ITC/USA 2006 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Second Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 23-26, 2006 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California / As telemetry systems migrate toward network-centric distribution architectures, more efficient mechanisms are needed to distribute the telemetry data from the source to various users of the data. The most widely used network protocol for reliable delivery of telemetry data over IP networks is TCP/IP. With TCP/IP, the bandwidth required to distribute telemetry data increases linearly according to the number of point-to-point connections. An alternate approach to reliably deliver telemetry data to multiple end users in a network efficient manner is the Pragmatic General Multicast (PGM) protocol.

This thesis describes a new computer-based method for the generation of finite element meshes. It relies upon the Schwarz-Christoffel transformation, a conformal mapping from conplex variable theory. This mapping is defined and some examples of its use in classical fluid dynamics are given. A practical method for evaluating the parameters defining this transformation is described and emphasis is placed on the efficiency of the solution process in order that coirputer run times may be kept as short as possible. A theorem in Euclidean geometry is stated and proved which links the theory of the Schwarz-Christoffel mapping and the geometrical use to which it is put here. Two such Schwarz-Christoffel transformations are used to construct a mapping between any two polygons. The desirable properties of a finite element mesh are stated and a method is described which atteirpts to generate such a mesh in any sinply-connected two-dimensional region. Numbering of the nodes is an inherent part of the generation scheme, thus ensuring that the optimum bandwidth of the resulting system of linear equations in the analysis phase is obtained. In order to be able to present example meshes, a particular element type, the three-noded triangle, is used and a section describing the enumeration of hexagons, all of whose internal angles are 2n/3, is included. The thesis includes a brief survey of existing methods of two-dimensional mesh generation as well as several example meshes.

The current international trend in distribution networks is towards increased monitoring. This trend is being driven by distribution network operators (DNOs) who hope that through increased monitoring, they will be able to optimise capital and operational expenditure and thus operate a more efficient networks. One of the key areas of focus relating to the increased interest in distribution network monitoring is power quality. Power quality disturbances affect consumers by interrupting equipment or halting industrial processes and can result in very significant financial losses. DNOs are also financially impacted by power quality issues if they breach regulatory limits or contractual arrangements. To extract value from power quality monitoring, DNOs must process and then interpret data from a variety monitoring devices placed at different locations all potentially measuring different quantities. The challenge of how best to extract useful and practical power quality information from disparate monitoring devices is the subject of this thesis. This thesis describes and develops monitoring techniques for two power quality phenomena: voltage sags and unbalance. The research presents new techniques which can graphically identify the weakest areas and the worst served customers for voltage sags and unbalance. All the developed techniques utilise non-deterministic methods (such as statistics and artificial intelligence) to deal robustly with network and measurement uncertainties. This thesis can be dissected into four areas: voltage sag monitoring, optimal power quality monitor placement, voltage unbalance monitoring and identification of the weakest areas and worst served customers for both issues. The first section of this thesis is dedicated to voltage sags. This section introduces a multi-step process to identify and estimate the impacts of voltage sags within networks. The first stage in this process is classification and detection where several different classification methods (including immune inspired techniques) are compared to determine which algorithms work best under the context of limited monitoring. The research then proposes a novel robust method for performing fault location and voltage sag profile estimation using multiple monitors. The method pays particular attention to the errors in measurement inputs and identifies the most likely location for both the fault location and the voltage magnitude using statistical methods. The voltage sag monitoring research concludes by defining the probable impacts of voltage sags on customers, and by introducing a new measure known as the sag trip probability. The second major section covered by this thesis is optimal monitor placement. This thesis presents a comprehensive methodology which enables network operators to place monitors in locations best suited for voltage sag monitoring based on future likely topological and loading changes. The third major section covered by this thesis is unbalance monitoring. A three phase distribution system state estimation model is developed which can estimate the location and impact of unbalance within the network, without assuming the loading is balanced. The final section of this thesis shows how the worst served customers and the weakest areas of the network can be identified presents for both voltage sag and unbalance using limited monitoring and the developed techniques. The results are presented graphically using a series of topological heat maps, and these show visually how the techniques could work to monitor a distribution network.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Computer Science and Information Systems / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Statistics and Actuarial Science / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Major segments of the Marlborough Lines Ltd (MLL) 11kV electricity distribution network are positioned within remote areas of the Marlborough region including the Marlborough Sounds, the Awatere and Wairau Valleys and the North Eastern cost of the South Island. The majority of these remote rural lines are due for replacement within the coming 20 years in order to maintain safety and reliability. The increased maintenance costs of operating rural electricity lines and the number of customers they serve often results in the line being uneconomic to operate. This investigation determines the current economical efficiency of the Sounds Feeder, a segment of line in the Marlborough Sounds. The financial, social and regulatory implications of the continued operation of this section of the network after performing distribution renewals are assessed in order to define the likely impacts of wide spread asset renewal to MLL and its customers across the coming 20 years.

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