SMART DISTRIBUTION APPLICATIONS &THEIR
INTEGRATION IN A SMART GRID ENVIRONMENT
Presented By:
Bob Uluski
Electric Power Research Institute
July, 2011
Key Smart Distribution Applications
What are the major trends of the day?
What issues need to be resolved?
Where should the industry go from here?
Distribution Voltage Optimization
Major Trend: Many electrical utilities are implementing Conservation
Voltage Reduction for demand and energy reduction
ANSI standards have some
flexibility in the allowable
delivery voltage
Distribution utilities
typically have delivery
voltage in upper portion of
the range
Concept of CVR: Maintain
voltage delivered to the
customer in the lower
portion of the acceptable
range
CVR Benefits Achieved
CVR factor for voltage reduction ranges from 0.65 to 0.7
Reduction of electrical demand ranges from 1.5% to 2.1%
Cheap alternative to conventional generation
Reduction of total demand by 310 MW (eliminate need for
two peak shaving CTs)
No carbon or emission offsets needed
Reduction of energy consumption ranges from 1.3% - 2%
Near unity power factor
Provide demand response capabilities
Decrease sub/feeder overloading
Reduced High and Low voltage complaints
Improve Customer voltage quality (less flicker).
Increase customer end-use appliance life by 15%.
Lower Customer Bills $16.50/yr
Distribution Voltage Optimization
Key issues and challenges
CVR Factors for various
Substations
Major Issue: Not all feeders are created equal
from a CVR perspective Benefit varies with
load type and feeder characteristics
Effectiveness measured by CVR
factor:
27
25
23
21
CVR factor = %
change in load
% change in
voltage
19
17
15
13
11
Average of these results: CVFf = 1.2
CVRf usually ranges between 0.7 and
0.8
Need ability to determine
benefits in advance
9
7
5
3
1
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
Distribution Voltage Optimization
Key issues and challenges
Major Issue: Will the CVR benefit last long into the future? Or, will the benefits
diminish in just a few years?
Some emerging load characteristics dont favor CVR
Need better understanding of up and coming appliances to determine if CVR will
provide lasting effects
Distribution Voltage Optimization
Key issues and challenges
Major Issue: What general approach to CVR works best?
Standalone Voltage regulator and LTC controls with line
drop compensation set to end-of-line voltage for CVR
On-Site Voltage Regulator (OVR) for single location
voltage regulation
Rule-based DA control of capacitor banks and voltage
regulators for CVR with/without voltage measurement
feedback from end of line
Auto-Adaptive voltage regulation (e.g. PCS Utilidata
AdatiVolt, Cooper Power Systems IVVC)
Distribution model based Volt-VAR Optimization
Distribution Voltage Optimization
Key issues and challenges
Major Issue: What general approach to CVR works best?
Distribution Voltage Optimization
Major issue: What infrastructure improvements are needed to effectively
implement CVR? Are these infrastructure improvements economically justified
Feeder conditioning needed to flatten voltage profile to
maximize CVR benefits
Addition of fixed and switched capacitor banks
Feeder re-configuration
Feeder phase balancing
Reconductoring
Replacement of electromechanical volt-VAR controllers with
Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs)
Addition of two way communication facilities
Addition of end-of-line (EOL) metering
Distribution Voltage Optimization
Major issue: How can AMI assist with effective deployment of CVR? What
critical measurements are needed for effective CVR deployment?
Need to determine critical voltage measurements for CVR
Many utilities currently use AMI or bell weather meters for
voltage feedback
i.e. where are the lowest voltage points at any given time?
AMI appears to be an ideal source for providing voltage feedback
How many measurements are needed?
What locations should be monitored?
How often should measurements be taken?
Do natural fluctuations in individual measurements affect usability of AMI
data
Distribution Voltage Optimization
Where should industry go from here?
Need ability to predict CVR benefits
Excellent work going on at PNNL, NEETRAC, EPRI and other
organizations to model CVR behavior
Work being coordinated through IEEE volt-VAR task force
Must include distribution voltage optimization
(CVR) in distribution planning process
Impact on capacity planning process
Design necessary infrastructure improvements
Vendors and utilities alike need to gain practical
experience with the concept (demonstrations and
full-scale deployments)
Dynamic Volt-VAR Control
Major Trend: Growing need for dynamic voltage control due to
variable output from renewable energy resources.
Dynamic Volt-VAR Control
Major Trend: Growing need for dynamic voltage control due to
variable output from renewable energy resources.
Dynamic Volt/Var Control
Key issue: Need to deal with fluctuations associated with variable
power output to prevent customer complaints, excess wear and tear
on voltage regulators (LTCs), and other anomolies.
Solar PV inverters typically operate at unity power factor
Var control is possible in most applications
Inverters have inherent ability to control vars
No hardware change required
Firmware upgrade only
VA Headroom
Data mining of over 40,000 PV installations in CA
PV inverters typically sized greater than solar panel
20% margin or headroom available in inverters to provide var control
Some form of communication is needed
Vars could be controlled by utility via broadcast commands
Dynamic Volt/Var Control
Key issue: Need to deal with fluctuations associated with variable
power output to prevent customer complaints, excess wear and tear
on voltage regulators (LTCs), and other anomalies.
Utility-Defined Curve Shapes
Simple
Broadcast
Volt/Var
Mode 2 VAR
Support
VARs Generated
Volt/Var
Mode 1
Normal
Regulation
Capacitive
VARs Generated
Q1
Capacitive
Q2
System
Voltage
Q3
V4
V1
V2
V3
Inductive
Q4
Q1
Q2
V1
V2
Inductive
System
Voltage
Dynamic Volt/Var Control
Key issue: Need to deal with fluctuations associated with variable
power output to prevent customer complaints, excess wear and tear
on voltage regulators (LTCs), and other anomalies.
Feeder Medium Voltage Response
1.05
12 kV Voltage
20% PV
1.025
V (pu)
20% PV w/ volt-var control
0.975
0.95
Baseline No PV
0.925
0.9
0
12
Hour
16
20
Dynamic Volt/Var Control
Key issue: Restrictive Clause 4.1.1 in IEEE 1547-2003
The Distributed Energy Resource (DR) shall not actively regulate the voltage
at the Point of Common Connection (PCC). The DR shall not cause the Area
Electric Power System (EPS) service voltage at other Local EPSs to go outside
the requirements of ANSI C84.1-1995, Range A.
addresses the possible impacts of the DR:
Impact of DR operations on voltage-regulating devices, which may
create either a too low, or a too high voltage.
Voltage imbalance due to single-phase DR
Intermittent operations of DR, which may result in unacceptable
voltage fluctuations and excessive operations of voltage-regulating
devices in the Area EPS
Improper regulation during reverse power flow conditions, which may
result in either a too high, or a too low voltage
Dynamic Volt-VAR Control
Where should industry go from here?
Continue IEEE 1547.8 WG activities to develop Recommended
Practice for Establishing Methods and Procedures that Provide
Supplemental Support for Implementation Strategies For
Expanded Use of IEEE Standard 1547
Enhance standard communication protocols (e.g., DNP3) to
support broadcast commands to smart inverters.
Add support for smart inverter controls to DMS suite of
applications
Fault Location Isolation & Service Restoration (FLISR)
Major Trend: Many electrical utilities are implementing FLISR as a
means of implementing a self-healing grid
Nature of the Problem
When a permanent fault occurs, customers on healthy
sections of the feeder may experience a lengthy outage
FAULT
OCCURS
Customer
Reports
Outage
Field
Crews
On-Scene
Travel Time
5 10
minutes
15 30
minutes
Fault
Located
POWER RESTORED
TO CUSTOMERS ON
HEALTHY SECTIONS
OF FEEDER
Fault Investigation
& Patrol Time
Time to Perform
Manual Switching
15 20
minutes
10- 15
minutes
Feeder
Back to
Normal
Repair Time
45 75
minutes
FLISR provides the means to restore service to some
customers before field crews arrive on the scene
Normal Configuration
A Fault Occurs
Flow of Fault Current Triggers
Faulted Circuit Indicators (FCIs)
and trips again (lockout)
FLISR identifies faulted section by comparing FCIs
FLISR opens switches to isolate
the faulted feeder section
FLISR Triggers Upstream Restoration
Downstream restoration of blinking section
Compare load with available capacity
Downstream restoration of blinking section
Compare load with available capacity
Available Capacity
= 2 MW
Pre-fault load
= 1 MW
Capability exists, so
Available Capacity
= 2 MW
Pre-fault load
= 1 MW
FLISR closes switch to restore service
Via alternate supply line
Now FLISR checks for capacity to
Transfer last downstream section
Available Capacity =
1.5 MW
Pre-fault load
= 2 MW
In this case capacity does not exist so
downstream section is not restored
Available Capacity =
1.5 MW
Pre-fault load
= 2 MW
Major Issue: Lack of capacity
on backup supply circuits
FLISR: Key issues and challenges
Major Issue: Lack of capacity on backup supply circuits
Available Capacity =
2.5 MW
Pre-fault load
= 2 MW
Can offload red substation by transferring
load to another substation, applying
demand response, using CVR,
discharging energy storage, reduce
amount of fast charging, etc
These actions free enough capacity to
pick up last remaining section, so
Available Capacity =
2.5 MW
Pre-fault load
= 2 MW
Can offload red substation by transferring
load to another substation, applying
demand response, using CVR,
discharging energy storage, reduce
amount of fast charging, etc
Can pick up the last downstream section
Can offload red substation by transferring
load to another substation, applying
demand response, using CVR,
discharging energy storage, reduce
amount of fast charging, etc
Time Line Without and With FLISR
Fault
Occurs
member
Reports
Outage
Fault Investigation
& Patrol Time
Travel Time
Without
FLISR
5 10
minutes
member
Reports
Outage
1 to 5
minutes
15 30
minutes
POWER RESTORED
ON
HEALTHY SECTIONS
OF FEEDER
Feeder
Back to
Normal
Field
Crews
On-Scene
Patrol
Time
5 - 10
minutes
Repair Time
1-4
Hours
Repair Time
1-4
Hours
10 - 15
minutes
45 75
minutes
Travel Time
5 10
minutes
Time to Perform
Manual Switching
15 20
minutes
15 30
minutes
POWER RESTORED
ON
HEALTHY SECTIONS
OF FEEDER
FAULT
OCCURS
Feeder
Back to
Normal
Fault
Located
With
FLISR
FLISR with large distributed generation present
Major Issue: Impact of high DG presence on FLISR Operation
FLISR with large distributed generation present
Major Issue: Impact of high DG presence on FLISR Operation
Same fault occurs
Flow of Fault Current Triggers
Faulted Circuit Indicators (FCIs)
Circuit breaker opens
FLISR analyzes FCIs incorrectly identifies
faulted segment
Need directional FCI or short
circuit model to avoid this
situation
Fault Location Isolation & Service Restoration
Where should industry go from here?
Incorporate energy storage and possible microgrid
in FLISR operation
Develop planning & design criteria for effective
FLISR implementation
Availability of backup sources with sufficient capacity
Protection system that adapts to feeder reconfiguration
Design necessary infrastructure improvements
Optimal Network Reconfiguration
Goal: Identify changes in feeder
configuration that would improve overall
distribution feeder performance and
reliability
optimize topology for steady state
operations
Selectable Operating Objective
Minimal power and energy losses
Maximum reliability
Best load balance
Best voltage profiles
Weighted combination of the above
Optimal Network Reconfiguration
Goal: Identify changes in feeder
configuration that would improve overall
distribution feeder performance and
reliability
optimize topology for steady state
operations
Selectable Operating Objective
Minimal power and energy losses
Maximum reliability
Best load balance
Best voltage profiles
Weighted combination of the above
Load
Transfer
Occurs
Conclusions
Advanced distribution applications will play a growing role in managing
distribution system operation for improved efficiency, reliability, and performance
Utilities must have the necessary skills to deal with these new systems:
New planning tools and capabilities are needed for smart distribution systems
Training/certification of operators
New procedures and business processes
Maintenance of hi tech systems
Growing engineering support in the DSO
Account for advanced control capabilities,
Model impact of DER
Real and reactive power forecasting
Make sure software supplier vendors are in sync with the needs of planning engineers
AMI will certainly play a key role in maximizing the benefits
improved accuracy and lower operating margins
Still some significant issues that need to be addressed such as data throughput and
security
Questions and Discussion
Bob Uluski
Electric Power Research Institute
102 Stevens Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034
[email protected]
(215) 317-9105
