CYPELEC Suite

CYPE has a series of applications for analysing high, medium and low voltage electrical systems: the CYPELEC Suite.

Some of the CYPELEC Suite applications are free and others are fee-based, all of which are integrated into the Open BIM workflow via the BIMserver.center platform.

Programs in the suite

CYPELEC Suite consists of the following internationally used programs:

• CYPELEC Core
  A free program for analysing low voltage electrical systems that allows users to draw single-line diagrams of the system and configure the characteristics of the elements that make up the system.
• CYPELEC Electrical Mechanisms
  A free program that allows users to model terminal elements of electrical systems, such as electrical mechanisms (switches, sockets, etc.) and telecommunications mechanisms (audiovisual and telephony connectors), as well as the layout of these mechanisms and of the lighting points.
• CYPELEC Distribution
  A free program for the 3D implementation of the distribution of circuits and loads for electrical system projects.
• CYPELEC Grounding IEC
  A free program for analysing the grounding resistance of electrical systems based on the IEC 60364-5-54 standard.
• CYPELEC Grounding IEEE
  Allows users to analyse grounding systems according to the method proposed in the IEEE standard std 80 2000 "IEEE Guide for Safety in AC Substation Grounding". Its use requires that the user license has the corresponding permission.
• CYPELEC PV Systems
  Provides assistance to the user for designing on-grid (including self-consumption systems) or off-grid photovoltaic systems. Its use requires that the user license has the corresponding permission.
• CYPELEC MULTILINE
  A program designed to generate the layout of the multi-line diagram of an electrical system. Its use requires that the user license has the corresponding permission.
• Open BIM Switchboard
  An application for designing the panels present in electrical systems (cabinets, panels and switchboards). Its use requires the user licence to have the corresponding permission.
• CYPELEC Networks
  Program for analysing power systems in electrical networks, created to assist designers in the design and analysis of high/medium and low voltage electrical systems. Its use requires that the user licence has the corresponding permission.

The graph below shows a logical working sequence. There are also other programs not included in the CYPELEC suite because they are not specific applications for analysing electrical systems, but they do provide information that could condition the system design, such as CYPE Architecture, IFC Builder, Open BIM Water Equipment or any other tool that provides relevant data in IFC format.

Collaborative work between the programs in the suite

Each of the CYPELEC Suite programs can work either independently or collaboratively by importing and exporting files in IFC format via the BIMserver.center web platform. The latter option has the greatest advantages, as it allows the work carried out in the other applications to be reused. The data and results provided by each of the programs are transferred between them via the platform to finally complete the electrical project.

The information that these programs provide or receive in this Open BIM collaborative process is as follows:

• CYPELEC Electrical Mechanisms
  Imports the geometric model of the building from programs such as CYPE Architecture or IFC Builder and the sanitary appliances model from Open BIM Water Equipment. Exports the location of the lighting points and electrical mechanisms to CYPELEC Distribution.
• CYPELEC Distribution
  Imports the geometric model of the building from programs such as CYPE Architecture or IFC Builder and the location of the electrical mechanisms and lighting points from CYPELEC Electrical Mechanisms. Exports the circuit distribution of electric switchboards and sub-switchboards to CYPELEC Core.
• CYPELEC Grounding IEC and CYPELEC Grounding IEEE
  They calculate the grounding resistance of the facility system and export it as a numerical value to be used by CYPELEC Core.
• CYPELEC PV Systems
  Imports the geometric model of the building from programs such as CYPE Architecture or IFC Builder.
• CYPELEC Core
  Imports the contents of CYPELEC Distribution switchboards and sub-switchboards and the numerical values of the grounding resistance of the facility system from CYPELEC Grounding IEC or CYPELEC Grounding IEEE. It exports the information contained in the low-voltage single-line diagram, which can be used by the following programs:
  
  • CYPELEC MULTILINE
    Automatically generates the multi-line diagram.
  • Open BIM Switchboard
    Imports the distribution of lines and their assigned protection so that users can create the distribution of protection elements inside the switchboard or cabinet.
  • CYPELEC Networks
    The program receives the total power of the low-voltage system and considers it as a point load for its network analysis.

Logical working sequence in the suite

To solve an electrical project from the low voltage indoor electrical system, the logical sequence for using the programs in the suite would be as follows:

1. Opening the project in BIMserver.center.
2. Geometric modelling of the building using programs such as CYPE Architecture of IFC Builder.
3. Modelling the water equipment and sanitary appliances using Open BIM Water Equipment (optional).
4. Entering the electrical mechanisms and lighting points with CYPELEC Electrical Mechanisms (optional).
5. Defining the loads and distribution of the electrical circuits per switchboard and sub-switchboard using CYPELEC Distribution.
6. Calculating the grounding resistance of internal grounds using CYPELEC Grounding IEC or CYPELEC Grounding IEEE (optional).
7. Designing and analysing of the photovoltaic system using CYPELEC PV Systems (optional).
8. Designing and analysing the low voltage electrical system with CYPELEC Core.
9. Obtaining the multi-line diagram of the system using CYPELEC MULTILINE.
10. Designing the switchboards, sub-switchboards and panels using Open BIM Switchboard.
11. Designing and analysing the medium/high voltage electrical system using CYPELEC Networks.

Associated programs

• CYPELEC REBT¹. Low voltage electrical systems and verification of the Spanish REBT standard.
• CYPELEC RETIE¹. Low voltage electrical systems and verification of the Colombian RETIE standards.
• CYPELEC NF¹. Low voltage electrical systems and verification of French standards NF C 14-100 and NF C 15-100.
• CYPELEC Code Compliance. Checking of power lines according to the Portuguese RTIEBT standard.
• CYPELEC Grounding UNESA. Grounding systems according to the method proposed by the UNESA standards commission.
• CYPELEC CT. Design of electrical substations.
• Open BIM Inmesol. Design of electrical systems powered by generator sets and their corresponding switchboards.
• Open BIM Retelec². Design of distribution panels with a selection of RETELEC products.
• Open BIM Unex. BIM modelling of UNEX cable and cable conduit systems.

Notes:

¹ CYPELEC REBT, CYPELEC RETIE or CYPELEC NF can be used instead of CYPELEC Core for designing low voltage electrical systems requiring compliance with REBT, RETIE or NF standards, respectively.
² Open BIM Retelec can be used instead of Open BIM Switchboard.