Proposal:Power circuits routing
| Power circuits routing | |
|---|---|
| Proposal status: | Draft (under way) |
| Proposed by: | fanfouer |
| Tagging: | power=circuit |
| Applies to: | 
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| Definition: | Consistent tagging model for power circuits going along physical power infrastructure |
| Statistics: |
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| Draft started: | 2025-03-21 |
Power routing aims to document how power flows over a physical network, mainly between actual substations and along power lines. This proposal has been written in 2025 and largely based upon Bahnpirat and Surly work in the original power routing proposal. Several plea for finalizing what could be immediately implemented remain stuck. This is an attempt to push forward what could be actually achieved.
Proposal
It is proposed to approve relations with type=power + power=circuit, involving power lines (in a global sense, including lines cables and minor lines) and substations. They represent the continuous actual paths along which power flow through power networks.
It is also proposed to review two new physical properties for both lines and circuits as to allow proper power modelisation of power flow.
- resistance=* a numerical value quantifying the ability for a conductor to oppose to a continuous electrical current
- reactance=* a numerical value quantifying the ability for a conductor to oppose to a alternative electrical current
Rationale
As OpenStreetMap represent power lines in a synthetic way, often aggregating different lines sharing the same towers on the same way, the power lines won't reflect the actual flow of power. It is nevertheless possible to use the relational model to assemble different line sections to compose actual power paths just like it's done for public transportation over highways ways.
Such mapping is an established practice since 2017.
Power circuits
A power circuit is defined by 601-02-28 IEC60050 definition. It consist in the most extended power lines/cables sections between two circuit breakers, mostly located in substations.
In practice, we should find continuous conductors going along power line sections and join them as member of a relation.
Circuits are first of all linear between two points and can also be branched as to involve more than two substation in them, always limited by circuit breakers.
Physical properties
All power lines aren't equivalent when it comes to make power flows along them.
They are first of all designed for a given voltage=* we are used to document in OSM.
They also got two other important physical properties that are resistance and reactance to form the line's impedance. The impedance is a physical figure that describes a conductor's behavior when an electrical current goes through it. The impedance is a combination of two parts call the resistance and the reactance.
How will we get such information?
Impedance, resistance and reactance values depends on the nature of conductors, mainly their material and cross section.
At first, they are barely guessable from ground unless conductors nature would be printed on poles or wherever else.
Public information, scientific datasets or open data could help to find them.
They should be handled carefully, particularly about licensing and accuracy questions.
Proposed keys are obviously optional and a placeholder to organize consistent knowledge. We choose to add them on the proposal as to define explicitly how they combine when define both on power line sections and circuits relations.
Why aren't we prompted for capacity in MW?
Public communication often deal with actual power line capacity in MW as the amount of power that could flow in the power line without damage.
Such values aren't constant and varies along seasons and upon operational conditions. They're sometimes restricted in a given time period (i.e 4 000 MW during 10 minutes) as to not overheat and finally destroy the power conductors.
We shouldn't add this value to OSM despite interesting as it won't be accurate.
Tagging
Change management
Affected pages
- Edit type=* page
- Create type=power page
- Create power=circuit page
- Create resistance=* page
- Create reactance=* page
Tags to be replaced
| Obsolete tag | Usage | Used for ? | New tag(s) to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| type=route + route=power | 23 484 on 2025-03-21 | A route used to describe a power circuit | type=power + power=circuit |
External discussions
- See all previous comments in power routing proposal
Voting
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