Reactive optimization of transmission and distribution networks

Some of the challenges associated with the multi-objective optimization on a modern power system were addressed in this work. Optimization of reactive resources was performed in order to simultaneously optimize several criteria: transmission losses, distribution losses, voltage stability, etc. The optimization was performed simultaneously on the entire power system; transmission and distribution subsystems included. The inherent physical complexity of modeling together transmission and distribution systems was considered first. After considering all pros and cons for such a task, a model of the entire power system was successfully developed. The inherent mathematical complexity of high-dimensional optimization space was handled by introducing the decoupling principle. System is first decoupled in several independent models and optimizations were performed on each part of the system. An algorithm is developed that properly combines the independent solutions to reach the overall system optima. The principle of algorithm synthesis is used to reduce the size of the solution space. Deterministic algorithms are used to locate the local optima which are subsequently refined by probabilistic algorithm. The algorithm is applied on a "real-life" test system and it is shown that the obtained solutions outperform the solution obtained with the conventional algorithms.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Begovic, Miroslav; Committee Member: Divan, Deepakraj; Committee Member: Dorsey, John; Committee Member: Ferri, Bonnie; Committee Member: Lambert, Fran

Optimization of energy-constrained resources in radial distribution networks with solar PV

The research objective of the proposed dissertation is to make best use of available distributed energy resources to meet dynamic market opportunities while accounting for AC physics of unbalanced distribution networks and the uncertainty of distributed solar photovoltaics (PV). With ever increasing levels of renewable generation, distribution system operations must shift from a mindset of static unidirectional power flows to dynamic, unpredictable bidirectional flows. To manage this variability, distributed energy resources (DERs; e.g.,solar PV inverters, inverter-based batteries, electric vehicles, water heaters, A/Cs) need to be coordinated for reliable and resilient operation. This introduces the challenge of coordinating such resources at scale and within confines of the existing distribution system. It also becomes important to develop efficient and accurate models of the distribution system to achieve desired operating objectives such as tracking a market reference, reduction in operation cost or voltage regulation. This work surveys, discusses the challenges and proposes solutions to the modeling and optimization of realistic distribution systems with significant penetration of renewables and controllable DERs, including energy storage. To contain this increase in system complexity as result of the large number of controllable DERs available, the distribution system has to be adapted from a passive Volt-Var focused operator to a more active manager of resources. To approach this challenge, in this work, we propose two main approaches. The first is a utility centric approach, where the utility controls the dispatch of flexible resources based on solving an optimization problem. This approach would require the utility to have all the network and resource data and also the control over customer devices. Another approach is a more aggregator centric approach, where an aggregator is an entity that represents an aggregation of many diverse DERs or a Virtual Battery (VB). In this approach, it is the role of the aggregator to dispatch DERs, whereas the utility provides certain bounds and limits (calculated offline), which the aggregator (which dispatches resources in real-time) must operate under. The benefits of such an approach lie in improved data-privacy and real-time dispatch. We present simulation results validating the proposed methods on various standard IEEE and realistic distribution feeders

Power network and smart grids analysis from a graph theoretic perspective

The growing size and complexity of power systems has given raise to the use of complex network theory in their modelling, analysis, and synthesis. Though most of the previous studies in this area have focused on distributed control through well established protocols like synchronization and consensus, recently, a few fundamental concepts from graph theory have also been applied, for example in symmetry-based cluster synchronization. Among the existing notions of graph theory, graph symmetry is the focus of this proposal. However, there are other development around some concepts from complex network theory such as graph clustering in the study. In spite of the widespread applications of symmetry concepts in many real world complex networks, one can rarely find an article exploiting the symmetry in power systems. In addition, no study has been conducted in analysing controllability and robustness for a power network employing graph symmetry. It has been verified that graph symmetry promotes robustness but impedes controllability. A largely absent work, even in other fields outside power systems, is the simultaneous investigation of the symmetry effect on controllability and robustness. The thesis can be divided into two section. The first section, including Chapters 2-3, establishes the major theoretical development around the applications of graph symmetry in power networks. A few important topics in power systems and smart grids such as controllability and robustness are addressed using the symmetry concept. These topics are directed toward solving specific problems in complex power networks. The controllability analysis will lead to new algorithms elaborating current controllability benchmarks such as the maximum matching and the minimum dominant set. The resulting algorithms will optimize the number of required driver nodes indicated as FACTS devices in power networks. The second topic, robustness, will be tackled by the symmetry analysis of the network to investigate three aspects of network robustness: robustness of controllability, disturbance decoupling, and fault tolerance against failure in a network element. In the second section, including Chapters 4-8, in addition to theoretical development, a few novel applications are proposed for the theoretical development proposed in both sections one and two. In Chapter 4, an application for the proposed approaches is introduced and developed. The placement of flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) is investigated where the cybersecurity of the associated data exchange under the wide area power networks is also considered. A new notion of security, i.e. moderated-k-symmetry, is introduced to leverage on the symmetry characteristics of the network to obscure the network data from the adversary perspective. In chapters 5-8, the use of graph theory, and in particular, graph symmetry and centrality, are adapted for the complex network of charging stations. In Chapter 5, the placement and sizing of charging stations (CSs) of the network of electric vehicles are addressed by proposing a novel complex network model of the charging stations. The problems of placement and sizing are then reformulated in a control framework and the impact of symmetry on the number and locations of charging stations is also investigated. These results are developed in Chapters 6-7 to robust placement and sizing of charging stations for the Tesla network of Sydney where the problem of extending the capacity having a set of pre-existing CSs are addressed. The role of centrality in placement of CSs is investigated in Chapter 8. Finally, concluding remarks and future works are presented in Chapter 9

Recent Advances in Robust Control

Robust control has been a topic of active research in the last three decades culminating in H_2/H_\infty and \mu design methods followed by research on parametric robustness, initially motivated by Kharitonov's theorem, the extension to non-linear time delay systems, and other more recent methods. The two volumes of Recent Advances in Robust Control give a selective overview of recent theoretical developments and present selected application examples. The volumes comprise 39 contributions covering various theoretical aspects as well as different application areas. The first volume covers selected problems in the theory of robust control and its application to robotic and electromechanical systems. The second volume is dedicated to special topics in robust control and problem specific solutions. Recent Advances in Robust Control will be a valuable reference for those interested in the recent theoretical advances and for researchers working in the broad field of robotics and mechatronics

Security constrained reactive power dispatch in electrical power systems

With the increased loading and exploitation of the power transmission system and also due to improved optimised operation, the problem of voltage stability and voltage collapse attracts more and more attention . A voltage collapse can take place in systems or subsystems and can appear quite abruptly. Continuous monitoring of the system state is therefore required. The cause of the 1977 New York black out has been proved to be the reactive power problem. The 1987 Tokyo black out was believed to be due to reactive power shortage and to a voltage collapse at summer peak load. These facts have strongly indicated that reactive power planning and dispatching play an important role in the security of modern power systems. A proper compensation of system voltage profiles will enhance the system securities in the operation and will reduce system losses. In this thesis, some aspects of reactive power dispatch and voltage control problem have been investigated. The research has focused on the following three issues: Firstly, the steady-state stability problem has been tackled where, a voltage collapse proximity indicator based on the optimal impedance solution of a two bus system has been generalised to an actual system and the performance of this indicator has been investigated over the whole range (stable and unstable region) to see how useful this indicator can be for an operator at any operating point. Then we went further to implement a linear reactive power dispatch algorithm in which this indicator was used for the first time to attempt to prevent a voltage collapse in the system. Secondly, a new efficient technique for N-1 security has been incorporated aiming at either maximising the reactive power reserve margin for the generators or minimising active power losses during normal as well as outage conditions (single line outage) .The reactive power redistribution after an outage is based on the S-E graph adopted by Phadke and Spong[72].Thirdly, the dispatch (N-1 security excluded) has been incorporated on line in the O.C.E.P.S. control package to improve the quality of the service and system security by optimally controlling the generator voltages (potentially the reactive control system is able to control transformers, switchable capacitors and reactors). A new function called load voltage control (similar to the load frequency control function) has been introduced to allow smooth variation of the reactive control signals towards their targets

Effective network grid synthesis and optimization for high performance very large scale integration system design

制度:新 ; 文部省報告番号:甲2642号 ; 学位の種類:博士(工学) ; 授与年月日:2008/3/15 ; 早大学位記番号:新480

Hybrid Optimal Theory and Predictive Control for Power Management in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

This paper presents a nonlinear-model based hybrid optimal control technique to compute a suboptimal power-split strategy for power/energy management in a parallel hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The power-split strategy is obtained as model predictive control solution to the power management control problem (PMCP) of the PHEV, i.e., to decide upon the power distribution among the internal combustion engine, an electric drive, and other subsystems. A hierarchical control structure of the hybrid vehicle, i.e., supervisory level and local or subsystem level is assumed in this study. The PMCP consists of a dynamical nonlinear model, and a performance index, both of which are formulated for power flows at the supervisory level. The model is described as a bi-modal switched system, consistent with the operating mode of the electric ED. The performance index prescribing the desired behavior penalizes vehicle tracking errors, fuel consumption, and frictional losses, as well as sustaining the battery state of charge (SOC). The power-split strategy is obtained by first creating the embedded optimal control problem (EOCP) from the original bi-modal switched system model with the performance index. Direct collocation is applied to transform the problem into a nonlinear programming problem. A nonlinear predictive control technique (NMPC) in conjunction with a sequential quadratic programming solver is used to compute suboptimal numerical solutions to the PMCP. Methods for approximating the numerical solution to the EOCP with trajectories of the original bi-modal PHEV are also presented in this paper. The usefulness of the approach is illustrated via simulation results on several case studies