Assessing the impact of domestic low-carbon technologies on the electricity distribution network requires a detailed insight into the operation of networks and the power demands of consumers. When used on a wide-scale, low-carbon technologies, including domestic scale micro-generation, heat pumps, electric vehicles and flexible demand, will change the nature of domestic electricity use. In providing a basis for the quantification of the impact upon distribution networks, this thesis details the construction and use of a high-resolution integrated model that simulates both existing domestic electricity use and low voltage distribution networks. Electricity demand is modelled at the level of individual household appliances and is based upon surveyed occupant time-use data. This approach results in a simulation that exhibits realistic time-variant demand characteristics, in both individual dwellings, as well as, groups of dwellings together. Validation is performed against real domestic electricity use data, measured for this purpose, from dwellings in Loughborough in the East Midlands, UK. The low voltage distribution network is modelled using real network data, and the output of its simulation is validated against measured network voltages and power demands. The integrated model provides a highly detailed insight into the operation of networks at a one-minute resolution. This integrated model is the main output of this research, alongside published articles and a freely downloadable software implementation of the demand model.

L’intégration des producteurs décentralisés (DG) dans un réseau de distribution peut modifier le profil de tension et influencer le réglage de tension conventionnel. Pour le bon fonctionnement du réseau, le raccordement des DG ainsi que les charges grosses sont limités par le dimensionnement du réseau. Les travaux de cette thèse ont pour but de proposer une approche du réglage de tension dans un réseau de distribution avec producteur, en appuyant sur la flexibilité de la demande. Les moyens de réglage de tension seront constitués du régleur en charge (OLTC), la régulation de DG ainsi que la demande flexible. Une optimisation centralisée de type MINLP est proposée pour coordonner ces moyens de réglage. Il est montré que si les moyens de l’OLTC et de la puissance réactive ne suffissent pas de lever la contrainte de tension, il faut réduire la puissance active de producteur. Pour le gain de producteur, la demande flexible peut être considérée comme une source active. La modulation de « demand response » (DR) utilisant les charges thermiques est alors proposée au réglage de tension. L’effet de rebond est pris en compte pour les charges thermiques afin de ne pas affecter le profil de tension après l’action de DR. Ces travaux permettent d’envisager un réglage de tension plus active dans le réseau intelligent et augmenter la flexibilité du réseau. / Growth of distributed generations (DG) in actual distribution networks will bring voltage issues that cannot be fixed by conventional voltage control means. For the sake of network safety, the size of DG and load in a distribution network is limited by the network parameters. The research described in this thesis aims to propose a voltage control strategy on distribution networks using the flexibility of demand. The voltage control means will consist of the on load tap changer (OLTC), the regulation of DG, and flexible demand. A centralized optimization of MINLP type is proposed to coordinate these voltage control means. It shows if it is not able to remove the voltage constraint with OLTC and reactive power regulation, then it must reduce the active power of DG. In order not to reduce active power of DG, the flexible demand is considered as an active source to take part in voltage control. The demand response (DR) modulation using thermal loads is thus proposed for voltage control. For the thermal load, the cold load pick-up (CLPU) effect must be taken into account in order not to affect the voltage profile after DR action. This work allows us to consider a voltage control strategy more active in smart distribution network and improve the flexibility of network.

La gestion prévisionnelle des réseaux de distribution imposée par les codes de réseaux européens nécessite une connaissance approfondie de leur comportement et implique de prendre en compte la volatilité des énergies renouvelables et les capacités de prévision à l’horizon J-1 de la consommation et de la production. En effet, les valeurs déterministes les plus probables des prévisions ne sont plus suffisantes pour pouvoir prédire et gérer à l’avance un réseau. Une modélisation et une optimisation stochastiques permettent un choix, au plus juste, de paramètres de contrôle.La thèse se concentre la prise en compte, dans la modélisation et l’optimisation, des incertitudes des réseaux de distribution. Une modélisation stochastique de réseau est proposée, elle intègre les incertitudes liées au régleur en charge et aux prévisions de consommation et de production. Les contrôleurs des générateurs, le régleur en charge et les gradins de condensateurs permettent de limiter les fluctuations des tensions des nœuds et de la puissance réactive à l’interface et de respecter les exigences contractuelles. Industriellement, les contrôleurs des générateurs sont caractérisés par des lois de commande linéaires ou linéaires par morceaux. En effectuant des hypothèses sur la nature stochastique des données, on peut montrer que les tensions aux nœuds sont des variables gaussiennes ou des sommes de variables gaussiennes par morceaux. Une optimisation stochastique basée sur ces modèles permet de choisir les paramètres des contrôleurs qui minimisent les risques de surtension et des efforts de générateurs, sans avoir à mettre en œuvre des méthodes coûteuses en temps de calcul de type Monte Carlo / The voltage profiles inside the network and power flows at the transport-distribution interface are modified under the massive insertion of renewable sources in distribution grids. The system’s uncertainties cannot be handled by local controllers which parameters are tuned at the actuator installation stage. A solution, widely accepted in the literature, consists of achieving a centralized optimization of the actuators references (distributed generators reactive powers, reference voltage of the On Load Tap Changer, capacitor banks reactive power). Within this framework, a supervisor computes all references at the same time and delivers the references to each actuators, which requires an efficient and reliable communication system.The main contribution of the thesis is to design an alternative approach which keeps the local control structures which settings will be updated on an hourly basis. The optimization relies on a stochastic representation of the grid that accounts for the On Load Tap Changer uncertainties and day ahead forecasts of the productions and consumptions. It is shown that every variable of the system can be represented by Gaussian or sum of truncated Gaussian variables. A stochastic optimization allows to select the controllers settings that minimize overvoltages and control efforts, without using time-consuming algorithms such as Monte-Carlo methods. This work will demonstrate that an appropriate management of uncertainties spares unnecessary and costly oversizing

Este trabalho apresenta um modelo computacional para otimização energética de sistemas de abastecimento em tempo real. Tal modelo é composto por três módulos principais: (1) um módulo de simulação hidráulica que descreve o comportamento do sistema - EPANET; (2) um módulo de previsão de demandas que realiza a previsão das demandas futuras aplicável à utilização no tempo real (curto prazo), desenvolvido por Odan (2008); e, por fim, (3) um módulo otimizador estruturado em linguagem C++ que implementa a biblioteca de algoritmos genéticos do MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Matthew Wall, a GAlib, que permite determinar as rotinas operacionais (acionamento de válvulas e bombas) de forma à minimizar o custo de energia elétrica no sistema. O processo de otimização é divido em duas rotinas, nível estratégico e tempo real. Na otimização em nível estratégico, a partir das curvas típicas de demanda para cada nó de demanda do macro-sistema considerado, determina-se o conjunto de controles que minimizam os custos de energia elétrica, respeitando as restrições hidráulicas do sistema. Para cada conjunto de controles otimizados têm-se os níveis que os reservatórios irão atingir ao final de cada hora durante o horizonte de planejamento considerado, denominados níveis metas. Tais níveis servem de guia para a segunda etapa de otimização. A operação em tempo real se inicia com o recebimento dos dados sobre as condições atuais do sistema: níveis dos reservatórios e demandas da última hora. A partir das demandas informadas, o módulo de previsão de demandas gera todas as demandas para o horizonte de planejamento. Alimenta-se então o otimizador em tempo real com os níveis atuais dos reservatórios, os níveis metas e a previsão de demandas, obtêm-se o conjunto de regras operacionais ótimas para o horizonte de planejamento, sendo que são implementadas apenas as regras para a hora atual. E repete-se todo o processo a cada hora. Este modelo foi aplicado a um sistema de abastecimento de água. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram a eficiência do modelo em achar soluções factíveis de serem implementadas e com redução dos custos com energia elétrica. / This work presents a computational model for real-time optimization of water-distribution networks operation. An integrated software tool has been developed which is composed of three main modules: (i) a hydraulic simulator that performs the extended period simulation of the system (EPANET); (ii) a short-term demand-forecasting model, based on the moving Fourier series; and (iii) an optimization module, using genetic algorithm, to minimize pumping costs. The optimization process is divided in two routines, the off-line optimization and the on-line optimization. The aim of the first routine is to find the ideal operation levels for the reservoirs which are used as guidance for the on-line optimization. The schedules to be implemented in the network are determined, however, by an on-line optimization which runs a new optimization processes at each SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) update. In the off-line optimization, near-optimal pump and valve settings for a selected operating horizon are found on the basis of the typical 24-hour water demand cycle in which each reservoir must also start and end with the same water level. The levels of the reservoirs at the end of each hour in this optimization process, called ideal levels, are considered in the on-line optimization as a constraint that represents a penalty added to the objective function whenever a reservoir level is below the ideal level at the end of each hourly operation. The on-line optimization starts updating the state of the network transmitted from the SCADA system and the demand forecast for the next 24-hour period. Near-optimal pump and valve settings for a selected operating horizon are then determined but only the control settings for the next hourly time step are used to implement the operation. At the next SCADA update (next-time step), the whole process is repeated on a continuous basis and a new operating strategy is computed. In this way, the control process moves forward in time, correcting any discrepancies as it progresses. This integrated software tool has been applied to a small example network. The results obtained from this application have shown that the proposed model offers a practical tool for finding feasible operation strategies for a water pipeline system, obtaining reductions in pumping energy costs.

L’intégration des producteurs décentralisés (DG) dans un réseau de distribution peut modifier le profil de tension et influencer le réglage de tension conventionnel. Pour le bon fonctionnement du réseau, le raccordement des DG ainsi que les charges grosses sont limités par le dimensionnement du réseau. Les travaux de cette thèse ont pour but de proposer une approche du réglage de tension dans un réseau de distribution avec producteur, en appuyant sur la flexibilité de la demande. Les moyens de réglage de tension seront constitués du régleur en charge (OLTC), la régulation de DG ainsi que la demande flexible. Une optimisation centralisée de type MINLP est proposée pour coordonner ces moyens de réglage. Il est montré que si les moyens de l’OLTC et de la puissance réactive ne suffissent pas de lever la contrainte de tension, il faut réduire la puissance active de producteur. Pour le gain de producteur, la demande flexible peut être considérée comme une source active. La modulation de « demand response » (DR) utilisant les charges thermiques est alors proposée au réglage de tension. L’effet de rebond est pris en compte pour les charges thermiques afin de ne pas affecter le profil de tension après l’action de DR. Ces travaux permettent d’envisager un réglage de tension plus active dans le réseau intelligent et augmenter la flexibilité du réseau. / Growth of distributed generations (DG) in actual distribution networks will bring voltage issues that cannot be fixed by conventional voltage control means. For the sake of network safety, the size of DG and load in a distribution network is limited by the network parameters. The research described in this thesis aims to propose a voltage control strategy on distribution networks using the flexibility of demand. The voltage control means will consist of the on load tap changer (OLTC), the regulation of DG, and flexible demand. A centralized optimization of MINLP type is proposed to coordinate these voltage control means. It shows if it is not able to remove the voltage constraint with OLTC and reactive power regulation, then it must reduce the active power of DG. In order not to reduce active power of DG, the flexible demand is considered as an active source to take part in voltage control. The demand response (DR) modulation using thermal loads is thus proposed for voltage control. For the thermal load, the cold load pick-up (CLPU) effect must be taken into account in order not to affect the voltage profile after DR action. This work allows us to consider a voltage control strategy more active in smart distribution network and improve the flexibility of network.

O objetivo deste estudo foi a elaboração e testes simulados, com dados elétricos reais, de metodologia para a operação de geração distribuída (GD) fotovoltaica, em baixa tensão e com exportação de excedentes, em sistemas de distribuição reticulado. A metodologia superou as limitações impostas pelos equipamentos de proteção chamados Protetores de Rede, inerentes à topologia de distribuição do tipo reticulado. Tais equipamentos inviabilizam a geração distribuída, que exporta excedentes para a rede externa por desconectarem os transformadores de média para baixa tensão, causando o ilhamento da GD, sempre que existir um fluxo de potência reverso, ou seja, no sentido do cliente para a concessionária. O objetivo foi alcançado por meio da criação de um simulador de subestação de reticulado exclusivo (Spot) de três transformadores nos qual os comportamentos dos protetores de rede eram testados com dados de fluxo de potência reais aquisitados em subestações de reticulado em Brasília (concessionária CEB) e em subestação do Instituto de Energia e Ambiente (IEE), da Universidade de São Paulo, onde existe uma instalação geradora fotovoltaica de 12kWp. Novos comportamentos dos protetores de rede foram simulados para compatibilizar tal fluxo reverso de potência e parâmetros críticos foram levantados. Nas simulações, encontraram-se caminhos viáveis de promover estas conexões com segurança e simplicidade. Estes novos comportamentos podem ser implementados no firmware dos relés de protetores de redes microprocessados. / The aim of this study was to develop and test a methodology for operation of photovoltaic distributed generation (DG) on secondary side of the Spot and Grid Network types of electricity distribution systems, allowing for the export of excess energy. This methodology did overcome the limitations imposed by the protective equipment known as Network Protector (NP), a standard equipment on secondary network distribution topology. Such equipments make exporting energy from distributed generation systems to the grid unfeasible because of the operational aspects of Network Protectors. This devices will disconnect the transformers whenever there is a reverse power flow, i.e. towards the utility, causing the islanding of the DG. The objective was achieved through the conception of a simulator for a Spot Network substation with three transformers where the behaviors of network protectors could be tested. Those simulations were performed with actual power flow data from real network substations in Brasilia city (CEB utility area) and the substation at the Institute for Energy and Environment (IEE) at the University of Sao Paulo, where a photovoltaic generating facility of 12kWp exists. New behaviors were simulated in order to make the NPs to manage the expected reverse power flow successfully. The most important parameters for the model were explained. Viable ways to connect exporting photovoltaic DG to secondary networks safely and simply have been found by means of these simulations. These new behaviors could be embedded in the firmware of the NP´s microprocessor based relays.

Este trabalho apresenta a metodologia, o desenvolvimento e testes de um sistema de automação independente, baseado em Redes Neurais Artificiais, para redução de perdas técnicas em redes de distribuição subterrâneas reticuladas por meio do controle ótimo dos bancos de capacitores presentes na rede. A metodologia proposta contempla funcionalidades típicas de Redes Inteligentes, incluindo soluções práticas para o posicionamento de sensores de corrente em redes subterrâneas, coleta de medições de campo e transmissão para o Centro de Operação da Distribuição e controle em tempo real dos equipamentos de campo (bancos de capacitores). Portanto este trabalho consiste na implementação da solução através de baixo custo de investimento na mitigação do controle do fator de potência nos pontos de entrega ao consumidor, sendo que com isto ocorrem melhorias nos indicadores de qualidade e confiabilidade atendendo aos requisitos regulamentares e contratuais de fornecimento das distribuidoras. Para validação da metodologia proposta, foram utilizados os dados da concessionária de energia AES Eletropaulo sobre a Rede de Distribuição Subterrânea Reticulada do centro da cidade de São Paulo. As etapas da metodologia proposta e os principais aspectos do desenvolvimento do sistema são também descritos, bem como os testes realizados para comprovação dos resultados e validação do sistema. / This work presents the methodology, development and testing of an independent automation system, based on Artificial Neural Networks, to reduce technical losses in reticulated underground distribution networks by means of the optimal control of the capacitor banks present in the network. The proposed methodology includes typical functionalities of Intelligent Networks, including practical solutions for the positioning of current sensors in underground networks, collection of field measurements and transmission to the Distribution Operation Center and real-time control of field equipment (capacitors banks). Therefore, this work consists in the implementation of the solution through a low cost of investment in the mitigation of the control of the power factor in the points of delivery to the consumer, and with this there are improvements in the indicators of quality and reliability taking into account the regulatory and contractual requirements of supply of the distributors. The energy concessionaire AES Eletropaulo had great participation in this research project, providing the necessary data of the Reticulated Underground Distribution Network of the city center of São Paulo. The steps of the proposed methodology and the main aspects of system development are also described, as well as the tests performed to prove the results and validate the system.

Os sistemas elétricos de distribuição estão evoluindo rapidamente devido à penetração de geração distribuída e ao crescimento na utilização de avançadas estruturas de medição e sistemas de gerenciamento de distribuição de energia elétrica. Esta evolução traz consigo novos desafios devido à intermitência da geração, a qual pode gerar impactos indesejáveis nos sistemas de distribuição, como a interação de diferentes harmônicos. As Unidades de Medição Fasorial (PMUs) tem potencial para desempenhar um importante papel no monitoramento de sistemas elétricos de distribuição por meio dos fasores com medidas temporalmente sincronizadas de tensão e corrente em vários locais do sistema, oferecendo assim inúmeras possibilidades para estimar o estado de uma rede de distribuição. Porém, para serem utilizadas amplamente em redes de distribuição, é necessário que as PMUs apresentem um menor custo e possuam algumas características funcionais exclusivas para o uso nestas redes. Assim, o objetivo desta tese consiste no desenvolvimento de uma unidade de medição fasorial de baixo custo com características originais para o uso no nível de distribuição de energia elétrica, tais como medição fasorial nas redes de média e baixa tensão utilizando a modelagem dos transformadores e a identificação e estimação dos parâmetros da causa de ocorrência de distúrbios elétricos. Para isso, foram construídos dois protótipos da unidade de medição fasorial proposta neste trabalho, visando verificar a sincronização na medição de fasores de tensão e corrente. Os protótipos também foram acoplados à rede com diferentes combinações de impedância e alimentaram variadas cargas, onde foi possível através das técnicas implementadas nos equipamentos identificar e estimar os parâmetros elétricos da origem (rede ou carga) da ocorrência de variações na tensão e potência fornecidas pela rede distribuição. / Power distribution systems are evolving at a high pace largely due to the proliferation of distributed energy resources and the growing utilization of advanced metering infrastructures and distribution management system. This evolution is also leading to new challenges due large penetration of intermittent distributed generation, which can lead to noticeable impacts on distribution feeders. Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) have the potential to play an essential role in power distribution system monitoring. For providing synchronized measurements of voltage and current phasors at various system locations, PMUs offer numerous possibilities for ascertaining information relating to the state of the power distribution system. However, to be used widely in power distribution systems, its necessary that PMUs get a low cost and have some exclusive features for these systems. Thus, the main objective of this thesis have consisted of developing a low cost Phasor Measurement Unit with original features proposed for distribution level, such as compatibility with low and medium voltage power networks using transformer modeling and also the identification and parameter estimation of the cause of electrical disturbances. So, they were built two prototypes of the Phasor Measurement Unit, in order to verify the synchronization in the measurement of voltage and current phasors. The prototypes were also coupled to the network with different combinations of impedance and they fed varying loads, where it was possible through the techniques implemented in the equipment identify and estimate electrical parameters of the cause (network or load) of variations in voltage and power supplied by the network distribution.

The increasing awareness on the effect of carbon emissions in our planet has led to several countries to adopt targets for their reduction. One way of contributing to this aim is to use and distribute electricity more efficiently. In this context, Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR), a well-known technique that takes advantage of the positive correlation between voltage and demand to reduce energy consumption, is gaining renewed interest. This technique saves energy by only reducing customer voltages, without relying on customer actions and, therefore, can be controlled by the Distribution Network Operator (DNO). CVR not only brings benefits to the electricity system by reducing generation requirements (fewer fossil fuel burning and carbon emissions), but also to customers, as energy bill reductions. The extent to which CVR can bring benefits mainly depends on the customers load composition and their voltages. While the former dictates the voltage-demand correlation, the latter constraints the voltage reduction that can be applied without violating statutory limits. Although CVR has been studied for many years, most of the studies neglect the time-varying voltage-demand characteristic of loads and/or do not assess end customer voltages. While these simplifications could be used to estimate CVR benefits for fixed and limited voltage reductions, realistic load and network models are needed to assess the performance of active CVR schemes, where voltages are actively managed to be close to the minimum limit. Moreover, distribution networks have been traditionally designed with limited monitoring and controllability. Therefore, CVR has been typically implemented by adopting conservative voltage reductions from primary substations, for both American and European-style networks. However, as new infrastructure is deployed in European-style LV networks (focus of this work), such as monitoring and on-load tap changers (OLTCs), the opportunity arises to actively manage voltages closer to end customer (unlocking further energy savings). Although these technologies have shown to effectively control voltages in LV networks, their potential for CVR has not been assessed before. Additionally, most CVR studies were performed in a context where distributed generation (DG) was not common. However, this has changed in many countries, with residential photovoltaic (PV) systems becoming popular. As this is likely to continue, the interactions of residential PV and CVR need to be studied. This thesis contributes to address the aforementioned literature gaps by: (i) proposing a simulation framework to characterise the time-varying voltage-demand correlation of individual end customers; (ii) developing a process to model real distribution networks (MV and LV) from DNO data; (iii) adopting a Monte Carlo-based quantification process to cater for the uncertainties related to individual customer demand; (iv) assessing the CVR benefits that can be unlocked with new LV infrastructure and different PV conditions. To accomplish (iv), first, a simple yet effective rule-based scheme is proposed to actively control voltages in OLTC-enabled LV networks without PV and using limited monitoring. It is demonstrated that by controlling voltages closer to customers, annual energy savings can increase significantly, compared to primary substation voltage reductions. Also, to understand the effect of PV on CVR, a centralized, three-phase AC OPF-based CVR scheme is proposed. This control, using monitoring, OLTCs and capacitors across MV and LV networks, actively manages voltages to minimize energy consumption in high PV penetration scenarios whilst considering MV-LV constraints. Results demonstrate that without CVR, PV systems lead to higher energy imports for customers without PV, due to higher voltages. Conversely, the OPF-based CVR scheme can effectively manage voltages throughout the day, minimising energy imports for all customers. Moreover, if OLTCs at secondary substations are available (and managed in coordination with the primary substation OLTC), these tend to regulate customer voltages close to the minimum statutory limit (lower tap positions), while the primary OLTC delivers higher voltages to the MV network to also reduce MV energy losses.

Submitted by Geyciane Santos (geyciane_thamires@hotmail.com) on 2015-06-18T14:20:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação- Jhonathan Araújo Oliveira.pdf: 17407325 bytes, checksum: 9ed1cb282822c8dd666684f5cc5e0219 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-19T21:10:55Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação- Jhonathan Araújo Oliveira.pdf: 17407325 bytes, checksum: 9ed1cb282822c8dd666684f5cc5e0219 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-19T21:12:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação- Jhonathan Araújo Oliveira.pdf: 17407325 bytes, checksum: 9ed1cb282822c8dd666684f5cc5e0219 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-19T21:12:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação- Jhonathan Araújo Oliveira.pdf: 17407325 bytes, checksum: 9ed1cb282822c8dd666684f5cc5e0219 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-24 / Scalability and high demand for resources are the main challenges that content providers face in multimedia applications based on networks. For instance, YouTube is one of the most popular delivery systems video on demand, the users send 100 hours of video every minute to its servers and more than four billion hours of video are watched every month. The CDN-P2P systems is widely recognized as a scalable alternative for multimedia content delivery in the Internet. In these systems, the peers from a peerto- peer network (P2P) share their resources thus reducing the demands on the network infrastructure for content delivery (CDN). Moreover, the CDN server to guarantee the availability of content when the peers contributions are limited by the churn, or when the content is is unprecedented to the peers of the P2P network. However, CDN-P2P systems alone do not guarantee the effectiveness of the services, since the peers output that are the only holders of a particular contents can generate congestion around the CDN server and degrade the quality of users experience. This dissertation investigates the contribution of stable peers for availability content on the on the P2P slice form a CDN-P2P system designed to distribute videos similar to those distributed by YouTube. In this way, the data were collected from the real YouTube Web site, exploring the potential of the users that have been access the playlists to characterize the stability of the peers in the system. The assumption about the effectiveness of playlists viewers int the availability content, due to the increased of the stay connnected of these users in the system and the possible popularity of contents shared by them. It was found that when a large number of the peers players pairs of the playlists spend long sessions connected, the improvement of the availability of content was in 60%. Additionally, in scenarios of low participation of players in playlists, its was the improvement outperformed in 20%. Furthermore, we evaluated how the build policies of the mesh impact the distribution system when the peers are grouped and identified as ordinaries and stable. These policies structure the portion of the P2P system through the criterias that are employed on arrival, maintenance and management of the connections of the peers, thus reducing the demands on the CDN server. / A escalabilidade e a alta demanda por recursos são os principais desafios que os provedores de conteúdo enfrentam na viabilização de aplicações multimídia baseadas em redes. No YouTube, por exemplo, um dos mais populares sistemas de distribuição de vídeo sob demanda, são enviadas 100 horas de vídeo a cada minuto aos seus servidores e mais de quatro bilhões de horas de vídeo são assistidas a cada mês. Sistemas CDN-P2P têm sido apontados como uma alternativa escalável para distribuição de conteúdo multimídia na Internet. Nesses sistemas, os pares da rede par-a-par (P2P) compartilham seus recursos, diminuindo as demandas sobre a infraestrutura da rede de distribuição de conteúdo (CDN). Por outro lado, os servidores da CDN garantem a disponibilidade de conteúdo quando as contribuições dos pares são limitadas pelo churn, ou quando o conteúdo for inédito aos pares da rede P2P. Contudo, sistemas CDN-P2P, por si só, não garantem a efetividade dos serviços, visto que a saída de pares que são os únicos detentores de um determinado conteúdo pode gerar congestionamento ao redor do servidor da CDN e degradar a qualidade de experiência dos usuários. Nesta dissertação investiga-se a contribuição de pares estáveis para disponibilidade de conteúdo na parte P2P de um sistema CDN-P2P concebido para distribuir vídeos similares aos distribuídos pelo YouTube. Para isso, dados reais foram coletados do site YouTube, explorando-se o potencial de usuários que acessam playlists para caracterizar a estabilidade dos pares no sistema. A suposição acerca da efetividade dos tocadores de playlists na disponibilidade de conteúdo deve-se Ao maior tempo de permanência desses usuários no sistema e á possível popularidade dos conteúdos por eles compartilhados. Verificou-se que quando um número grande de pares tocadores de playlists passam longas sessões conectados, a melhoria na disponibilidade de conteúdo foi de 60%. Adicionalmente em cenários de baixa participação dos tocadores de playlists a melhoria superou 20%. Em seguida, avaliou-se de que forma políticas de formação da malha impactam o sistema de distribuição estudado quando os pares são agrupados e identificados como estáveis e comuns. Estas políticas estruturam a porçãoP2P do sistema através de critérios que são empregados na chegada, na manutenção e gerência das conexões dos pares, diminuindo assim as exigências sobre o servidor da CDN.