Effects of load control for real-time energy balancing on distribution network constraints

Ross, Stephanie C.; Vuylsteke, Gabrielle; Mathieu, Johanna L.

doi:10.1109/ptc.2017.7981279

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The contributions of this paper are four-fold: 1) we comprehensively study the effects of load-based regulation on distribution network operation; 2) we examine the effects of having two uncoordinated DER populations (i.e., TCLs and EVs) active on the same network; 3) we explain why some transformers are more likely than others to age faster due to load-based regulation, given our chosen control strategy; and 4) we identify a reduced-set of at-risk network constraints and present preliminary ideas on constraint-protecting control techniques. Contributions 1) and 4) are substantial extensions of our preliminary analysis in [13]; contributions 2) and 3) are new.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Effects of Load-Based Frequency Regulation on Distribution Network Operation

Ross

Vuylsteke

Mathieu

2019

IEEE Trans. Power Syst.

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This paper examines the operation of distribution networks that have large aggregations of thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) providing secondary frequency regulation to the bulk power system. Specifically, we assess the prevalence of distribution network constraint violations, such as over-or under-voltages and overloading of transformers. Our goal is to determine the set of constraints that are at increased risk of being violated when TCLs provide regulation. We compare network operation in two cases: first with TCLs operating freely, and second with TCLs controlled to track a regulation signal. Using GridLAB-D, we run power flow simulations of five real distribution networks. Our results indicate that voltage limits are at increased risk of violation when TCLs provide regulation because of increased voltage variation. Effects on transformer aging are more nuanced and depend on the method used for dispatching TCLs. We find that in many distribution networks it may only be necessary to consider voltage constraints when designing a TCL control strategy that protects the distribution network.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Effects of Load-Based Frequency Regulation on Distribution Network Operation

Ross

Vuylsteke

Mathieu

2019

IEEE Trans. Power Syst.

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“…Rapidly growing penetrations of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar PV generators, plug-in electric vehicles, demand response, and energy storage are affecting the design and operation of electric distribution systems [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Many research efforts have focused on the development of controllers that coordinate DERs in order to achieve system-wide objectives, such as frequency control [2,3], voltage control [10][11][12], system stability [3,13], and mitigating phase unbalance [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Distribution system operators hence need tools to understand under which circumstances grid-agnostic control can be applied without consequences for grid security and, conversely, when it is necessary to invest in the sensing, communication, and control infrastructure required to observe and mitigate constraint violations using grid-aware control. Existing approaches for analyzing this question, such as [1,7,9], perform multiple simulations in order to study the risk of constraint violations associated with fluctuations from various grid-agnostic controllers and variable loads. These approaches provide valuable information regarding the impacts of DERs on distribution systems, but are limited to only considering a subset of possible operational scenarios.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grid-Aware versus Grid-Agnostic Distribution System Control: A Method for Certifying Engineering Constraint Satisfaction

Molzahn¹,

Roald²

2019

Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences

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Growing penetrations of distributed energy resources (DERs) in distribution systems have motivated the design of controllers that leverage DER capabilities to achieve system-wide objectives. These controllers may be either grid-agnostic or grid-aware, depending on whether distribution network constraints are considered. Grid-agnostic controllers have the benefit of not requiring network models or system measurements, but may cause dangerous constraint violations. Rather than develop a specific controller, this paper considers the potential impacts of DER controllers with respect to network constraint violations. Specifically, this paper develops an optimization-based method to rigorously certify when any grid-agnostic controller can be applied without concern regarding network constraint violations, or, conversely, when grid-aware control may be needed to maintain distribution grid security. The proposed method uses convex optimization techniques to bound the impacts of load variability, given a subset of buses with voltage measurements and control. The method either provides a certificate for secure operation or identifies potentially critical constraints and the need for additional controllability. Numerical tests illustrate the ability to certify secure operation for different ranges of variability.

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Effects of load control for real-time energy balancing on distribution network constraints

Cited by 2 publications

References 13 publications

Effects of Load-Based Frequency Regulation on Distribution Network Operation

Effects of Load-Based Frequency Regulation on Distribution Network Operation

Grid-Aware versus Grid-Agnostic Distribution System Control: A Method for Certifying Engineering Constraint Satisfaction

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