periods in each block using Timeslice or Data File.

Example (using Timeslice):

The example in Table 1 there are five blocks of time that should be kept together and these vary across the year with solar intensity.

Table 1: Example Slicing Block
Property	Value	Units	Band	Timeslice
Slicing Block	-1	-	1	M1,H1-6;M2,H1-7;M3-4,H1-6;M5-9,H1-7;M10,H1-6;M11,H1-5;M12,H1-5
Slicing Block	-1	-	2	M1,H7-9;M2,H8-9;M3,H7-9;M4,H7-8;M5-9,H8-9;M10,H7-8;M11,H6-8;M12,H6-8
Slicing Block	-1	-	3	M1-3,H10-17;M4,H9-16;M5-9,H10-17;M10,H9-16;M11-12,H9-17
Slicing Block	-1	-	4	M1-2,H18-20;M3,H18-19;M4,H17-18;M5-9,H18-19;M10,H17-19;M11-12,H18-20
Slicing Block	-1	-	5	M1-2,H21-24;M3,H20-24;M4,H19-24;M5-10,H20-24;M11-12,H21-24

Example (using Data File):

To define a complete set of slicing blocks using an external data file, do the following:

Create a CSV file with columns Year, Month, Day, Period, Band, Value: In the Band column put the Block number corresponding to the interval defined by the Year, Month, Day, Period. In the Value column put -1. You should have one line for each interval in the horizon.
Create a Data File object in the GUI and point to this CSV file. Set the Band number equal to the total number of bands/blocks defined in the file. Set the Data File Missing Value Method = "Default Value" to prevent missing values from being filled with -1.
Create one entry for Slicing Block with Data File pointing to the Data File object created here and Band equal to the number of bands/blocks in the file.

An example of the layout of data in the CSV file is as follows:

Year	Month	Day	Period	Band	Value
2001	1	1	1	11	-1
2001	1	1	2	12	-1
2001	1	1	3	13	-1
2001	1	1	4	13	-1
2001	1	1	5	13	-1
2001	1	1	6	12	-1
2001	1	1	7	11	-1
2001	1	1	8	10	-1
2001	1	1	9	10	-1
2001	1	1	10	9	-1
2001	1	1	11	9	-1
2001	1	1	12	9	-1
2001	1	1	13	9	-1
2001	1	1	14	10	-1
2001	1	1	15	10	-1
2001	1	1	16	10	-1
2001	1	1	17	9	-1
2001	1	1	18	8	-1
2001	1	1	19	8	-1
2001	1	1	20	8	-1
2001	1	1	21	8	-1
2001	1	1	22	9	-1
2001	1	1	23	10	-1
2001	1	1	24	11	-1
2001	1	2	1	12	-1
2001	1	2	2	13	-1
2001	1	2	3	14	-1
2001	1	2	4	14	-1
2001	1	2	5	13	-1
2001	1	2	6	11	-1
...
2001	12	30	24	175	-1