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UnitSymbol (Enumeration)

The derived units defined for usage in the CIM. In some cases, the derived unit is equal to an SI unit. Whenever possible, the standard derived symbol is used instead of the formula for the derived unit. For example, the unit symbol Farad is defined as 'F' instead of 'CPerV'. In cases where a standard symbol does not exist for a derived unit, the formula for the unit is used as the unit symbol. For example, density does not have a standard symbol and so it is represented as 'kgPerm3'. With the exception of the 'kg', which is an SI unit, the unit symbols do not contain multipliers and therefore represent the base derived unit to which a multiplier can be applied as a whole. Every unit symbol is treated as an unparseable text as if it were a single-letter symbol. The meaning of each unit symbol is defined by the accompanying descriptive text and not by the text contents of the unit symbol. To allow the widest possible range of serializations without requiring special character handling, several substitutions are made which deviate from the format described in IEC 80000-1. The division symbol '/' is replaced by the letters 'Per'. Exponents are written in plain text after the unit as 'm3' instead of being formatted as 'm' with a superscript of 3 or introducing a symbol as in 'm^3'. The degree symbol '°' is replaced with the letters 'deg'. Any clarification of the meaning for a substitution is included in the description for the unit symbol. Non-SI units are included in list of unit symbols to allow sources of data to be correctly labelled with their non-SI units (for example, a GPS sensor that is reporting numbers that represent feet instead of meters). This allows software to use the unit symbol information correctly convert and scale the raw data of those sources into SI-based units. The integer values are used for harmonization with IEC 61850.

Values

LabelComment
noneDimension less quantity, e.g. count, per unit, etc.
mLength in metres.
kgMass in kilograms. Note: multiplier “k” is included in this unit symbol for compatibility with IEC 61850-7-3.
sTime in seconds.
ACurrent in amperes.
KTemperature in kelvins.
molAmount of substance in moles.
cdLuminous intensity in candelas.
degPlane angle in degrees.
radPlane angle in radians (m/m).
srSolid angle in steradians (m2/m2).
GyAbsorbed dose in grays (J/kg).
BqRadioactivity in becquerels (1/s).
degCRelative temperature in degrees Celsius. In the SI unit system the symbol is °C. Electric charge is measured in coulomb that has the unit symbol C. To distinguish degree Celsius from coulomb the symbol used in the UML is degC. The reason for not using °C is that the special character ° is difficult to manage in software.
SvDose equivalent in sieverts (J/kg).
FElectric capacitance in farads (C/V).
CElectric charge in coulombs (A·s).
SConductance in siemens.
HElectric inductance in henrys (Wb/A).
VElectric potential in volts (W/A).
ohmElectric resistance in ohms (V/A).
JEnergy in joules (N·m = C·V = W·s).
NForce in newtons (kg·m/s²).
HzFrequency in hertz (1/s).
lxIlluminance in lux (lm/m²).
lmLuminous flux in lumens (cd·sr).
WbMagnetic flux in webers (V·s).
TMagnetic flux density in teslas (Wb/m2).
WReal power in watts (J/s). Electrical power may have real and reactive components. The real portion of electrical power (I²R or VIcos(phi)), is expressed in Watts. See also apparent power and reactive power.
PaPressure in pascals (N/m²). Note: the absolute or relative measurement of pressure is implied with this entry. See below for more explicit forms.
m2Area in square metres (m²).
m3Volume in cubic metres (m³).
mPersVelocity in metres per second (m/s).
mPers2Acceleration in metres per second squared (m/s²).
m3PersVolumetric flow rate in cubic metres per second (m³/s).
mPerm3Fuel efficiency in metres per cubic metres (m/m³).
kgmMoment of mass in kilogram metres (kg·m) (first moment of mass). Note: multiplier “k” is included in this unit symbol for compatibility with IEC 61850-7-3.
kgPerm3Density in kilogram/cubic metres (kg/m³). Note: multiplier “k” is included in this unit symbol for compatibility with IEC 61850-7-3.
m2PersViscosity in square metres / second (m²/s).
WPermKThermal conductivity in watt/metres kelvin.
JPerKHeat capacity in joules/kelvin.
ppmConcentration in parts per million.
rotPersRotations per second (1/s). See also Hz (1/s).
radPersAngular velocity in radians per second (rad/s).
WPerm2Heat flux density, irradiance, watts per square metre.
JPerm2Insulation energy density, joules per square metre or watt second per square metre.
SPermConductance per length (F/m).
KPersTemperature change rate in kelvins per second.
PaPersPressure change rate in pascals per second.
JPerkgKSpecific heat capacity, specific entropy, joules per kilogram Kelvin.
VAApparent power in volt amperes. See also real power and reactive power.
VArReactive power in volt amperes reactive. The “reactive” or “imaginary” component of electrical power (VIsin(phi)). (See also real power and apparent power). Note: Different meter designs use different methods to arrive at their results. Some meters may compute reactive power as an arithmetic value, while others compute the value vectorially. The data consumer should determine the method in use and the suitability of the measurement for the intended purpose.
cosPhiPower factor, dimensionless. Note 1: This definition of power factor only holds for balanced systems. See the alternative definition under code 153. Note 2 : Beware of differing sign conventions in use between the IEC and EEI. It is assumed that the data consumer understands the type of meter in use and the sign convention in use by the utility.
VsVolt seconds (Ws/A).
V2Volt squared (W²/A²).
AsAmpere seconds (A·s).
A2Amperes squared (A²).
A2sAmpere squared time in square amperes (A²s).
VAhApparent energy in volt ampere hours.
WhReal energy in watt hours.
VArhReactive energy in volt ampere reactive hours.
VPerHzMagnetic flux in volt per hertz.
HzPersRate of change of frequency in hertz per second.
characterNumber of characters.
charPersData rate (baud) in characters per second.
kgm2Moment of mass in kilogram square metres (kg·m²) (Second moment of mass, commonly called the moment of inertia). Note: multiplier “k” is included in this unit symbol for compatibility with IEC 61850-7-3.
dBSound pressure level in decibels. Note: multiplier “d” is included in this unit symbol for compatibility with IEC 61850-7-3.
WPersRamp rate in watts per second.
lPersVolumetric flow rate in litres per second.
dBmPower level (logarithmic ratio of signal strength , Bel-mW), normalized to 1mW. Note: multiplier “d” is included in this unit symbol for compatibility with IEC 61850-7-3.
hTime in hours, hour = 60 min = 3600 s.
minTime in minutes, minute = 60 s.
QQuantity power, Q.
QhQuantity energy, Qh.
ohmmResistivity, ohm metres, (rho).
APermA/m, magnetic field strength, amperes per metre.
V2hVolt-squared hour, volt-squared-hours.
A2hAmpere-squared hour, ampere-squared hour.
AhAmpere-hours, ampere-hours.
countAmount of substance, Counter value.
ft3Volume, cubic feet.
m3PerhVolumetric flow rate, cubic metres per hour.
galVolume in gallons, US gallon (1 gal = 231 in3 = 128 fl ounce).
BtuEnergy, British Thermal Units.
lVolume in litres, litre = dm3 = m3/1000.
lPerhVolumetric flow rate, litres per hour.
lPerlConcentration, The ratio of the volume of a solute divided by the volume of the solution. Note: Users may need use a prefix such a ‘µ’ to express a quantity such as ‘µL/L’.
gPergConcentration, The ratio of the mass of a solute divided by the mass of the solution. Note: Users may need use a prefix such a ‘µ’ to express a quantity such as ‘µg/g’.
molPerm3Concentration, The amount of substance concentration, (c), the amount of solvent in moles divided by the volume of solution in m³.
molPermolConcentration, Molar fraction, the ratio of the molar amount of a solute divided by the molar amount of the solution.
molPerkgConcentration, Molality, the amount of solute in moles and the amount of solvent in kilograms.
sPersTime, Ratio of time. Note: Users may need to supply a prefix such as ‘µ’ to show rates such as ‘µs/s’.
HzPerHzFrequency, rate of frequency change. Note: Users may need to supply a prefix such as ‘m’ to show rates such as ‘mHz/Hz’.
VPerVVoltage, ratio of voltages. Note: Users may need to supply a prefix such as ‘m’ to show rates such as ‘mV/V’.
APerACurrent, ratio of amperages. Note: Users may need to supply a prefix such as ‘m’ to show rates such as ‘mA/A’.
VPerVAPower factor, PF, the ratio of the active power to the apparent power. Note: The sign convention used for power factor will differ between IEC meters and EEI (ANSI) meters. It is assumed that the data consumers understand the type of meter being used and agree on the sign convention in use at any given utility.
revAmount of rotation, revolutions.
katCatalytic activity, katal = mol / s.
JPerkgSpecific energy, Joules / kg.
m3UncompensatedVolume, cubic metres, with the value uncompensated for weather effects.
m3CompensatedVolume, cubic metres, with the value compensated for weather effects.
WPerWSignal Strength, ratio of power. Note: Users may need to supply a prefix such as ‘m’ to show rates such as ‘mW/W’.
thermEnergy, therms.
onePermWavenumber, reciprocal metres, (1/m).
m3PerkgSpecific volume, cubic metres per kilogram, v.
PasDynamic viscosity, pascal seconds.
NmMoment of force, newton metres.
NPermSurface tension, newton per metre.
radPers2Angular acceleration, radians per second squared.
JPerm3Energy density, joules per cubic metre.
VPermElectric field strength, volts per metre.
CPerm3Electric charge density, coulombs per cubic metre.
CPerm2Surface charge density, coulombs per square metre.
FPermPermittivity, farads per metre.
HPermPermeability, henrys per metre.
JPermolMolar energy, joules per mole.
JPermolKMolar entropy, molar heat capacity, joules per mole kelvin.
CPerkgExposure (x rays), coulombs per kilogram.
GyPersAbsorbed dose rate, grays per second.
WPersrRadiant intensity, watts per steradian.
WPerm2srRadiance, watts per square metre steradian.
katPerm3Catalytic activity concentration, katals per cubic metre.
dTime in days, day = 24 h = 86400 s.
angleminPlane angle, minutes.
anglesecPlane angle, seconds.
haArea, hectares.
tonneMass in tons, “tonne” or “metric ton” (1000 kg = 1 Mg).
barPressure in bars, (1 bar = 100 kPa).
mmHgPressure, millimetres of mercury (1 mmHg is approximately 133.3 Pa).
MLength, nautical miles (1 M = 1852 m).
knSpeed, knots (1 kn = 1852/3600) m/s.
MxMagnetic flux, maxwells (1 Mx = 10-8 Wb).
GMagnetic flux density, gausses (1 G = 10-4 T).
OeMagnetic field in oersteds, (1 Oe = (103/4p) A/m).
VhVolt-hour, Volt hours.
WPerAActive power per current flow, watts per Ampere.
onePerHzReciprocal of frequency (1/Hz).
VPerVArPower factor, PF, the ratio of the active power to the apparent power. Note: The sign convention used for power factor will differ between IEC meters and EEI (ANSI) meters. It is assumed that the data consumers understand the type of meter being used and agree on the sign convention in use at any given utility.
ohmPermElectric resistance per length in ohms per metre ((V/A)/m).
kgPerJWeight per energy in kilograms per joule (kg/J). Note: multiplier “k” is included in this unit symbol for compatibility with IEC 61850-7-3.
JPersEnergy rate in joules per second (J/s).