Tutorial

Tutorial
Introduction
NEPLAN is a very user friendly planning and information system for electrical-, gasand water-networks. All menu options and calculation modules are described in details in the following chapters. To get to know NEPLAN in a quick and easy way, we recommend you to follow this tutorial. The program will be explained by examples and we show how to start a new project and how to build a small power system. That means, that the user will learn how to enter the elements graphically, how to enter data, how to use libraries, how to run calculations and how to present the results in a manner adapted to the objectives of the analysis. As mentioned, the Tutorial is a first step to get used to the NEPLAN software. For details about models of elements, data input or calculation inputs, please consult the respective chapters of the User's Guide or use the context sensitive Online Help.

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The User Interface

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Fig. 1.1 Window features in the user interface

The numbers indicate the following window features: 1. Titlebar 5. Variant Manager 2. Menu option bar 6. Symbol Window 3. Toolbar 7. Message Window 4. Workspace with diagrams and data tables 8. Status bar

Toolbar
All command buttons are equipped with balloon help texts, which pop up when the cursor is held still at the button for a moment without pressing any keys.

Many commands, which can be accessed in the Toolbar, may be found as well in the respective menus. Others, mainly the graphical commands can only be accessed in the Toolbar.

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Workspace
In the Workspace the different diagrams can be opened. The same diagrams may be used for entering the network, building control circuits or sketching drawings.

Variant Manager
The Variant Manager gives a good overview of the open projects and variants. New projects and variants may be managed, what means that they can be deleted, added, activated or deactivated. From the Variant Manager, the user can switch to the Diagram Manager, which administrates the open Diagrams with its graphic layers.

Symbol Window
The Symbol Window contains all element symbols available. Apart from the standard symbol for some elements there exist other symbols with a different graphical appearance but exactly the same characteristics. New symbols also can be created or existing symbols may be modified with the Symbol Library.

Message Window
The message window is the channel to communicate with the user. It supplies information about the executed processes, error messages and further information.

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The Online Help

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Fig. 1.2 How to call the Online Help

The figure above shows how to call the Online Help. With button 1) a context sensitive help is called, what means, that after pressing this button, the user may click on the feature or dialog for which he needs more information. Selecting the Help Topics in the menu Help or pressing F1, the user can get more information with a topic or with an index search.

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Data Organization

Fig. 1.3 Data Organization of NEPLAN

The figure above shows the data organization of NEPLAN. The NEPLAN directory contains the following folders: Bin: Dat: Hardlock: HTML Help: Lib: Manuals: Ramses: temp: user: contains executable and control files contains Examples and NEPLAN projects contains the executable file for the Hardlock driver contains the HTML Help files contains NEPLAN Libraries contains the manuals as pdf files contains files of the module Ramses contains temporary files contains User files and projects

During the installation process, an entry in the operational system registry will be made by NEPLAN. It's the information about where the program can find the different folders to save and read data.

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The Basic Elements of NEPLAN

To understand the NEPLAN environment, it is essential that certain concepts used in the system are described:

Station

Feeder / Reservoir

Node Pipe Line

Node

Node with Demand

Logical Switches (closed and open)

Fig. Diagram with network components

A pipeline network consists of nodes and elements (e.g. pipelines, reservoirs etc.).

Nodes
A node is the connection point of two elements or a location, where gas/water will be produced or consumed (reservoir, demands). A node is described by its name (identification with 17 characters) altitude description (31 characters) zone and area node demand type of node association with a station

Elements
An element corresponds to a network component, like e.g. pipeline. An element is described topological by a starting and an ending node. The elements will be described by values like line diameter. The loads (demands) can be assigned to a node or to the lines (line loads).
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In NEPLAN these parameters are entered with input masks.

Station
A station can contain several nodes and has no meaning for the calculations. It will only be used in relation to the data base and to switch between different network layers.

Symbol
Each element has a standard symbol. If you like to have another symbol, you can select a symbol from the library before adding a new element to the network diagram. A symbol library is included in the NEPLAN package. You can add your own Symbols with the symbol editor (see "Symbol Editor"). It is also possible to change the symbol as well as the angle of the element later (see "Edit - Symbol").

Sliders
In NEPLAN the sliders are used to change the network topology (switching on/off elements). There are two different types of sliders: physical slider (slider element) logical slider Sliders are entered as an element on a line and have no influence on the calculation. Sliders can only be used to change the network topology, if the option "Combined operation logical/technical sliders" in the menu "Insert Edit Options" is activated. Logical sliders are fictive sliders, which are automatically assigned to all elements by the system. A line, for example, has two logical sliders, one at the starting and one at the ending node.

Hydrants
Hydrants will be assigned to an element e.g. pipeline. They have no influence on the calculation. This element is used for documentation purposes.

Zones/Areas
Zones and areas are parts of a network, which can be defined and named by the user. Each node and each element belongs to a zone and an area. Zones and areas are in principle independent. For the representation of the different zones and areas in the single line diagram, different colors may be used.

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In step 4 it will be explained how to define areas and zones.

Partial Networks
Unlike Zones/Areas, a partial network is an independent network. A partial network has no connections to any other networks. You can make partial networks by opening logical or physical switches. It is possible to color each partial network differently.
Station Node Feeder/Reservoir Pipe Line

Partial network 1
Node Node with Demand

open logical switch

Partial network 2

Fig. Partial Networks

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Step 1 Create a new project

To create a new project, after having started the program, click on the menu "File New". 1. Enter the location or directory for saving the project. Pressing the button "", you can choose the directory. 2. Enter the project name. 3. Choose the network type: Electric, Water or Gas. 4. If you wish, you may enter a project description. 5. Choose the diagram size and the page orientation. 6. Press the OK button.

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5 6

Fig. 1.4 Create a new project

The figure below shows the user interface after having created the new project. a. The titlebar shows the name of the active project. b. One diagram is open for the rootnet. c. The variant manager shows the project tree, which consists at the moment of only one rootnet.

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b c

Fig. 1.5 After creating a new project

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Step 2 Enter a small network

In this step, you'll enter nodes and elements to build a small electrical network. The Symbol window allows you to choose the desired element symbol in an easy way. You can start entering any element you want. It is not necessary to enter first the nodes, because the new philosophy of NEPLAN is to first enter the elements and nodes independently in the diagram, and then to connect them with a link. Only lines can't be entered independently. They need connection points, which are nodes or other elements. It's not necessary to enter a node between all elements, because the elements can be interconnected directly with a link. However, if the user wants to see the node results, he has to enter the node graphically.

Input data
We will draw the following network:

Fig. 1.6 Network to be entered in NEPLAN

The necessary parameters are all listed in the following tables.

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Nodes:
Name K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K6 K9 K8 K11 K12 K13 Geod. Hhe m 220 185 175 175 175 175 175 187 194 175 175 175 Q 0 0 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.8 20 3.4 3.4 3.4 Einheit Q l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec Gleichzeit. Fakt. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Knoten Type Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Type 1 Q Knoten l/s 0 0 3.4 3.4 3.4 6.4 7.4 6.8 24 4.18 4.96 4.18

Reservoir:
Name Typ Geod. Hhe 230 Konstant Druck Ja Qmax 0 Q in ... l/sec Zeitsimulation aktiv Ja

RESERVOIR-1 Reservoir Name RESERVOIR-1

V(0) Volumen bei Zeitpkt. 0 100

Lsch Wasser 10

Fluss Oberflche Versorgung m3 40 20

Pipe Lines:
Name EL13 EL14 EL1 EL2 EL3 EL4 EL5 EL6 EL7 EL7A EL8 EL9 EL10 EL11 Name EL13 EL14 Lnge m 156 156 245 105 130 110 105 63 140 85 175 336 175 352 K-Typ KTYP-1 KTYP-1 Typ DN 100 DN 100 DN 150 DN 200 DN 100 DN 100 DN 200 DN 200 DN 150 DN 80 DN 150 DN 150 DN 150 DN 200 k-Wert mm 0.4 0.4 Durchmesser m 100 100 150 200 100 100 200 200 150 80 150 150 150 200 usserer Durchm. 100 100 PN 0 0 v max m/s 1.5 1.5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Q-Typ Q-LTG Q-LTG Q-Ltg. .../km 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Q in ... l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec l/sec

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EL1 EL2 EL3 EL4 EL5 EL6 EL7 EL7A EL8 EL9 EL10 EL11

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

150 200 100 100 200 200 150 80 150 150 150 200

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Centrifugal Pump:
Name PUMP-1 Typ Pump P zustzl. 185 Pmax 55 Pmin 0 Qmax 82 Qmin 38 Q in... l/sec Steller-Position 1

Valve:
Name EL12 Pmax 0 Pmin -10 Qmax 30 Qmin 5 Q in... l/sec Regeln Ja Druck 220 Blockiert Nein

Enter the network

Enter an element 1. To draw an element from the symbol window, click on it, hold the mouse button pressed, drag the symbol to the diagram and drop it. 2. A data-input-dialog for the element appears. 3. Enter a name for the element. 4. Enter the element parameters. 5. Press the OK-button when finished.

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Fig. 1.7 Enter an element

Enter a node 6. To enter nodes, click on one of the node button in the Toolbar. 7. Click once in the diagram for a round-point-node. To draw a bar-node, click in the diagram, but hold the mouse button and move the mouse to define the length of the bar-node, then leave the mouse button. 8. A data-input-dialog for the node appears. 9. For the node data at least the nominal system voltage and frequency are required. 10. Press the OK-button when finished.

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Fig. 1.8 Enter a node Enter a link 11. To interconnect elements with elements or with nodes, use the links. Press on the link-button. 12. First click on one end of the element. 13. Then click on the node to finalize the link.

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Fig. 1.9 Interconnecting the elements with Links

Build up the whole network (Hint for entering pipe lines) 14. Build up the network in the same manner as explained before. To enter pipe lines you need nodes where to connect them. 15. For entering lines press on the Pipe Line-button. 16. Click on the starting-node. 17. Click in the diagram, wherever you wish to have supporting points. 18. Click on the ending-node 19. Enter the line data in the appearing dialog. 20. Press OK when finished.

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19 18 16

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Fig. 1.10 Enter a line

Enter a text field 21. Click on the text-button. 22. Click in the diagram. The text field will be inserted and you may enter a text.

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22

Fig. 1.11 Enter a text field

23. To change the properties of the text field, select it and press the right mouse button. 24. In the appearing pop-up menu choose Graphic Properties and the dialog appears. 25. You may change the text and the font or apply a frame and colors.

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Fig. 1.12 Change the text field properties

Test your network

After having entered the network with all nodes and elements data, you should check if all elements are linked and all data is entered correctly. For this reason perform a load flow calculation with "Analysis Load Flow - Calculation". Watch out for any error messages in the Message Window and correct your network, till the load flow calculation is running successfully. In case that you get an error message for a certain element, the elements ID will be indicated. There is a feature in NEPLAN to search this element in an easy way: Search for an element 1. Choose the Search-feature in the Edit-menu. 2. Select the search-criteria. In this case choose Id. 3. Enter the ID of the element you are looking for. 4. Press the button Find Next.

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Fig. 1.13 Search for an element

5. The program will move the view of the network, so that the searched element is displayed in the center with an orange frame around it. 6. Use the button Show Dialog to show the data input dialog of the marked element. 7. Enter an other ID to look for an other element. 8. Press Cancel to finish the Search.

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Fig. 1.14 Find the element

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Step 3 Insert Header, Save, Print, Exit

Insert Header
In every diagram a header may be inserted and its data can be edited. 1. Insert a header with "Insert - Header". 2. Click in the diagram to past the header.

Fig. 1.15 Insert a header into the diagram

3. With "Options Header" a dialog with the header text lines appears. 4. The text lines may be modified.

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Fig. 1.16 Modify the header lines

5. With "Options Project Description" a respective dialog appears. 6. You may modify the project description.

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Fig. 1.17 Modify the project description

The project name and the variant name are displayed automatically in the header.

Save the network

From time to time the network has to be saved to avoid data loss. Generally just do it by pressing the Save-Icon or with "File - Save". In the following it's shown how you save a network for the first time or how to save it with a different name. 1. Choose "File Save as".

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Fig. 1.18 Save a project

2. Choose the directory, where the project should be saved. 3. Enter the file-name. 4. Click on the button "Save"

Fig. 1.19 Enter the file-name

Print the diagram

To be able to print a diagram window as you desire, you need to switch to the Privew Mode (1). 1. Switch to the Preview-Mode

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Fig. 1.20 Change to Preview Mode

2. Define paper format and margins with Page Setup

Fig. 1.21 Page Setup

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3. The printout will contain exactly what you see in the preview window. Use the zoom options to define the print window.

Fig. 1.22 Prepare your print window

4. Finally select a printer with Print Setup, use Print Preview for a last check and print with Print.

4c

4b

4a

Fig. 1.23 Print the diagram

Close and open projects

Projects may be opened and closed without quitting the program. Several projects can be open at the same time, they will be displayed in the variant manager.

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1. Make a right-mouse-button click on the project symbol in the variant manager. A popup menu appears. 2. Choose "Close Project" to close the respective project. The same is possible with "File - Close".

Fig. 1.25 Close a project

3. Open an other, already existing project with "File Open"

Fig. 1.26 Open a project

4. To exit the program use "File Exit"

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Fig. 1.27 Exit the program

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Step 4 Use of Diagrams, Layers, Areas and Zones

In this step you will learn how to handle diagrams and graphic layers and you'll define areas and zones. We use the example network MyProject.nepprj, entered in Step 2.

Use of Diagrams
For a certain project, the network may be entered in different diagrams. With the help of this function it's possible for example to represent different pressure zones in different diagrams. Also the network of one single pressure zone may be devided into different diagrams. An other application is to use a different diagram for a detailed view of a part of the network. In the general diagram a station can be drawn as a "black box" and in an other diagram the station can be represented in details. In this step, we will learn the handling of diagrams in a project.

Rename a Diagram The following figure explains the procedure to rename the single diagram in our project, which actually has the name Diagram 0. 1. Select the diagram manager. 2. Double click on the existing "Diagram 0" and the Diagram Properties dialog appears. 3. The name can now be changed to "Overview". 4. If you wish, insert a diagram description.

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Fig. 1.25 Change of diagram name

Define a new diagram A detailed view for the regulator station shall be entered in an other diagram. We'll define this new diagram, like shown in the figure below: 1. Make a right-mouse-button click on the Diagram Manager and choose "Insert new Diagram". The Diagram Properties dialog appears. 2. Enter the name of the new diagram. 3. If you wish, insert a diagram description.

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2 3

Fig. 1.26 Insert a new diagram

After having closed the Diagram Properties by clicking the OK-button, the following diagram structure is displayed.

Fig. 1.27 Rootnet with two diagrams

To display a diagram, check its checkbox and uncheck it for closing. The last checked diagram is the active one and can be edited.

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Enter a low voltage network Activate the diagram "Regulator Station" and draw the following network.

Fig. 1.28 Regulator Station, drawn in the new diagram

Enter an element more than once in a project Elements may be represented graphically as many times as you want in the same project. Mainly this makes sense, when you wish to see the same element in different diagrams, like in our case. To enter an already existing element once more, proceed like this: 1. Select the element, to be entered once more, out of the Symbol Window and draw it in the diagram. 2. In the appearing Input-dialog, select the Info-tab. 3. Press the button beside the name field. 4. Select an already existing element from a list. 5. By pressing the OK-button, the data of the respective element will be adopted.

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2 3

4 1

Fig. 1.29 Enter an already existing element again in the same project.

After you entered the whole low voltage network, perform a Load Flow calculation to proof the entered data and the connections of the elements.

Use of graphic layers

To each diagram, any number of graphic layers may be assigned. The user can decide, which graphic layers of a diagram shall be displayed simultaneously. The figure below shows the principle of diagrams and graphic layers.

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Diagram 1
1 2 3

Graphic Layer 1-3 of Diagram 1

Diagram 2

1 2 Graphic Layer 1-2 of Diagram 2

Fig. 1.30 Assignment of graphic layers to diagrams

In each graphic layer any number of graphic and network elements can be entered or bitmaps imported. Before you insert a new component, you can choose the graphic layer, to which it should belong. The graphic layers can be displayed selectively. In our example we'll introduce a second graphic layer "Pressure Zones" for the diagram "Overview". In the new graphic layer, the different pressure zones will be represented graphically. We then have the possibility to display or not this graphical input, by switching on or off the respective graphic layer.

Insert new graphic layers Follow the instructions to insert new graphic layers: 1. In the Diagram Manager make a right-mouse-button click on the diagram symbol "Overview". 2. In the menu choose "Insert new Graphic Layer".

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Fig. 1.31 Add a new graphic layer to the diagram "LV-Network"

3. In the "Graphic Layer Parameters" dialog, enter the name of the graphic layer. 4. If you wish, you may write a description.

Fig. 1.32 Enter the graphic layer parameters

Finally the Diagram Manager will look like this:

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Fig. 1.33 Diagram Manager after entering the new graphic layer

Enter drawings in the new graphic layer To be able to edit a graphic layer, it has to be activated. 1. Activate the new graphic layer "Pressure Zones" of the diagram Overview, either by mouse click in the checkbox or by choosing the right option in the menu, which appears with a right-button mouse click. 2. Draw the regions for pressure zones and write a text, like in the figure below, by using the graphical tools in the toolbar.

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Fig. 1.34 Input for the graphic layer "Pressure Zones" of the diagram "Overview"

Actually, both graphic layers (GrLayer 0 and Pressure Zones) are shown. Switch off the graphic layer "Pressure Zones", so that only the network is displayed. 1. To be able to switch off the graphic layer "Pressure Zones", it mustn't be active. For that reason, activate the other graphic layer. 2. Right-mouse-button click on the symbol of the "Pressure Zones" layer. 3. Unselect the "Show Graphic Layer" option.

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1 2

Fig. 1.35 Switch off the graphic layer "Pressure Zones"

Now, the graphical elements we entered before disappeared and only the network is visible. A red cross over the graphic layer symbol indicates, that the "Pressure Zones" layer is not shown, respectively switched off:

Fig. 1.36 Only the graphic layer "GrLayer 0" is shown

Define and assign Areas and Zones

Areas and zones are both network groups and can be defined by the user. Every element and node belongs to one zone and to one area. An area normally includes one or more zones. For load flow calculation it is possible to define transactions between different zones and between different areas. When creating a new project, there is one area and one zone predefined and every entered element is assigned to these network groups. After an element has been entered its area and zone may be changed.

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There are different possibilities to assign an area or/and a zone to network elements. They will be explained below. In general areas and zones have to be defined first, before they can be assigned to elements.

Define areas and zones To define areas and zones, choose "Edit Variant Properties". 1. Select the "Areas" tab first. 2. In the list, there exists only the predefined area. To add a new area click on the respective button. 3. Enter the name of the area 4. Choose a color. 5. Press the OK button.

3 2 4

Fig. 1.37 Define a new area Area_red

Let us change the color of Area 1. 1. Select Area 1 in the Area tab.

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2. Click on the Properties button. 3. Change the color. 4. Press the OK button.

1 2

Fig. 1.38 Change the properties of Area 1

In the same manner define the zone Zone_pump: 1. Select the "Zones" tab first. 2. To add a new zone click on the respective button. 3. Enter the name of the zone and the color. 4. The load factor for the zone may be defined here. 5. Press the OK button.

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3 2 4

Fig. 1.39 Define zones

Now, zones and areas are defined and they can be assigned to the elements. You have several possibilities to do it.

Assign areas and zones to the elements, one by one As shown below, for every single element you may choose independently a zone and an area, which have been defined previously.

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Fig. 1.40 Assign an area and a zone to an element

Assign areas and zones to a group of elements An other, much easier method is to mark a group of elements and to assign to all of them an area or/and a zone. 1. Mark a group of elements by using the mouse to put up a selection window or/and by clicking on different elements, while keeping the Shift-key pressed. 2. Choose "Assign Areas/Zones" and the "Assign Properties" dialog will appear. 3. In the "Assign Properties" dialog check the Area-box to assign an area to the elements. If you want to assign as well (or only) a zone to the elements, just mark the respective checkbox. 4. You now can select the name of the area, to which the element should belong to. 5. As we marked a group of elements for the assignment, we choose the option "Assign to graphical selection". 6. Press the OK button.

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Fig. 1.41 Assign an area (or/and a zone) to a group of elements

As a control, you can now open the Info tab of a Data Input Dialog of an element that belongs to this area and you'll notice that the area name has been changed.

Assign areas and zones to all elements of a partial network For this procedure you first have to create a partial network. This means, a part of the network has to be disconnected from the rest. 1. Disconnect the part of the network, which you want to assign to an area or/and zone. A partial network is built. 2. Get to the Assign Properties dialog by the menu option "Edit - Data Assign Areas/Zones". 3. Select Area (or/and Zone) and choose the respective name. 4. Check the box "Assign to all elements of selected partial network" and select the ID of the partial network. If you don't know this ID, open the Data Input dialog of one element of this partial network and get it of the Info tab. 5. By pressing the OK button, the assignment will be finalized. Don't forget to reconnect the partial network.

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4 5 6

Fig. 1.42 Assign an area (or/and a zone) to a partial network

You now have the possibility to color the network according to the different areas or zones. 1. Get to the Colors tab of the Diagram Properties with "Edit Diagram Properties". 2. Select "Network Areas" for a coloration of the network according to areas. 3. Press the OK button and the coloration of the network will change.

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Fig. 1.43 Network coloration according to areas

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Step 5 Create and use Libraries

The NEPLAN Library File *.neplib may contain many element libraries, which are sorted by element type. In the following we explain how to create new libraries, how to copy library data to an element and how to export data from an element to a library.

Create a new Library

The following steps explain how to create a new element library: 1. Choose "Libraries" in the menu "Libraries". The NEPLAN Library Application appears.

Fig. 1.44 Open the Library Application

2. Select "File - New" to create a new Library File. 3. Enter the Library File name.

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Fig. 1.45 Create a new Library File

4. Select "Library New Library" to create a new library. 5. Choose the element type, for which a library has to be created.

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Fig. 1.46 Create a new library

6. A new library appeared in the library tree. The libraries are sorted by element type. 7. Change the name of the new library

Fig. 1.47 Change name of library

8. Insert a new Library Element (type) by selecting "Library Element - New".

Fig. 1.48 Insert new library element

9. A new library element appeared in the library "Beispiel".

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Fig. 1.49 New library element in the library "Beispiel"

10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Change the type name of the library element. Enter the data for the new library element. If you wish, enter additional library elements. If you wish, enter other libraries. When finished, close the Library Editor with "File-Close".

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Fig. 1.50 Enter library data

Import data from a library

When a network element has been entered in the diagram and you wish to copy the data from an element type of the library, proceed as follows: 1. In the Params tab of the Element-Data-Input-Dialog, press the button "".

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Fig. 1.51 Copy the data from an element type of the library

2. Choose the NEPLAN-Library-File, where the respective element type can be found. 3. Select the element type in the respective library. 4. To copy the data from the library to your element, click on the OK-button.

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Fig. 1.52 Choose the element type

Update your network data with a library type

In case that the data of a certain element type in the library has been changed, you have the possibility to update this data easily in all network elements, which are of the same type. 1. Click on the Library button in the Data-Input-Dialog of an element with the respective element type. 2. In the Library dialog, select the element type. 3. Press the button "Update Data with Modal Type" to update the data in every network element with the same type. 4. Proceed in the same way to update other elements with a modified type. When finished, click the OK-button to close the dialog.

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Fig. 1.53 Update all elements of a certain element by the library data

Export data to a library

In case that you entered data in the Data-Input-Dialog of an element and you want to create an element type of this data in a library, proceed as follows. 1. Enter a element type name in the element dialog. 2. Click on the Export-button in the Data-Input-Dialog of the element, to call the Library dialog. 3. Choose the Library File, whereto export the data. 4. If you want to create a new library, press this button (A new element type can be inserted in a new or in an already existing library). 5. Select the library, whereto the new element type should be added. 6. To finalize, click the OK-button.

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3 4

Fig. 1.54 Export data of an element to the library

7. When you open the Library dialog again, you'll recognize the new library element.

Fig. 1.55 New element type

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In the same manner you may also update an already existing element type in a library. Select the library in which this element type already exists and press OK. You then will be asked if the existing element type shall be overwritten.

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Step 6 Define variants

For calculating different cases, NEPLAN has the possibility to create different variants of the rootnet and to combine them with topology and loading data files. The following figure shows the principle.

BASE CASE or ROOT NETWORK

Variants

Loading
Loading-1 Loading-2 Loading-3 ...

Topology
Topology-1 Topology-2 Topology-3 ...

BASE or ROOT

VAR-1

VAR-2

VAR-3

VAR-4

VAR-12

VAR-31

VAR-42

VAR-131

VAR-132

VAR-133

VAR-43

Fig. 1.3 Variant Management System with NEPLAN

The variants are saved together with the Rootnet in the project file (.nepprj), for topology and loading data separate files will be defined. When activating a variant, assigned topology and loading files will be opened automatically. In this step 4, you'll get in contact with the concept of variants. In the following, different variants will be defined.

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Insert new Subvariants

Variants first have to be created in the variant tree, before the modifications for the different variants can be saved. Several variants will be defined. 1. Make a right-mouse-button click on the Rootnet symbol in the Variant Manager 2. Choose "Insert new Subvariant"

Fig. 1.56 Insert new Subvariant

3. A "Variant Properties" dialog appears. 4. Enter a Name for the new variant and if you wish, a description.

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Fig. 1.57 Enter name and description

5. Variant replacement is displayed in the variant tree.

Fig. 1.58 "Variant replacement" appears in the variant tree

6. Define an other variant Variant additional in the same way as before.

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Fig. 1.59 Define a variant "Variant additional"

7. Define two subvariants (Variant a and Variant b) of "Variant replacement"

Fig. 1.60 Define subvariants "Variant a" and "Variant b"

Save modifications to the variants

A variant tree now has been created, but all variants still contain the same data. Now we will modify the different variants. 1. Activate Variant replacement by clicking on the checkbox.

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2. As a modification for this variant, change the diameter of the pipe line EL9.

Fig. 1.61 Realize the modifications in "Variant replacement"

3. Deactivate Variant replacement by clicking on the checkbox. This is necessary if you wish to edit next a variant of the same tree branch. 4. You'll be asked, if you want to save the modifications in Variant replacement. Click on YES.

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Fig. 1.62 Save the modifications of Variant replacement

5. Activate Variant a 6. Notice that the modifications carried out in Variant replacement have also been realized in Variant a (in this case the diameter of the pipe line EL9). 7. Call the data input dialog of EL10 by double clicking the pipe line. 8. Modify as well for this pipe line the diameter.

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Fig. 1.63 Realize modifications for Variant a

9. Activate Variant b. As you may notice, the Variant a can still be activated, because the two open variants are not depending from each other. 10. For this Variant b, the diameter of the pipe line EL10 will be changed to 250mm.

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10

10

Fig. 1.64 Realize modifications for Variant b

11. 12.

Activate Variant additional Draw a new pipe line from node K2 to node K8 and enter the line data.

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11

12

12

12

Fig. 1.65 Introduce a new line for Variant additional

Create and assign a Topology Data File

Topology data, such as the state of logical switches in the whole network, may be saved to a Topology Data File. To define different topology cases of a network, several variants could be defined with exactly the same characteristics but with a different topology data file. In the following we'll create such a topology data file by saving a modification of the state of a few logical switches in our example network. 1. Activate Variant replacement 2. Change the topology. In this case you may open the logical switches of a pipe line. 3. Save the topology with "File - Export - Topology Data", using the name Topology1.

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Fig. 1.66 Create a topology file

4. Deactivate and activate again the Variant replacement but don't save it, because the topology modifications shouldn't be saved directly to the variant, but only in the topology file. Now the logical switches are closed again. 5. We now want to assign the topology file to the Variant replacement. Make a right-mouse-button click on the symbol of Variant replacement to call the popup menu, where you choose Properties. The same is possible by doubleclicking the symbol of Variant replacement.

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Fig. 1.67 Call the Properties dialog of the variant

6. The Variant Properties dialog appeared. 7. Press the respective button for choosing a "Topology Data File". 8. Look for the topology file and select it. 9. Open the topology file. 10. Press the OK button to finalize.

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Fig. 1.68 Assign the topology file to Variant replacement

Create and assign a Load Data File

Data, such as the consummation of water, respectively gas in the nodes, lines and line loads, may be saved to a Load Data File. To define different loading cases of a network, several variants could be defined with exactly the same characteristics but with a different load data file. In the following we'll create such a load data file by saving a modification of the consummation in the node K6. 1. By double-clicking the node K6, call its data input dialog. 2. Change the consumer data of the node to Q=4.1l/s and save this modification to a "Load Data File with "File Export Load Data".

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Fig. 1.69 Change Load data

3. Call the Variant Properties dialog by double clicking the symbol of Variant replacement. 4. Look for the Load Data File. 5. Open the Load Data File. 6. Finalize by pressing the OK button.

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Fig. 1.70 Assign the load data file to Variant replacement

You mustn't save the Variant replacement after these modifications, but you need to save the project. So the best way to do is, to first deactivate the variant without saving it and then you may save the project. In general be careful that you don't save the variant, when you changed Load or Topology data, which only should be contained in the Load and the Topology Data File. Now the Variant replacement includes a Load Data File and a Topology Data File. When the variant is opened, also these two data files are loaded. In the same manner you may assign the same or other Load and Topology Data File to the other variants.

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Interfaces to NEPLAN
NEPLAN has several interfaces to external applications: Import/Export through ASCII file Export to data base Result data base Clipboard DXF-files BMP-Windows files (Import) Raster-Graphics (e.g. BMP, PCX, TIFF, etc.) Import/Export There are two import/export files for external programs, such as MS-Excel, the WET/GET- and the WKT/GKT-file. The WET/GET-file contains topological and technical data of the elements, the WKT/GKT-file contains the topological and loading data of the nodes. The file structure of the import/export files is given in the appendix (see "Appendix"). Topology/Loading-data files The topology and the loading data of a network may be saved in the WET/GET-file (topology) and in the WKT/GKT-file (loading). The WET/GET- and the WKT/GKT-file are used to define variants. To each variant a Load Data File and a Topology Data File can be assigned (see "Edit Variant Properties" in the chapter "Menu Options"). Clipboard The diagram can be exported onto the clipboard. The clipboard data can be imported by an external program, such as a word processing program. DXF-Files DXF-files can be imported. All layers are identified and displayed. The user can select the layers to be imported from a list. The imported drawing can be additionally scaled. The imported layers are managed by the program in different graphic layers, The imported drawing can be changed. Cadaster and Raster-Graphics Files (BMP, PCX, TIFF) Raster graphics files (BMP, PCX, TIFF, etc.) can be imported in any layer. It is possible to import a raster graphic (e.g. PCX) as a cadaster. The cadaster can be

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used as background for the NEPLAN network data. The cadaster can be calibrated to use real world coordinates.

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