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A Visually Interactive Program for the Automatic Plotting of Electrical Single-Line Diagram on A1-size Plotter with Option to Generate AutoCAD Drawing
Most of the electrical consultants and contractors use AutoCAD for the drafting of electrical single-line diagram. This process is time consuming and there is no convenient means to link AutoCAD to various design calculation and technical assessment. Our approach is to complete the design and assessment first and then by making use of the completed design files, SmartDraw automatically generates all the single-line diagrams of the whole project on a large plotter. For industrial compatibility, SmartDraw provides an option to export each single–line diagram to an AutoCAD DWG drawing which can be transmitted or further edited by AutoCAD. In this way, all the single-line diagrams can be automatically produced within a short time and the requirement of drafting manpower can be substantially reduced. The concept and attempt of automatic drafting initiated in 1986 and various versions of automated drafting programs by using FORTRAN and Turbo-Pascal through batch processing were then implemented. However all those versions were not flexible and were mostly for academic exercise and for illustration. Since 1995, by utilising the visually interactive window programming technique, facilities on database access and the support on Delphi II, SmartDraw was gradually developed. Despite a number of attempts and trial and error over the years, SmartDraw is now providing a user friendly, visually interactive and automated tool for a consultant or contractor to generate all the single-line diagrams in an industrial environment.
The successfully designed network is stored in a built-in project database. This database contains the description of all the projects using one project folder for each project. Each project folder contains the full technical description of all the main switchboards, risers, main DBs and final DBs in a built-in automatically arranged structure. The user may select to display a list of projects or a particular switchboard, riser or DB of a project. The project database can be created dynamically through VIPCODA (The Visually Interactive Program for Consultant and Owner to Design and Assess Electrical Systems in Building) or by a SmartDraw built-in editor. Facilities are provided for the user to modify, delete or insert a new project from a number of existing sub-switchboards and DBs, or to edit/delete any existing project. 3. Main Menu and Categorisation By simply selecting a project ID, SmartDraw automatically arranges and plots the standard single-line diagrams of the main switchboards, risers, main DBs and final DBs on several A1-size papers. SmartDraw searches through all the completed design files in the project database and automatically arranges the single-line diagrams into three categories, namely First, Second and Third Diagram Lists. In the First diagram list, SmartDraw searches and arranges all the incoming switchboards including the emergency board fed by a generator in one A1-size single-line diagram. Depending on the number of outgoing circuits in each main switchboard, if the required space exceeds the maximum length of the A1-size paper, the First diagram list will be automatically divided into two or more single-line diagrams each on one A1-size paper. In the Second diagram list, all main DBs and final DBs are plotted on a number of A1-size papers. The allocation of which DB to be on which paper is optimally arranged according to the number of outgoing circuits in each DB so that all the DBs can be plotted by using a minimum number of A1-size papers. However, the user may re-arrange for a number of DBs to be on a particular A1-size paper. SmartDraw will then verify and advise whether all the desired DBs can be allocated to one A1-size paper prior to the actual plotting. In the Third diagram list, SmartDraw optimally plots all riser circuits and similar to the Second diagram list, the user may also re-arrange for a number of selected risers to be on a particular A1-size paper if desired. 7. Incoming Circuit Arrangement The incoming circuit arrangement for each main switchboard or DB is automatically arranged. The circuit components such as RCCB, MCCB, ACB, indicating lights, kWh meter, CT, earth fault relay, overcurrent relay and relay settings can be edited individually through a built-in pop-up table and SmartDraw will automatically arrange and plot accordingly. Title block in each A1-size diagram can also be dynamically specified and edited through a pop-up table. Send purchase order by e-mail to cyteo@ntu.edu.sg, by telephone call to Byte Power Publications at (65) 6256 0101 and arrangement will be made for site demo/installation. Click on the thumbnails below for sample display
BYTE POWER PUBLICATIONS 10H, Braddell Hill, #23-30 Singapore 579727 Tel: (65) 6256-0101
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