The integration of distributed generators (DGs) into the distribution grid has exacerbated voltage unbalance issues leading to greater risks of reducing equipment lifetime, equipment damages, and increased ohmic losses. Most approaches to regulating voltage in distribution systems only focus on voltage magnitude and neglect phasor discrepancies and do little to remedy voltage unbalance. To combat this, a novel Optimal Power Flow (OPF) is designed to help operate these resources in a manner that curtails voltage unbalance using the reactive power compensation capabilities of inverters. The OPF was run for a wide variety of loading conditions on a pair of systems using MATLAB and was shown to improve the voltage profile of the system in addition to minimizing losses in most cases. However, it is noted that the OPF loses exactness in highly stressed conditions and is unable to provide meaningful solutions / Master of Science / With the power grid getting greener and smarter by the day, a slew of new challenges arise to overcome. Distributed sources of energy like solar panels and batteries are being added to the grid right from the household level. While they are desirable for reducing our need for traditional sources of energy, the addition of these resources has been shown to cause issues in the quality of the power grid. This is particularly observed at the low-voltage domestic part of the grid where the resources cause issues with the voltage quality. The distribution grid is unbalanced by nature and adding these resources only amplifies this problem. To help mitigate voltage quality issues grid operators are starting to require voltage regulation capabilities from resources to be connected to the grid and a lot of work has been conducted to find the optimal strategies for operating these resources. However, existing paradigms for these sources only focus on fixing the voltage magnitude part of the power quality and neglect phasor relationships. This thesis aims to bridge this gap by developing a method to determine the optimal operation of these resources by using the voltage regulation capability to address both voltage magnitude and voltage unbalance issues in addition to optimal operation.

This paper is describing the issues of data collection in power distribution networks. It discusses the posibilities of data communication over wide area networks using the communication protocol IEC 60870-5-104, used in power distribution systems for transmission of information over IP networks. Thesis presents 4 technologies, suitable for data collection, with respect to the use of existing infrastructure of the utility. It focuses on design of appropriate data types in correspondence with used IEC 60870-5-104 protocol, and estimates the minimum data requirements for transmission, through proposed hierarchical network, with collecting data concentrators. For verification of given design, simulations are carried out based on proposed data loads with subsequent analysis of network load and transmission delays. Consequently, the results are analyzed and selected parts of network optimized for improvement od selected results, of which causes of formation are discussed in debate.

Optimization techniques are widely applied in the power system planning and operation to achieve more efficient and reliable power supply. With the introduction of new technologies, the complexity of today’s power system increased significantly. Intelligent optimization techniques, such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), can efficiently deal with the new challenges compared to conventional optimization techniques. This thesis presents applications of discrete PSO in two specific environments. The first one is for day-ahead optimal scheduling of the reconfigurable gird with distributed energy resources. The second one is a two-step method for rapid reconfiguration of shipboard power system. Effective techniques, such as graph theory, optimal power flow and heuristic mutation, are employed to make the PSO algorithm more suitable to application environments and achieve better performance.

A troca de informações entre os vários sistemas de gerenciamento e outros sistemas de informação de uma empresa do setor elétrico não é apenas desejada, mas na maioria dos casos, necessária. Com a necessidade desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa com o objetivo de descrever as metodologias de integração entre Sistemas de Informações Geográficas e Sistemas de Projetos de Redes de Distribuição, incluindo referências a diversos trabalhos de integração no Brasil e no mundo. Como exemplo e caso prático, utilizou-se uma metodologia desenvolvida para a concessionária de distribuição de energia elétrica AES Eletropaulo. / The information interchanges between management systems and others information systems of an electrical distribution company is not only desirable, but in most cases necessary. Due this necessity it was developed one research aiming to describe the integration methodologies between geographic information systems and electrical grid expansion designer systems, including references for some integration works in Brazil and in World. As a practical example, it was used one methodology developed for the electrical distribution company AES Eletropaulo.

abstract: Nowadays, the widespread introduction of distributed generators (DGs) brings great challenges to the design, planning, and reliable operation of the power system. Therefore, assessing the capability of a distribution network to accommodate renewable power generations is urgent and necessary. In this respect, the concept of hosting capacity (HC) is generally accepted by engineers to evaluate the reliability and sustainability of the system with high penetration of DGs. For HC calculation, existing research provides simulation-based methods which are not able to find global optimal. Others use OPF (optimal power flow) based methods where too many constraints prevent them from obtaining the solution exactly. They also can not get global optimal solution. Due to this situation, I proposed a new methodology to overcome the shortcomings. First, I start with an optimization problem formulation and provide a flexible objective function to satisfy different requirements. Power flow equations are the basic rule and I transfer them from the commonly used polar coordinate to the rectangular coordinate. Due to the operation criteria, several constraints are incrementally added. I aim to preserve convexity as much as possible so that I can obtain optimal solution. Second, I provide the geometric view of the convex problem model. The process to find global optimal can be visualized clearly. Then, I implement segmental optimization tool to speed up the computation. A large network is able to be divided into segments and calculated in parallel computing where the results stay the same. Finally, the robustness of my methodology is demonstrated by doing extensive simulations regarding IEEE distribution networks (e.g. 8-bus, 16-bus, 32-bus, 64-bus, 128-bus). Thus, it shows that the proposed method is verified to calculate accurate hosting capacity and ensure to get global optimal solution. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Electrical Engineering 2018

A troca de informações entre os vários sistemas de gerenciamento e outros sistemas de informação de uma empresa do setor elétrico não é apenas desejada, mas na maioria dos casos, necessária. Com a necessidade desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa com o objetivo de descrever as metodologias de integração entre Sistemas de Informações Geográficas e Sistemas de Projetos de Redes de Distribuição, incluindo referências a diversos trabalhos de integração no Brasil e no mundo. Como exemplo e caso prático, utilizou-se uma metodologia desenvolvida para a concessionária de distribuição de energia elétrica AES Eletropaulo. / The information interchanges between management systems and others information systems of an electrical distribution company is not only desirable, but in most cases necessary. Due this necessity it was developed one research aiming to describe the integration methodologies between geographic information systems and electrical grid expansion designer systems, including references for some integration works in Brazil and in World. As a practical example, it was used one methodology developed for the electrical distribution company AES Eletropaulo.

Atualmente, os órgãos reguladores do sistema elétrico têm imposto valores rigorosos de indicadores de continuidade às empresas de distribuição de energia. Essa imposição visa, principalmente, em condições de contingência, reduzir a duração e a frequência das interrupções no fornecimento da energia elétrica aos consumidores. As empresas de distribuição são penalizadas quando esses indicadores ultrapassam limites previamente fixados pelos órgãos reguladores. Nesse contexto, seguindo uma tendência mundial para melhorar a continuidade, sistemas modernos automatizados estão se disseminando cada vez mais nas redes elétricas de distribuição. Em condições de contingência, dispositivos de seccionamento automatizados podem ser utilizados na transferência rápida e eficiente de grupos de consumidores de um ponto de suprimento para outro, com o intuito de minimizar a interrupção do fornecimento da energia elétrica. Assim, faz-se necessário alocar eficientemente esses equipamentos em locais que permitam a melhoria nos indicadores de continuidade, porém respeitando as restrições técnicas e orçamentárias. Este trabalho propõe, em quatro etapas, uma metodologia para a instalação de religadores automatizados em alimentadores de distribuição primária, visando minimizar os indicadores de duração e frequência de interrupções, além da energia não distribuída. Na primeira etapa, os indicadores de continuidade são equacionados a partir dos parâmetros: frequência acumulada de consumidores na rede, demanda média dos consumidores, quantidade de falhas e seus respectivos tempos de interrupção. Cada um desses parâmetros é formulado como uma função do comprimento do tronco de cada alimentador. Posteriormente, para cada alimentador, um grupo de alternativas é definido. Cada alternativa é criada a partir da quantidade de religadores automatizados, normalmente fechados, para serem instalados ao longo do alimentador e em suas respectivas posições. A posição de instalação de cada religador é determinada considerando a melhor redução dos indicadores de continuidade e da energia não distribuída. Na segunda etapa, combinações de alternativas (com religadores automatizados, normalmente fechados) para todos os alimentadores são avaliadas, em termos da melhoria dos indicadores de continuidade para toda a região em estudo. Visando o tratamento de todas as combinações de solução e a maximização do benefício/custo, um processo de otimização baseado em algoritmos genéticos é aplicado. Na terceira etapa, visando correlacionar um alimentador e seus vizinhos, religadores automatizados normalmente abertos são considerados e agregados à melhor alternativa obtida na etapa anterior. Desta forma, grupos de consumidores podem ser transferidos para outros alimentadores em casos de contingência. A melhor posição desses dispositivos considera a menor distância entre grupos de consumidores de alimentadores vizinhos. As restrições técnicas são avaliadas considerando níveis de tensão das barras e carregamento das linhas durante a simulação de contingências. Na quarta etapa, a segunda e a terceira etapa se repetem, até atingir o nível de saturação da melhoria produzida pelos novos religadores. Uma aplicação da metodologia proposta é apresentada considerando uma subestação e seus alimentadores. Resultados são mostrados, ilustrando a validade da metodologia proposta. Essa dissertação é uma pesquisa acadêmica concebida e baseada em projeto incluído no Programa de P&D da Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (CEMIG), apresentado à Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL). / Currently, government regulatory agencies have been imposing stringent values of continuity indicators to electric utilities. This imposition is principally, under contingency conditions, to reduce the duration and frequency of electricity supply interruptions to final customers. Electric utilities are penalized when these indicators exceed limits previously set up by regulators. In such a context, following global trend, modern automated systems are spreading increasingly in electrical distribution networks. Under contingency conditions, automatic switch can be used for fast and efficient transfer of consumer groups from a supply point to another in order to minimize the electricity supply interruption. Therefore, it is necessary to efficiently allocate these devices in order to improve continuity indicators, however, respecting the technical and financial constraints. This thesis proposes, in four steps, a methodology for automated reclosers installation on primary distribution feeders in order to minimize continuity indicators (duration and frequency of the interruptions) and energy not distributed. In the first step, the continuity indicators are equated using the parameters: cumulative frequency of consumers, mean power of consumers, number of faults and its durations. Each one of these parameters is formulated as a function of the main feeder length for each feeder. Subsequently, for each feeder, a group of alternatives is defined. Each alternative is created from number of automated reclosers operating normally closed to be installed along the feeder and at their respective positions. The position of each recloser is determined by considering the best reduction of continuity indicators and energy not distributed. In the second step (with automated reclosers operating normally opened) groups of alternatives for each feeders are evaluated considering the best reduction of total continuity indicators. In order to deal with all solution and maximizing the benefit/cost, an optimization process based on genetic algorithms is presented. In the third step, aiming to correlate a feeder and its neighbors, normally open automated reclosers are considered and added to the best alternative obtained from the previous step. Thus, consumer groups can be transferred to other feeders in case of contingencies. The best position for these devices is obtained by considering the shortest distance between consumer groups from neighboring feeders. The technical constraints are evaluated considering voltage levels at each bar and loading at each line during contingency simulations. In the fourth step, the second and third steps are remade until saturate the improvement of the new reclosers. An application of this proposed methodology is shown considering a substation and its feeders. Results are presented showing its validation. This thesis is an academic research based on a project included on CEMIG R&D Program, presented to ANEEL (Brazilian regulatory agency).

Atualmente, os órgãos reguladores do sistema elétrico têm imposto valores rigorosos de indicadores de continuidade às empresas de distribuição de energia. Essa imposição visa, principalmente, em condições de contingência, reduzir a duração e a frequência das interrupções no fornecimento da energia elétrica aos consumidores. As empresas de distribuição são penalizadas quando esses indicadores ultrapassam limites previamente fixados pelos órgãos reguladores. Nesse contexto, seguindo uma tendência mundial para melhorar a continuidade, sistemas modernos automatizados estão se disseminando cada vez mais nas redes elétricas de distribuição. Em condições de contingência, dispositivos de seccionamento automatizados podem ser utilizados na transferência rápida e eficiente de grupos de consumidores de um ponto de suprimento para outro, com o intuito de minimizar a interrupção do fornecimento da energia elétrica. Assim, faz-se necessário alocar eficientemente esses equipamentos em locais que permitam a melhoria nos indicadores de continuidade, porém respeitando as restrições técnicas e orçamentárias. Este trabalho propõe, em quatro etapas, uma metodologia para a instalação de religadores automatizados em alimentadores de distribuição primária, visando minimizar os indicadores de duração e frequência de interrupções, além da energia não distribuída. Na primeira etapa, os indicadores de continuidade são equacionados a partir dos parâmetros: frequência acumulada de consumidores na rede, demanda média dos consumidores, quantidade de falhas e seus respectivos tempos de interrupção. Cada um desses parâmetros é formulado como uma função do comprimento do tronco de cada alimentador. Posteriormente, para cada alimentador, um grupo de alternativas é definido. Cada alternativa é criada a partir da quantidade de religadores automatizados, normalmente fechados, para serem instalados ao longo do alimentador e em suas respectivas posições. A posição de instalação de cada religador é determinada considerando a melhor redução dos indicadores de continuidade e da energia não distribuída. Na segunda etapa, combinações de alternativas (com religadores automatizados, normalmente fechados) para todos os alimentadores são avaliadas, em termos da melhoria dos indicadores de continuidade para toda a região em estudo. Visando o tratamento de todas as combinações de solução e a maximização do benefício/custo, um processo de otimização baseado em algoritmos genéticos é aplicado. Na terceira etapa, visando correlacionar um alimentador e seus vizinhos, religadores automatizados normalmente abertos são considerados e agregados à melhor alternativa obtida na etapa anterior. Desta forma, grupos de consumidores podem ser transferidos para outros alimentadores em casos de contingência. A melhor posição desses dispositivos considera a menor distância entre grupos de consumidores de alimentadores vizinhos. As restrições técnicas são avaliadas considerando níveis de tensão das barras e carregamento das linhas durante a simulação de contingências. Na quarta etapa, a segunda e a terceira etapa se repetem, até atingir o nível de saturação da melhoria produzida pelos novos religadores. Uma aplicação da metodologia proposta é apresentada considerando uma subestação e seus alimentadores. Resultados são mostrados, ilustrando a validade da metodologia proposta. Essa dissertação é uma pesquisa acadêmica concebida e baseada em projeto incluído no Programa de P&D da Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (CEMIG), apresentado à Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL). / Currently, government regulatory agencies have been imposing stringent values of continuity indicators to electric utilities. This imposition is principally, under contingency conditions, to reduce the duration and frequency of electricity supply interruptions to final customers. Electric utilities are penalized when these indicators exceed limits previously set up by regulators. In such a context, following global trend, modern automated systems are spreading increasingly in electrical distribution networks. Under contingency conditions, automatic switch can be used for fast and efficient transfer of consumer groups from a supply point to another in order to minimize the electricity supply interruption. Therefore, it is necessary to efficiently allocate these devices in order to improve continuity indicators, however, respecting the technical and financial constraints. This thesis proposes, in four steps, a methodology for automated reclosers installation on primary distribution feeders in order to minimize continuity indicators (duration and frequency of the interruptions) and energy not distributed. In the first step, the continuity indicators are equated using the parameters: cumulative frequency of consumers, mean power of consumers, number of faults and its durations. Each one of these parameters is formulated as a function of the main feeder length for each feeder. Subsequently, for each feeder, a group of alternatives is defined. Each alternative is created from number of automated reclosers operating normally closed to be installed along the feeder and at their respective positions. The position of each recloser is determined by considering the best reduction of continuity indicators and energy not distributed. In the second step (with automated reclosers operating normally opened) groups of alternatives for each feeders are evaluated considering the best reduction of total continuity indicators. In order to deal with all solution and maximizing the benefit/cost, an optimization process based on genetic algorithms is presented. In the third step, aiming to correlate a feeder and its neighbors, normally open automated reclosers are considered and added to the best alternative obtained from the previous step. Thus, consumer groups can be transferred to other feeders in case of contingencies. The best position for these devices is obtained by considering the shortest distance between consumer groups from neighboring feeders. The technical constraints are evaluated considering voltage levels at each bar and loading at each line during contingency simulations. In the fourth step, the second and third steps are remade until saturate the improvement of the new reclosers. An application of this proposed methodology is shown considering a substation and its feeders. Results are presented showing its validation. This thesis is an academic research based on a project included on CEMIG R&D Program, presented to ANEEL (Brazilian regulatory agency).

En 2007 avec la directive sur les énergies renouvelables, l’Union Européen s’est engagée à développer une économie à faible intensité de carbone. Cette directive amène à réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre en augmentant entre autres la partie d’énergie produite par des sources renouvelables. Le processus d’insertion massive d’énergies renouvelables dans le mix électrique européen, est d’ores et déjà un fait acquis et ses effets sont tangibles. Cependant, à côté de ses effets environnementaux bénéfiques, l’intégration à large échelle du renouvelable ne va pas sans causer des interrogations techniques et réglementaires. Par conséquent, de nouvelles stratégies de gestion du système électrique doivent être pensées et actées pour garantir un fonctionnement fiable et économiquement acceptable. Les micro réseaux sont à cet effet, un réceptacle intégrateur avec suffisamment de flexibilité pour accueillir un système de gestion capable de répondre aux exigences ci-dessus. Les travaux de cette thèse sont centrés sur la conception, le développement et l’implémentation de différentes stratégies de gestion des micro réseaux. Les algorithmes développés visent, soit à faciliter l’intégration du renouvelable à large échelle, soit à garantir un fonctionnement efficace et économique du système électrique. Une nouvelle architecture de réseau de distribution composé de micro réseaux clustérisés a été premièrement proposée. Chaque micro réseau est composé de systèmes de production à base ou non de renouvelable, des systèmes de stockage et de charges. Une stratégie de gestion énergétique optimale a été ensuite définie et développée. Cette stratégie permet de gérer la planification à court-terme et le contrôle en temps-réel des micro réseaux via un usage adéquat des sources et ce, tout en réduisant le coût du micro réseau. Un système multi-agents et l’optimisation linéaire mixte en nombres entiers ont été utilisés pour le développement et l’implémentation de cette stratégie intelligente distribuée. D’un point de vue extérieur, chaque micro réseau est vu comme une entité cohérente capable de supporter le fonctionnement du réseau principal en utilisant un ensemble de ses sources flexibles. Ainsi, que la seconde partie de cette thèse exploitera les clusters des micro réseaux et leurs propriétés pour gérer au mieux le réseau de distribution hôte. La conceptualisation technico-économique de différents mécanismes de gestion des réseaux de distribution a été abordée. Le développement d’une architecture de gestion hiérarchisée en plusieurs niveaux d’intelligence a permis de réduire la complexité du système et faciliter l’implémentation d’un réseau flexible, extensible et à fort taux de pénétration de renouvelables. Cette gestion distribuée a été possible grâce à une connaissance locale des modèles et des comportements des différentes systèmes connectés, et à un usage local des informations. Les travaux théoriques ont été ensuite testés sur une plateforme expérimentale conséquente et les résultats finaux ont corroboré les attentes de la théorie. / In 2007 with the renewable energy directive, the European Union established the development of a low-carbon economy. This directive aims to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the energy produced by renewable energy. Already today, the massive diffusion of renewable systems is tangible in the European electricity mix. However, in spite of their potential benefits, their large-scale integration leads to new technical and regulatory questions. Consequently, new management strategies need to be developed and applied in order to ensure a reliable and economical operation of the system. Microgrids are considered to be one of the most effective and flexible solutions able to meet these new needs.The main goals of this thesis are the conceptualization, development and implementation of different management strategies for microgrids. The algorithms developed aim to facilitate the massive integration of renewables and at the same time lead to an effective and economic operation of the systems. A new architecture of distribution grids based on cluster of microgrids was proposed. Each microgrid is composed of a number of renewable-based and conventional generation systems, storage systems and consumption. An optimal and distributed energy management strategy was then defined and developed. This strategy allows to manage the short-term energy management and real-time control of microgrids by using the connected sources in a smart and cost-efficient way. A multi-agent system and the mixed integer linear optimization technique were used for the implementation of this strategy.From a global point of view, each microgrid is seen as a coherent entity, which can support network operation by using its flexible and aggregated sources. Hence, the second part of this thesis aims to understand how distribution grids can exploit these cluster of microgrids and their properties. Different mechanisms for the active management of distribution grids are conceptualized from the technical and economical point of view. A new strategy based on hierarchical management of different smart levels allow to reduce the complexity of the system and to implement a more flexible and extensible system, thanks to a more local use of model knowledge and users behaviour. On the end, the theoretical work were tested on an experimental test-bed in order to show the effectiveness of the proposed theories.

Confronté à un contexte de stagnation globale de la consommation d'électricité mais avec un potentiel important de développement de nouveaux usages, ainsi qu'à l'apparition d'unités de production dispersée sur le territoire, le principal gestionnaire de réseau de distribution français a besoin d'expliciter ce que sont ses grands choix de structure et de règles d'exploitation, et de les comparer avec les distributeurs étrangers. Les principes de construction du réseau ont un impact sur la capacité à intégrer les nouvelles installations de consommation ou de production à moindre cout, et à assurer les exigences sociétales,notamment pour ce qui concerne la continuité de fourniture. Cette thèse permet de comparer ces choix techniques majeurs avec les pratiques rencontrées à l'étranger, pour situer le réseau français et ses spécificités dans un environnement technique international.Après avoir arrêté une perspective de développement des usages et des productions en France sur la base notamment des textes législatifs, l'architecture du réseau de distribution français est décrite. Les différences fonctionnelles de choix de structure dans le monde sont alors analysés, en soulignant les conséquences dans le dimensionnement par rapport au cas français. Puis l'équilibre entre niveaux de tension est questionné, ainsi que les effet des caractéristiques du territoire sur le réseau. Enfin, des choix techniques nouveaux sont proposés après analyse des points forts et des points faibles des variantes existant dans le monde. / Faced to a context of a global lack of growth in electricity consumption, but with many potential development of new uses, added with the appearance of more and more dispersed generation, the main French distribution grid utility needs to question and compare its choicesconcerning grid structure and exploitation practices. Grid building principles have a greatimpact over its capacity to integrate at low cost consumption and production facilities, whilemeeting society needs, mainly continuity of supply. This work allows to compare thosetechnical choices between France and other countries, to determine where French utilitystands and what are its specific features in a worldwide technical environment.After setting a perspective about uses and production development, mainly on the basis of French legislation, the overall distribution grid architecture is described. Functional differences in structure choices in the world are then analysed, their consequences in thesizing of equipments is underlined. Then the equilibrium between voltage levels is questioned,as the effect of territorial features on the grid. Finally, new technical choices are proposed after advantages and drawbacks analysis of existing world grids.