This research is aimed at analyzing the performance of the restricted earth fault relay used on a 400kV capacitor bank scheme used on the Eskom Transmission network. After the commissioning of two Capacitor Banks using the above mentioned scheme design the plant was energized. As a result of the energization the Shunt Capacitor Bank (SCB) then experienced spurious trips. The cause of the trips was found to be the operation of the restricted earth fault relay. In this research project, restricted earth fault protection on SCBs in the Eskom Transmission environment will be the area of interest. The proposed research will analyze the current SCB protection scheme in service specifically looking at the restricted earth fault circuit design and relay performance. An equivalent model of the SCB from primary plant perspective based on theory will be derived. Recording and analyzing of Comtrade transient waveforms respectively, when the bank is nergized, will be done in order to provide a reference base to work from. Manual alculations of various parameters from the derived model including transient inrush currents and fault currents will be performed to access applicable scheme parameters. Further calculations will include the voltage setting for the restricted earth fault relay. As a result of the analysis a recommendation will be made on a viable solution or a revised design will be put forward, based on the results, to improve the scheme’s performance. The protection scheme is used on the two 400kV 100MVAR capacitor banks 11 and 12 at Hydra Substation.

Transient stability analysis is an important part of power planning and operation. For large power systems, such analysis is very time consuming and expensive. Therefore, an online transient stability assessment will be required as these large power systems are operated close to their maximum limits. In this thesis swallowtail catastrophe is used to determine the transient stability regions. The bifurcation set represents the transient stability region in terms of power system transient parameters bounded by the transient stability limits. The system modelling is generalized in such, that the analysis could handle either one or any number of critical machines. This generalized model is then tested on a three-machine as well as a seven-machine system. The results of the stability analysis done with the generalized method is compared with the time solution and the results were satisfactory. The transient stability regions determined are valid for any changes in loading conditions and fault location. This method is a good candidate for on-line assessment of transient stability of power systems. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of / Graduate

This work demonstrates the use of digital simulation for analyzing protection system performance. For studies of complex, multi-relay protection systems, digital simulation provides utility engineers with an attractive alternative to relay testing techniques. The cost of digital simulation facilities can be lower than the cost of comparable testing facilities; relay hardware does not have to be made available for the test laboratory. Digital simulation would ordinarily be impractical for security and dependability studies, due to the thousands of individual simulations involved. The number of simulations needed can be greatly reduced by using a technique called "numerical logic replacement" for implementing the protection scheme logic. This unconventional technique makes near-misoperation visible from individual simulations. The likelihood of overlooking potential misoperation is thus much lower than with the usual direct (Boolean) implementations. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of / Graduate

Microgrids—miniature versions of the electrical grid are becoming increasingly more popular as advancements in technologies, renewable energy mandates, and decreased costs drive communities to adopt them. The modern microgrid has capabilities of generating, distributing, and regulating the flow of electricity, capable of operating in both grid-connected and islanded (disconnected) conditions. This paper utilizes ETAP software in the analysis, simulation, and development of the Cal Poly microgrid. Additionally, an ETAP power system protection tutorial is created to aid students entering the power industry. Microprocessor-based relays are heavily utilized in both the ETAP model and hardware implementation of the system. Case studies in this project investigate electric power system load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, and transient stability analysis of the Cal Poly microgrid.

Due to increasing changes in the power industry, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's electrical engineering department introduced a set of initiatives to adequately equip students with the skills and knowledge to interact with new technologies. Specifically, the department proposed a microgrid and power systems protection and automation laboratory to strengthen students' knowledge of microprocessor-based relays. This paper outlines a microgrid laboratory system that fulfills the initiative's goal and proposes a collection of laboratory experiments for inclusion in a new laboratory course at Cal Poly. The experiments provide students with practical experience using Schweitzer Engineering Laboratory (SEL) relays and teach fundamental concepts in semi-automated generator synchronization and power system data acquisition. The microgrid laboratory system utilizes SEL relays and a centralized SEL controller to automate frequency regulation through load shedding, power factor correction, generator and utility synchronization, and relay protection group switching.

Orientador: Rubén Augusto Romero Lázaro / Coorientador: Marcos Julio Rider Flores / Banca: Jose Roberto Sanches Mantovani / Banca: Secundino Soares Filho / Resumo: Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um modelo baseado em programação linear inteira mista para determinar o custo mínimo da operação de um sistema hidrotérmico de longo prazo em um mercado elétrico competitivo. O modelo é capaz de encontrar os valores ótimos de operação para um período futuro nas usinas térmicas e hidroelétricas, considerando os limites normais e de emergência e as perdas de potência ativa nas linhas de transmissão, para diferentes níveis de carregamento, com múltiplos reservatórios de acumulação e de regulação. Adicionalmente, a previsão da hidrologia foi modelada mediante modelo SARIMA para o período de análise, considerando o histórico dos dados hidrológicos. O modelo foi implementado na linguagem de modelagem matemática GMPL. O problema de programação linear inteira mista foi resolvido usando o solver GLPSOL. As predições das hidrologias foram feitas na linguagem estatística R. Foi desenvolvida uma interface gráfica para gerenciar o modelo em GMPL, a previsão hidrológica em R e o solver GLPSOL na linguagem Qt. Desta forma é possível adicionar novos modelos, alterar dados do modelo e visualizar os resultados. Todas as linguagens e softwares usados são livres de distribuição e modificação. Para o modelo desenvolvido foram analisados os seguintes casos: sistema de 6 barras; sistema uninodal brasileiro e sistema interligado peruano. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com os resultados encontrados na literatura com o objetivo de validar a proposta deste trabalho / Abstract: In this work developed a model based on mixed integer linear programming to determine the minimum cost of operation of a hydrothermal system in a long-term competitive electricity market. The model is able to find the optimal values of operation for a future period in thermal and hydroelectric power plants, considering the normal and emergency limits and the active power losses in transmission lines, for different loading levels, with multiple storage reservoirs and dams. In addition, predicting the hydrology was modeled by the SARIMA model for the period of analysis, considering the hydrological historical data. The model was implemented in the language of mathematical modeling GMPL. The mixed linear integer programming problem was solved using solver GLPSOL. The predictions in the hydrology using the statistical language R. It was developed a graphical interface to manage the GMPL model, the hydrologic forecasting, and solver GLPSOL in Qt graphical language. By this way, is possible to add new models, change the data of the model and view the results. All languages and software used are free to distribute and modify. For the model developed the following cases were analyzed: 6 bar system; Brazilian uninodal system and Peruvian interconnected system. The results were compared with results in the literature in order to validate the proposal of this work / Mestre

Orientador: Rubén Augusto Romero Lázaro / Coorientador: Marina Lavorato de Oliveira / Banca: José Roberto Sanches Mantovani / Banca: Arturo Suman Bretas / Resumo: Neste trabalho apresenta-se uma metodologia para resolver o problema de reconfiguração de sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica, que é modelado como um problema de Programação Não Linear Inteiro Misto (PNLIM). Para resolver este problema utilizou-se a metaheurística GRASP especializada. O objetivo do problema de reconfiguração de sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica é encontrar a melhor topologia radial para um sistema de distribuição de energia elétrica de forma que as perdas ativas do sistema sejam as menores possíveis. Na metodologia proposta, todas as chaves de interconexão do sistema de distribuição estão abertas no inicio do processo e a cada passo um circuito é conectado no sistema e uma solução factível é construída. O algoritmo GRASP foi escrito na linguagem de modelagem matemática AMPL onde a cada iteração é resolvido um problema de programação não linear utilizando o solver comercial KNITRO. Para evidenciar a eficácia da metodologia proposta foram realizados testes com sistemas de 14, 33, 70, 84, 119, 136 e 417 barras, estes resultados são comparados com os resultados encontrados na literatura especializada / Abstract: This work presents a methodology to solve the electric power distribution systems reconfiguration problem, which is modeled as a Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming problem (MINLP). Specialized metaheuristic GRASP was used to solve the problem. The aim of the reconfiguration problem is to find the best topology for a radial electric power distribution system so that the active power losses are as small as possible. In the proposed methodology, at the beginning of the solution process all switches that interconnect the distribution system are open and in each next step a circuit is connected to the distribution system and therefore a feasible solution is constructed. The GRASP algorithm was written in AMPL mathematical modeling language where in each iteration was solved a nonlinear programming problem using the commercial solver KNITRO. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, tests were performed with distribution systems of 14, 33, 70, 84, 119, 136, and 417 buses, these results are compared with results found in literature / Mestre

Orientador: Rubén Augusto Romero Lázaro / Banca: José Roberto Sanches Mantovani / Banca: Sergio Azevedo de Oliveira / Banca: Eduardo Nobuhiro Asada / Banca: Carlos Roberto Mendonça da Rocha / Resumo: Neste trabalho, são propostas duas metodologias para resolver o problema de planejamento da expansão de sistemas de transmissão (PPEST). A primeira delas é uma apresentação de um algoritmo baseado em meta-heurística, Particle Swarm optimization (PSO), como ferramenta para resolver o PPEST estático. Nesta proposta são usados os modelos matemáticos de transporte e CC. Ambos os modelos foram implementados na linguagem de programação FORTRAN e o solver comercial MINOS foi usado para resolver os problemas de programação linear relacionados. A segunda proposta apresenta o PPEST considerando múltiplos cenários de geração usando o modelo linear disjuntivo. Este modelo foi implementado via AMPL e resolvido usando o solver comercial CPLEX. A fim de validar e qualificar a primeira metodologia proposta, cinco sistemas foram estudados, são eles: Garver, IEEE 24-barras, Sul Brasileiro, Colombiano e Norte-Nordeste Brasileiro. E para a segunda metodologia proposta, três sistemas foram estudados, são eles: Garver, IEEE 24-barras, Sul Brasileiro. Os resultados mostraram a eficiência e utilidade das duas metodologias propostas / Abstract: In this work, two methodologies to solve the transmission network expansion planning (TNEP) problem have been proposed. The first one is a presentation of a meta-heuristic based algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), as a tool to solve static TNEP problems. In this proposition, the mathematical models of transportation model and the DC model have been used. Both the models have been implemented via the programming language of FORTRAN and the commercial solver of MINOS has been used to solve the related LP problems. The second proposal, presents the TNEP problem considering multiple generation scenarios using the disjunctive linear model. This model has been implemented via AMPL and solved by the commercial solver of CPLEX. In order to validate and qualify the first proposed methodology, five case studies have been carried out, these cases are: Garver, IEEE 24-bus, Southern Brazil, Colombian, and Brazilian North-Northeast systems. And for the second proposed methodology, 3 case studies have been used such as: Garver, IEEE 24-bus and Southern Brazil test systems. The results show the effectiveness and the usefulness of the proposed methodologies / Doutor

Orientador: Rubén Augusto Romero Lázaro / Co-orientador: Marina lavorato de oliveira / Banca: José Roberto Sanches Mantovani / Banca: Carlos Roberto Mendonça da Rocha / Resumo: Neste trabalho, o algoritmo genético de Chu-Beasley especializado foi utilizado para resolver o problema de reconfiguração de sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica, que é modelado como um problema de programação não linear inteiro misto. Um objetivo do trabalho é definir um espaço de busca reduzido, para reduzir o tempo computacional do algoritmo genético de Chu-Beasley especializado para resolver um problema de reconfiguração de sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica. Para avaliar a factibilidade em relação às restrições de operação dos sistemas de energia elétrica foi implementado um algoritmo de fluxo de carga radial, para calcular o estado deste sistema e, a partir deste, as perdas de potência ativa e as correntes nos ramos. São apresentados testes realizados utilizando os sistemas de 14, 33, 84, 119 e 417 barras para avaliar a eficiência e robustez da metodologia proposta. Os resultados obtidos foram apresentados e comparados com os resultados encontrados na literatura / Abstract: In this paper, Chu-Beasley's specialized genetic algorithm will be used to solve the reconfiguration of distribuition system problem, which was modeled such as mixed integer nonlinear programming problem. In this work was defined a reduced search space to reduce the computational time of genetic algorithm of Chu-Beasley' specialized to solve the reconfiguration of distribution systems problem. To evaluate the feasibility regarding constraints of the electrical power systems' operation, an algorithm for radial load flow was implemented to calculate these nodal tensions of these systems and, losses and currents of the system. Tests are presented using the systems of 14, 33, 84, 119 and 417 buses to avaluate the efficiency and robustness of the proposed method. The results were presented and compared to those found in the literature / Mestre

Orientador: Rubén Augusto Romero Lázaro / Co-orientador: Marina Lavorato Oliveira / Banca: José Roberto Sanches Mantovani / Banca: Sergio Azevedo de Oliveira / Banca: Carlos Roberto Mendonça da Rocha / Banca: Luiz Gustavo Wesz da Silva / Resumo: A presente pesquisa apresenta uma análise teórica de alguns tópicos relevantes de programação linear relacionados ao método simplex. A motivação de analisar esses tópicos é torná-los mais didáticos e incentivar a aplicação dos mesmos na otimização de sistemas de energia elétrica e, em geral, na aplicação na otimização de problemas de engenharia. O método simplex em programação linear (PL) que foi por muito tempo a principal técnica de otimização de problemas de otimização lineares e não lineares (usado após a linearização) ainda é o mais utilizado na otimização de muitos problemas reais na engenharia e particularmente na engenharia elétrica. O método simplex resolve um problema de programação linear usando uma estratégia conceitualmente refinada. Para conhecer todas as versões do método simplex que podem ser usadas para resolver um problema de programação linear e também para dominar a parte conceitual do mesmo é necessário entender o ótimo de um problema de programação linear, quando um problema de programação linear é ilimitado, a lógica de otimização do método primal simplex, as condições nas quais um método simplex precisa de variáveis artificiais, o método primal simplex revisado, a teoria da dualidade em programação linear, a lógica de otimização do método dual simplex, a teoria da análise de sensibilidade e p ́os-otimizac ̧ão em programação linear, a lógica de otimização do método primal simplex canalizado bem como do método dual simplex canalizado. O produto desta pesquisa consiste em gerar um material didático que ajude de forma mais eficiente aos iniciantes em tópicos de pesquisa operacional. Desta forma, apresenta-se uma análise teórica e a reformulação de alguns tópicos relevantes relacionados com o método simplex na resolução de problemas de PL / Abstract: This research presents a theoretical analysis of some relevant topics related to linear programming via simplex method. The motivation of analyzing these topics makes them more didactic and easy to understand. As these kinds of methodologies are fast and unequivocal, they are applicable in various real-world engineering problems particularly in the field of power system optimization. In linear programming (LP), the simplex method has been the main technique to optimize the linear problem as well as the linearized problem (a problem with the nonlinear nature). The simplex method solves a linear programming problem using a conceptually refined strategy. In order to understand all of the available versions of the simplex method that can be used to find the solution of a linear programming problem and in order to have a detail study on them, it is necessary to understand: the optimality of such problems, where a linear programming problem is limited, the logic of optimization of the primal simplex method, in which condition a simplex method needs artificial variables, the revised primal simplex method, the duality theory in linear programming, the logic of optimization of the dual simplex methodology, the theory of sensitivity analysis and post-optimization in linear programming, and the logic of the primal or dual simplex for the boundary variables. The output of this research is to prepare a didactic reference and a user manual to help the beginner researchers in operations research. Therefore, a theoretical analysis and reformulation of some relevant topics related to the simplex method for solving LP problems is presented / Doutor