MODIFIED DYNAMIC VOLTAGE AND REACTIVE POWER CONTROL OF AC POWER DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
20220360082 · 2022-11-10
Inventors
Cpc classification
Y04S40/20
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
Y04S40/126
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
Y04S10/16
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
G05B13/042
PHYSICS
H02J2203/20
ELECTRICITY
Y04S10/30
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
H02J2203/10
ELECTRICITY
H02J3/12
ELECTRICITY
International classification
Abstract
An electrical power distribution system configured to automatically regulate one or more Voltage/VAR control devices for optimization of one or more user defined metrics in an alternating current (AC) electrical power distribution system that includes one or more power distribution lines configured to transmit AC electrical power between a substation and a plurality of loads, each power distribution line including one or more Voltage/VAR control devices configured to regulate voltage and reactive power of the AC electrical power on the power distribution line according to an operational setting for each of the one or more Voltage/VAR control devices and one or more sensors configured to sense a sensed quality of the AC electrical power on the one or more power distribution lines with at least one communication network communicating with the one or more Voltage/VAR control devices and the one or more sensors.
Claims
1. An electrical power distribution control system configured to automatically regulate one or more voltage/VAR control devices for optimization of one or more user defined metrics in an alternating current (AC) electrical power distribution system that includes one or more power distribution lines configured to transmit AC electrical power between a substation and a plurality of loads, each power distribution line including one or more Voltage/VAR control devices configured to regulate voltage and VAR of the AC electrical power on the power distribution line according to an operational setting for each of the one or more Voltage/VAR control devices and one or more sensors configured to sense a sensed quality of the AC electrical power on the one or more power distribution lines with at least one communication network communicating with the one or more Voltage/VAR control devices and the one or more sensors, the control system comprising: a controller operably connected to the at least one communication network and configured to: dynamically update a model of the one or more of power distribution lines with the sensed quality of AC electrical power; utilize the model to dynamically modify a set of optimal operational settings for each of the one or more Voltage/VAR control devices for a next period of operation based on both an estimated set of operational parameters for the next period of operation as determined by the model for the one or more power distribution lines as a function of one or more user defined metrics and a historical set of operational settings for one or more previous periods of operation; and communicate control signals to the one or more Voltage/VAR control devices to implement the set of optimal operational settings.
2. The electrical power distribution control system of claim 1, wherein the one or more user defined metrics include at least one of minimization of the transmitted volt-ampere reactive (VAR), decreases in power losses, maximization of conservation voltage reduction (CVR) gain, maximization of distributed energy resource (DER) penetration, regulation of the voltage of the AC electrical power within American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, and minimization of unnecessary switching of the one or more voltage control devices.
3. The electrical power distribution control system of claim 1, wherein modification of the set of optimal operational settings is based an anticipated change in one or more user defined metrics both during and after a proposed change in the set of optimal operational settings
4. The electrical power distribution control system of claim 1, wherein each period of operation is between about five minutes and about fifteen minutes.
5. The electrical power distribution control system of claim 1, wherein the controller utilizes one or more set of candidate optimal operational settings from a discrete pool of candidate optimal operational settings to reduce a number of calculations necessary for the determination of the set of optimal operational settings.
6. The electrical power distribution control system of claim 5, wherein the controller randomly selects the one or more set of candidate optimal operational settings from the pool of candidate optimal operational settings as a starting point.
7. The electrical power distribution control system of claim 1, wherein the controller randomly selects a first Voltage/VAR control device to consider from the one or more voltage/VAR control devices as a starting point.
8. The electrical power distribution control system of claim 1, wherein the control signals communicated to the one or more Voltage/VAR control devices include control signals for at least one of a load tap changer, a voltage regulator and a capacitor bank.
9. The electrical power distribution control system of claim 1, wherein the sensed quality of AC electrical power used to update the model includes at least one of a bus voltage, a total real power, a total reactive power, a power loss, and a feeder head power factor.
10. An electrical power distribution system controller configured to automatically regulate one or more Voltage/VAR control devices for optimization of one or more user defined metrics in an alternating current (AC) electrical power distribution system including one or more power distribution lines configured to transmit AC electrical power, the controller comprising: a model of the one or more power distribution lines, each power distribution line including one or more Voltage/VAR control devices configured to regulate voltage and reactive power of the AC electrical power on the power distribution line according to an operational setting for each of the one or more Voltage/VAR control devices; a processor configured to dynamically update the model of the one or more electrical power lines with a sensed quality of the AC electrical power, utilize the model to dynamically modify a set of optimal operational settings for each of the one or more Voltage/VAR control devices for a next period of operation based on both an estimated set of operational parameters for the next period of operation as determined by the model for the one or more power distribution lines as a function of one or more user defined metrics and a historical set of operational settings for the one or more previous periods of operation; and a communication module configured to communicate control signals to the one or more Voltage/VAR control devices to implement the set of optimal operational settings.
11. A method of automatically regulating one or more Voltage/VAR control devices for optimization of one or more user defined metrics in an alternating current (AC) electrical power distribution system that includes one or more power distribution lines configured to transmit AC electrical power, the method comprising: sensing a quality of the AC electrical power on the one or more power distribution lines; updating a model of the one or more electrical power lines with the sensed quality of AC electrical power; utilizing the model to dynamically modify a set of optimal operational settings for each of the one or more voltage/VAR control devices for a next period of operation based on both an estimated set of operational parameters for the next period of operation as determined by the model for the one or more power distribution lines as a function of one or more user defined metrics and a historical set of operational settings for the one or more previous periods of operation; and communicating control signals to the one or more voltage/VAR control devices to implement the set of optimal operational settings.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user defined metrics include at least one of minimization of transmitted volt-ampere reactive (VAR), decreases in power losses, maximization of conservation voltage reduction (CVR) gain, maximization of distributed energy resource (DER) penetration, regulation of the voltage of the transmitted electrical power within American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, and minimization of unnecessary switching of the one or more voltage control devices.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein modification of the set of optimal operational settings is based an anticipated change in one or more user defined metrics both during and after a proposed change in the set of optimal operational settings.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein each period of operation is between about five minutes and about fifteen minutes.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising utilizing one or more set of candidate optimal operational settings pulled from a discrete pool of candidate optimal operational settings to reduce the number of calculations necessary for the determination of optimal operational settings.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising randomly selecting the one or more set of candidate optimal operational settings from the pool of candidate optimal operational settings as a starting point.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising randomly selecting a first voltage/VAR control device to consider from the one or more voltage/VAR control devices as a starting point.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the control signals communicated to the one or more voltage/VAR control devices include signals for at least one of a load tap changer, voltage regulator and capacitor bank.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensed quality of AC electrical power used to update the model includes at least one of a bus voltage, a total real power, a total reactive power, a power loss, and a feeder head power factor.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The disclosure can be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the disclosure, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0018]
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027] While embodiments of the disclosure are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof shown by way of example in the drawings will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Referring to
[0029] In one embodiment, voltage in the at least one distribution line 102 can be regulated by a load tap changer (LTC) 108. Although
[0030] Electrical power distribution system 100 can further include one or more sensors 114 positioned throughout the distribution network to measure qualities of the distributed power, such as bus voltages, total real power, total reactive power, power loss, feeder head power factor, and the like. Data sensed by the one or more sensors 114 can be communicated via a communication network 116A/B to a centralized controller 118. In one embodiment, the centralized controller 118 can include multiple networks or devices working in communication.
[0031] The centralized controller 118 can be configured to analyze the sensed data, generate a control solution (e.g., an optimal operational strategy or individualized settings for all of the Voltage/VAR control devices within the distribution system 100). The centralized controller 118 can then send a signal to the various Voltage/VAR control devices to affect the control solution via the communication network 116A/B. In one embodiment, one communication network 116A can be utilized to transmit the data sensed by the one or more sensors 114, and a separate communication network 116B can be utilized to transmit portions of the control solution to the various Voltage/VAR control devices. The communication networks 116A/B can be either wired or wireless.
[0032] In one embodiment, the centralized controller 118 utilizes a model 120 representing the physical components of the electrical power distribution system 100 as an aid in determining an optimal control solution in increments of time. For example, in one embodiment, the increments of time can be between about 5 minutes and about 15 minutes; although other increments of time are also contemplated.
[0033] Referring to
[0034] With the model 120 updated to represent a sensed state of the system 100, at S204, the centralized controller can determine a control solution in which various metrics across the system 100 are optimized. For example, in one embodiment, the various metrics to be optimized can include: (1) the power factor/reduction of VAR transmission; (2) decreases in power losses; (3) regulation of system voltage within the ANSI standard; (4) CVR gain through voltage reduction; (5) the life expectancy of voltage control devices (e.g., preservation of the LTCs, VRs and CBs by minimizing switching); (6) reactive compensation; and (7) increases in energy sales. Other metrics, which may be of interest to a user, are also contemplated. In some embodiments, the metrics can be directly measured, for example via sensors 114. In some embodiments, the metrics can be determined mathematically, for example via model 120. In some embodiments, one or more weighting factors can be assigned to one or more of the plurality of metrics to emphasize one or more metrics over others of the plurality of metrics. Metric optimization can represent a significant improvement over the heuristic-based approaches, which primarily base their control solutions on expert knowledge and lookup tables in an attempt to reach a satisfactory solution, rather than a single best solution.
[0035] In one embodiment, the optimization can utilize the model 120 to analyze how a potential change in the tap position of every LTC, VR and/or cycling on and off of every CB would affect optimization of the various metrics both during and after any switching of the voltage control devices. Accordingly, the system 100 not only seeks to optimize the system 100 to compensate for continual changes in the cumulative system power output and load demand, the system also seeks to efficiently utilize the Voltage/VAR control devices by minimizing switching. Typical LTCs have an expected lifetime of about 100,000 switching operations, VRs have an expected lifetime of between about 150,000-250,000 switching operations, and CBs have an expected lifetime of between about 13000-14000 switching operations, depending on the system and frequency of the switching, as well as vendor of the device and on-time maintenance. By minimizing switching operations, the usable time of these devices can be extended, thereby promoting a more efficient use of the system components.
[0036] Once a control solution has been determined, at S206, the centralized controller 118 can communicate with the various Voltage/VAR control devices to implement the control solution. After switching the various Voltage/VAR control devices, the one or more sensors 114 can be utilized to update the model 120, to reflect the various sensed qualities of the transmitted power during the next increment of time (e.g., TD.sub.(2)). The cycle can then repeat as necessary optimize the desired metrics.
[0037] Referring to
[0038] In one embodiment, the optimization can be rooted in dynamic programming, in which optimization of the user selected metrics can be broken down into simpler sub-problems in a recursive manner. For simplicity,
[0039] Referring to
[0040] A mathematical expression for the optimization strategy follows:
MV.sub.0(snow=i)=MT.sub.0(spre=1, snow=i)+M.sub.0(snow=i), i∈[−16,16]
MV.sub.0*=Min{MV.sub.0(snow=i), i∈[−16,16])}
where,
MV.sub.0*: The optimal metric value achieved at TD.sub.(0)
spre: The tap position at the previous time duration
snow: The tap position at the current time duration
MV.sub.0(snow=i): The metric value when VR has a tap position of i at TD.sub.(0)
MT.sub.0(spre,snow): The metric value of moving the tap position from spre to snow at TD.sub.(0)
MO.sub.0(snow): The metric value when tap position stays at snow at TD.sub.(0)
[0041] With additional reference to
MV.sub.1(snow=i)=Min{MV.sub.0(snow=j)+MT.sub.1(spre=j, snow=i)+MO.sub.1(snow=i), j∈[−16,16]},i∈[−16,16]
MV.sub.1*=Min{MV.sub.1(snow=i),i∈[−16,16])}
[0042] It should be noted that where the optimization strategy seeks to efficiently utilize the Voltage/VAR control devices, a new tap position that produces a better metric value may not be optimal when factoring in the switching required to move to the new tap position. That is, total optimization can be a factor of both the desired tap positions and the transition between the previous and desired tap positions.
[0043] With additional reference to
MV.sub.2(snow=i)=Min{MV.sub.1(snow=j)+MT.sub.2(spre=j,snow=i)+MO.sub.2(snow=i),j∈[−16,16]},i∈[−16,16]
MV.sub.2*=Min{MV.sub.2(snow=i),i∈[−16,16])}
[0044] In one embodiment, the computation is similar to that of the previous time increment (i.e., M=2), without an exponentially increased effort. That is, the calculation of MV.sub.2(snow=i) may only require looking back to TD.sub.(1) by accessing the 33 total costs of MV.sub.1(snow=i). In this embodiment, there is no need to look any further back in time because once a tap position at TD.sub.(1) is considered to be the best path toward TD.sub.(2), then the path from TD.sub.(−1) to TD.sub.(1) is established, so that no other path need be considered.
[0045] Applying dynamic programming to a capacitor bank can follow the same procedure, with the exception that instead of 33 possible tap positions during any increment of time, there are only two possible connection states (i.e., on or off) to be considered.
[0046] When multiple Voltage/VAR control devices are to be considered, dynamic programming still applies, but the total number of possible combinations in each increment of time increases exponentially. For this reason, in some embodiments, it may be desirable to apply a sequential dynamic programming-based optimization method in which solutions to be evaluated are selected from a pool of candidate solutions.
[0047] Referring to
[0048] In some embodiments, at least one candidate solution within the pool can include an unchanged operational strategy for each Voltage/VAR control device (i.e., all of the tap positions of the LTCs and VRs, and on-off connection states of the CBs remain unchanged from the previous increment of time). In some embodiments, at least one candidate solution within the pool can be selected based on historical optimized control solutions in similar conditions (e.g., optimized control solutions for similar load profile conditions, similar weather conditions, and/or a similar time of day, day of week, time of year, etc.), historical power usage data, power usage forecast data, historical DER output data, DER output forecast data, and other expert knowledge.
[0049] At S404, one candidate solution (e.g., the i.sup.th candidate) is selected from a pool of candidate solutions. In some embodiments, the candidate solution is selected randomly to inhibit bias toward a particular rationale in developing the pool of candidate solutions (e.g., to inhibit the optimization strategy from always beginning with an unchanged operational strategy for each voltage control device).
[0050] Once a candidate solution has been selected, at S406, one Voltage/VAR control device is randomly selected from the Voltage/VAR control devices to be considered first in the optimization strategy. At S408, the operational strategy of the selected voltage/VAR control device is relaxed, while the operational strategies of all other voltage control devices are fixed in position. At S410, dynamic programming optimization is performed on the relaxed voltage/VAR control device to find its optimal operational strategy for a particular increment of time.
[0051] With additional reference to
[0052] With continued reference to
[0053] At S416, a determination is made as to whether all of the candidate solutions within the pool have been evaluated. If all of the candidate solutions have not yet been evaluated, then the method reverts to S404 and the next candidate solution is selected from the pool of candidate solutions. Once all of the candidate solutions have been evaluated, at S418, the best solution is selected for implementation. Alternatively, at S420, if the total computation time allotted for running the optimization strategy elapses, the best solution found at that time is selected for implementation.
[0054] It should be understood that the individual steps used in the methods of the present teachings may be performed in any order and/or simultaneously, as long as the teaching remains operable. Furthermore, it should be understood that the apparatus and methods of the present teachings can include any number, or all, of the described embodiments, as long as the teaching remains operable.
[0055] In this manner, the voltage across an electrical power distribution system can be optimized to minimize transmitted VAR, decrease power losses, increase energy sales, maximize CVR gain, maximize DER penetration, and ensure that the system voltage remains within the ANSI standards, while the effects of switching the voltage control devices are considered. Optimization in this manner represents a significant advance over traditional heuristic based approaches, which seek to reach a satisfactory solution, rather than an optimized-single best solution.
[0056] Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.
[0057] Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.
[0058] Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.
[0059] Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.
[0060] For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.