San Diego, CA–EDSA, the leading developer of power analytics solutions for the design, testing, and management of complex electrical power systems, has launched a major new release of its power system design and simulation modeling software, Paladin DesignBase 3.0.

Paladin DesignBase 3.0 is a 50 plus program suite of integrated design, simulation and analysis modules that help consulting engineers and facility design teams model power systems infrastructure that is “Perfect on Paper,” thereby achieving the highest levels of energy efficiency, promoting system-wide reliability, and preempting electrical power problems.

Unlike traditional power systems computer-aided design (CAD) packages intended for static, off-line modeling, Paladin DesignBase gives power design engineers the ability to simulate and resolve critical issues – like arc flash, power flow, power quality, protective device coordination (PDC) and dozens of others – at the level of detail required for real-time deployment.

After the design phase, models created using Paladin DesignBase can be redeployed in “live” mode with EDSA’s Paladin Live program, to perform predictive analysis and ‘what if’ scenarios to preempt power faults and energy inefficiencies once the facility is operational.

“Comparing power systems models created using Paladin DesignBase to those created in other CAD products is like comparing the navigation system in your car to the map in your glove compartment,” says Mark A. Ascolese, Chairman and CEO of EDSA.

“Maps are sufficient if you just want to quickly figure out the route you need to follow on a trip. But only a navigation system is designed to provide the dynamic, real-time information – about road conditions, traffic conditions, delays, alternate routes, gas stations, restaurants, etc. – that’s valuable for a real-world journey.”

“Paladin DesignBase is the only power systems modeling platform in which the original design model continues to be used in live operations. By serving as the benchmark for real-world diagnostics, events occurring in the power infrastructure are continually compared back to the original design model so users get the earliest possible warning about when and where future problems have the potential to occur,” Ascolese adds. 

“We call that ‘Designing for Deployment,” and unlike models created using competing products – where printed plans get shoved in a drawer after the facility is constructed, and then forgotten – Paladin DesignBase models are optimized and ruggedized for real-time, real-world use.  If power systems engineers really care how their design will perform once in operation, Paladin DesignBase is the only platform that can tell them.”

“In addition, with this release of Paladin Design Base we have increased the speed by a factor of 10 times, added hundreds of objects to our libraries, made it compatible with 64-bit machines and Windows 7.0, and for the first time allow our users to customize the configuration of the package they need. This is a very exciting release, especially when you see that it can be downloaded directly from edsa.com,” Ascolese concludes.

Now, with the release of DesignBase 3.0, engineers and designers can utilize the many advanced features and functions including: arc flash program enhancements, ANSI libraries with hundreds of devices added, enhanced short circuit/PDC data, enhanced power flow function reporting and overall ease of use in data entry and editing.

Moreover, with its comprehensive database and analytics, design engineers can now determine what is the power usage effectiveness (PUE) or design center infrastructure efficiency (DCiE) based on their design – critical when designing the facility for optimum energy efficiency. 

All of these features are packaged in an easy-to-use electrical modeling interface that resembles products like Autodesk’s AutoCAD or Microsoft’s Visio.

“Our new DesignBase 3.0 is the perfect solution for engineers who are designing for a real-time environment,” says Kevin Meagher, chief technical officer for EDSA.

“Today’s power networks demand high levels of energy efficiency, reliability and availability. DesignBase helps engineers build these criteria into their initial design from the very beginning – saving valuable time and resources. And, while the system is very robust and comprehensive, anyone who knows how to use AutoCAD can quickly use DesignBase 3.0 and all of its advanced features.”

Product Highlights

Throughout the 50-module product family, there are hundreds of new features and functions that help to increase user productivity, while promoting the safety and energy efficiency of the finished facility. The highlights of these features include:

Designing for Energy Efficiency: New capabilities in the Paladin DesignBase Power Flow and DesignBase Power Systems Optimization (PSO) modules now make it even easier for power systems designers to know PUE and DCiE based on their design. This results in power systems that, once they are constructed, will ensure the lowest possible levels of energy consumption, without jeopardizing system reliability.

Powerful Data Management: Paladin DesignBase 3.0 utilizes a Microsoft Access®-compatible database that loads, saves, and runs up to 10 times faster than previous versions. With this new architecture, users can quickly and easily export data to applications such as Microsoft Excel, edit the data in Excel, and export the resulting changes back to DesignBase.

Unprecedented User Productivity: Though it contains hundreds of new features and functions, Paladin DesignBase 3.0 remains the industry’s easiest-to-use, most productive modeling platform. It is compatible with Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit machines).

“Designing for Deployment”: Industry’s Only “Deployable” CAD Modeler

Paladin DesignBase 3.0 remains the only CAD modeling platform – in any industry category – capable of extending beyond the design phase and into live operations. Using EDSA’s Paladin Live platform, power systems models created using Paladin DesignBase 3.0 can be redeployed in on-line mode, to serve as a baseline for the finished facility.

For faster deployment to Paladin Live, DesignBase 3.0 is now visually connected to Paladin Live. By connecting devices and components of the design into Paladin Live, engineers can realize in-depth analysis and ‘what if’ scenarios of their design in real-time. By continually synchronizing “live” readings with their corresponding “as-designed” specifications, potential power problems are isolated the instant they emerge.

Moreover, because 80 percent of electrical power problems originate within an organization’s electrical infrastructure – due to gradually evolving problems such as loading, aging of infrastructure, or seemingly minor equipment or procedural changes – the early identification of issues at the “anomaly stage” is crucial in preempting them from becoming larger, operations-threatening problems over time.

For more information visit www.edsa.com