Line flow gauges provide a way to visualize the flow of a transmission line or transformer relative to its thermal rating. A gauge looks very much like a thermometer. As the temperature changes, the height of the mercury in the thermometer moves up and down. One reads the temperature measured by the thermometer by noting the marking that matches the top of the mercury. Line flow gauges in Simulator work the same way. A line flow gauge has two markings on its side, one for the designated minimum flow, and one for the designated maximum flow (the branch's rating). Inside the gauge is a filled region. The default color of the filled region is blue, but this can be changed. When you create the line flow gauge, you associate it with a transmission element, and you specify its fill color and its minimum and maximum flow levels. Once the gauge has been placed on a display, it will reveal changes in its associated branch's flow by varying the height of its filled region. This tool was introduced to provide an alternative to
To add a line flow gauge to a display, switch to Edit Mode and select Pies / Gauges > Old Gauges > Line from the Individual Insert ribbon group on the Draw ribbon tab. Click on the oneline diagram where you would like the new line flow gauge to appear. The Line Flow Gauge Options Dialog will appear. Use this dialog to define the minimum and maximum flows for the line flow gauge, as well as its fill color and whether it should be anchored to its associated transmission element. After you click the "OK" button, the Line Flow Gauge Options Dialog will close, and the new line flow gauge will appear.
Once a gauge has been placed on the oneline, the height of its filled region will change as the flow of its transmission element changes. To modify any of the characteristics of the gauge, such as its key flow levels, fill color, and anchor setting, simply right-click on the line flow gauge to open the Line Flow Gauge Options Dialog again.