An improved algorithm for optimal load shedding in power systems

A blackout is usually the result of load increasing beyond the transmission capacity of the power system. A collapsing system enters a contingency state before the blackout. This contingency state is characterized by a decline in the bus voltage magnitudes. To avoid blackouts, power systems may start shedding load when a contingency state occurs called under voltage load shedding (UVLS). The success of a UVLS scheme in arresting the contingency state depends on shedding the optimum amount of load at the optimum time and location. This paper proposes a hybrid algorithm based on genetic algorithms (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The proposed algorithm can be used to find the optimal amount of load shed for systems under stress (overloaded) in smart grids. The proposed algorithm uses the fast voltage stability index (FVSI) to determine the weak buses in the system and then calculates the optimal amount of load shed to recover a collapsing system. The performance analysis shows that the proposed algorithm can improve the voltage profile by 0.022 per units with up to 75% less load shedding and a convergence time that is 53% faster than GA

A critical review of the states art schemes for under voltage load shedding

A blackout is usually the result of increasing load beyond the transmission capacity of the power system. One of the main reasons for power blackouts is voltage collapse. To avoid this problem, the proper corrective measures called load shedding is required. In critical and extreme emergencies, under voltage load shedding (UVLS) is performed as a final remedy to avoid a larger scale voltage collapse. Therefore, UVLS is considered state of the art to achieve voltage stability. This review summarizes and updates the important aspects of UVLS; it also provides principle understanding of UVLS, which are critical in planning such defense schemes. Moreover, this article provides a discussion on recent state-of-art UVLS schemes applied in various power industries. Additionally, the pros and cons of the conventional and computational intelligence techniques are discussed. It is envisioned that this work will serve as one-stop information for power system engineers, designers, and researches

Intelligent power system operation in an uncertain environment

This dissertation presents some challenging problems in power system operations. The efficacy of a heuristic method, namely, modified discrete particle swarm optimization (MDPSO) algorithm is illustrated and compared with other methods by solving the reliability based generator maintenance scheduling (GMS) optimization problem of a practical hydrothermal power system. The concept of multiple swarms is incorporated into the MDPSO algorithm to form a robust multiple swarms-modified particle swarm optimization (MS-MDPSO) algorithm and applied to solving the GMS problem on two power systems. Heuristic methods are proposed to circumvent the problems of imposed non-smooth assumptions common with the classical approaches in solving the challenging dynamic economic dispatch problem. The multi-objective combined economic and emission dispatch (MO-CEED) optimization problem for a wind-hydrothermal power system is formulated and solved in this dissertation. This MO-CEED problem formulation becomes a challenging problem because of the presence of uncertainty in wind power. A family of distributed optimal Pareto fronts for the MO-CEED problem has been generated for different scenarios of capacity credit of wind power. A real-time (RT) network stability index is formulated for determining a power system\u27s ability to continue to provide service (electric energy) in a RT manner in case of an unforeseen catastrophic contingency. Cascading stages of fuzzy inference system is applied to combine non real-time (NRT) and RT power system assessments. NRT analysis involves eigenvalue and transient energy analysis. RT analysis involves angle, voltage and frequency stability indices. RT Network status index is implemented in real-time on a practical power system --Abstract, page iv

Toward Fault Adaptive Power Systems in Electric Ships

Shipboard Power Systems (SPS) play a significant role in next-generation Navy fleets. With the increasing power demand from propulsion loads, ship service loads, weaponry systems and mission systems, a stable and reliable SPS is critical to support different aspects of ship operation. It also becomes the technology-enabler to improve ship economy, efficiency, reliability, and survivability. Moreover, it is important to improve the reliability and robustness of the SPS while working under different operating conditions to ensure safe and satisfactory operation of the system. This dissertation aims to introduce novel and effective approaches to respond to different types of possible faults in the SPS. According to the type and duration, the possible faults in the Medium Voltage DC (MVDC) SPS have been divided into two main categories: transient and permanent faults. First, in order to manage permanent faults in MVDC SPS, a novel real-time reconfiguration strategy has been proposed. Onboard postault reconfiguration aims to ensure the maximum power/service delivery to the system loads following a fault. This study aims to implement an intelligent real-time reconfiguration algorithm in the RTDS platform through an optimization technique implemented inside the Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS). The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed real-time approach to reconfigure the system under different fault situations. Second, a novel approach to mitigate the effect of the unsymmetrical transient AC faults in the MVDC SPS has been proposed. In this dissertation, the application of combined Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM)-Super Conducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) to improve the stability of the MVDC SPS during transient faults has been investigated. A Fluid Genetic Algorithm (FGA) optimization algorithm is introduced to design the STATCOM\u27s controller. Moreover, a multi-objective optimization problem has been formulated to find the optimal size of SFCL\u27s impedance. In the proposed scheme, STATCOM can assist the SFCL to keep the vital load terminal voltage close to the normal state in an economic sense. The proposed technique provides an acceptable post-disturbance and postault performance to recover the system to its normal situation over the other alternatives

Reliability Constrained Unit Commitment Considering the Effect of DG and DR Program

Due to increase in energy prices at peak periods and increase in fuel cost, involving Distributed Generation (DG) and consumption management by Demand Response (DR) will be unavoidable options for optimal system operations. Also, with high penetration of DGs and DR programs into power system operation, the reliability criterion is taken into account as one of the most important concerns of system operators in management of power system. In this paper, a Reliability Constrained Unit Commitment (RCUC) at presence of time-based DR program and DGs integrated with conventional units is proposed and executed to reach a reliable and economic operation. Designated cost function has been minimized considering reliability constraint in prevailing UC formulation. The UC scheduling is accomplished in short-term so that the reliability is maintained in acceptable level. Because of complex nature of RCUC problem and full AC load flow constraints, the hybrid algorithm included Simulated Annealing (SA) and Binary Particle Swarm Optimization (BPSO) has been proposed to optimize the problem. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method and considerable efficacy of the time-based DR program in reducing operational costs by implementing it on IEEE-RTS79

Comparison of DE and PSO for Generator Maintenance Scheduling

This paper presents a comparison of a differential evolution (DE) algorithm and a modified discrete particle swarm optimization (MDPSO) algorithm for generating optimal preventive maintenance schedules for economical and reliable operation of a power system, while satisfying system load demand and crew constraints. The DE, an evolutionary technique and an optimization algorithm utilizes the differential information to guide its further search, and can handle mixed integer discrete continuous optimization problems. Discrete particle swarm optimization (DPSO) is known to effectively solve large scale multi-objective optimization problems and has been widely applied in power systems. Both the DE and MDPSO are applied to solve a multi-objective generator maintenance scheduling (GMS) optimization problem. The two algorithms generate feasible and optimal solutions and overcome the limitations of the conventional methods including extensive computational effort, which increases exponentially as the size of the problem increases. The proposed methods are tested, validated and compared on the Nigerian power system

Analysis and management of security constraints in overstressed power systems

Management of operational security constraints is one of the important tasks performed by system operators, which must be addressed properly for secure and economic operation. Constraint management is becoming an increasingly complex and challenging to execute in modern electricity networks for three main reasons. First, insufficient transmission capacity during peak and emergency conditions, which typically result in numerous constraint violations. Second, reduced fault levels, inertia and damping due to power electronic interfaced demand and stochastic renewable generation, which are making network more vulnerable to even small disturbances. Third, re-regulated electricity markets require the networks to operate much closer to their operational security limits, which typically result in stressed and overstressed operating conditions. Operational security constraints can be divided into static security limits (bus voltage and branch thermal limits) and dynamic security limits (voltage and angle stability limits). Security constraint management, in general, is formulated as a constrained, nonlinear, and nonconvex optimization problem. The problem is usually solved by conventional gradient-based nonlinear programming methods to devise optimal non-emergency or emergency corrective actions utilizing minimal system reserves. When the network is in emergency state with reduced/insufficient control capability, the solution space of the corresponding nonlinear optimization problem may be too small, or even infeasible. In such cases, conventional non-linear programming methods may fail to compute a feasible (corrective) control solution that mitigate all constraint violations or might fail to rationalize a large number of immediate post-contingency constraint violations into a smaller number of critical constraints. Although there exists some work on devising corrective actions for voltage and thermal congestion management, this has mostly focused on the alert state of the operation, not on the overstressed and emergency conditions, where, if appropriate control actions are not taken, network may lose its integrity. As it will be difficult for a system operator to manage a large number of constraint violations (e.g. more than ten) at one time, it is very important to rationalize the violated constraints to a minimum subset of critical constraints and then use information on their type and location to implement the right corrective actions at the right locations, requiring minimal system reserves and switching operations. Hence, network operators and network planners should be equipped with intelligent computational tools to “filter out” the most critical constraints when the feasible solution space is empty and to provide a feasible control solution when the solution space is too narrow. With an aim to address these operational difficulties and challenges, this PhD thesis presents three novel interdependent frameworks: Infeasibility Diagnosis and Resolution Framework (IDRF), Constraint Rationalization Framework (CRF) and Remedial Action Selection and Implementation Framework (RASIF). IDRF presents a metaheuristic methodology to localise and resolve infeasibility in constraint management problem formulations (in specific) and nonlinear optimization problem formulations (in general). CRF extends PIDRF and reduces many immediate post-contingency constraint violations into a small number of critical constraints, according to various operational priorities during overstressed operating conditions. Each operational priority is modelled as a separate objective function and the formulation can be easily extended to include other operational aspects. Based on the developed CRF, RASIF presents a methodology for optimal selection and implementation of the most effective remedial actions utilizing various ancillary services, such as distributed generation control, reactive power compensation, demand side management, load shedding strategies. The target buses for the implementation of the selected remedial actions are identified using bus active and reactive power injection sensitivity factors, corresponding to the overloaded lines and buses with excessive voltage violations (i.e. critical constraints). The RASIF is validated through both static and dynamic simulations to check the satisfiability of dynamic security constraints during the transition and static security constraints after the transition. The obtained results demonstrate that the framework for implementation of remedial actions allows the most secure transition between the pre-contingency and post-contingency stable equilibrium points

Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch using TLBO for Modelling and PowerWorld for Validation

This research presents a Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO) algorithm to solve Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch (ORPD) problem. The primary objective of this paper is to minimize the active power transmission losses by the optimal settings of the control variables within their limits and avoiding violations on the constraints. TLBO is a population- based algorithm and requires few algorithm specifications to compute making it a recommended option to solve various degrees of optimization problems. The TLBO algorithm was implemented using MATLAB programming and by incorporating MATPOWER, the algorithm was tested on IEEE 30-bus test system to solve the ORPD problem. The optimal values obtained from the TLBO algorithm was validated on PowerWorld- a power system visualization tool. The results obtained from the algorithm were compared with other algorithms in the literature and TLBO proved to be an efficient prediction method for solving the ORPD problem