Optimal Phase Load Balancing in Low Voltage Distribution Networks Using a Smart Meter Data-Based Algorithm

Abstract

In the electric distribution systems, the “Smart Grid” concept is implemented to encourage energy savings and integration of the innovative technologies, helping the distribution network operators (DNOs) in choosing the investment plans which lead to the optimal operation of the networks and increasing the energy efficiency. In this context, a new phase load balancing algorithm was proposed to be implemented in the low voltage distribution networks with hybrid structures of the consumption points (switchable and non-switchable consumers). It can work in both operation modes (real-time and off-line), uploading information from different databases of the DNO which contain: The consumers’ characteristics, the real loads of the consumers integrated into the smart metering system (SMS), and the typical load profiles for the consumers non-integrated in the SMS. The algorithm was tested in a real network, having a hybrid structure of the consumption points, on a by 24-h interval. The obtained results were analyzed and compared with other algorithms from the heuristic (minimum count of loads adjustment algorithm) and the metaheuristic (particle swarm optimization and genetic algorithms) categories. The best performances were provided by the proposed algorithm, such that the unbalance coefficient had the smallest value (1.0017). The phase load balancing led to the following technical effects: decrease of the average current in the neutral conductor and the energy losses with 94%, respectively 61.75%, and increase of the minimum value of the phase voltage at the farthest pillar with 7.14%, compared to the unbalanced case.

A Novel Algorithm with Multiple Consumer Demand Response Priorities in Residential Unbalanced LV Electricity Distribution Networks

“…Regarding the robustness characteristics of the proposed method, the computation times obtained above, the literature comparison from Table 1, and the network data from Table 4 show that the proposed methods are suitable for large size networks, with a high number of consumers. Using as reference the data from [39], the network chosen for the case study is representative for the type of residential consumption currently existing in Europe, and comparing it with the information from Table 1, it is the amongst the largest used, at a length of 1.5 km and a number of DR consumers of 84 out of 176 possible.…”

Bi-Level Phase Load Balancing Methodology with Clustering-Based Consumers’ Selection Criterion for Switching Device Placement in Low Voltage Distribution Networks

“…The results have been compared with those obtained in the case of the algorithms having a full implementation degree (FID): heuristic [47], particle swarm optimization (PSO) [48] and genetic algorithm (GA) [49]. The codes of the algorithms have been written in programming language Matlab2016, and it has run on a computer with the same characteristics as in [47]: processor Intel Core i7, 3.10 GHz, memory 4 GB RAM, and Windows 10 64-bit operating system.…”

Bi-Level Phase Load Balancing Methodology with Clustering-Based Consumers’ Selection Criterion for Switching Device Placement in Microgrids

“…The PLB process is described by an algorithm having as aim the minimization of the unbalance factor, UF, on the LV side of the SP by switching the consumers assigned to the "candidate" groups from a phase to another. It represents an improved variant of the algorithm proposed in [40] where all consumers integrated into the SMS take part in the PLB process, having as the objective the minimization of the unbalance factor at each pillar. Even if the optimal solution corresponded to a value of the unbalance factor very close to 1.0 (ideal target), the number of switching operations is very high.…”

“…where: (40) where: UFSP (h) -the unbalance coefficient on the LV side of the SP and hour h; {PGC} -the set of the pillars with least one consumer from the "candidate" groups GC is connected; {PT} -the set of all pillars from the analyzed μG; UFpGC (h) -the unbalance coefficient calculated for the hour h at the pillar pGC where at least one consumer from the "candidate" groups GC is connected; UFlim -the limit value accepted by the DM for the unbalance coefficient at the pillar level; Ia,SP (h) , Ib,SP (h) , Ic,SP (h) -the currents on the phases a, b, and c on the LV side of the SP and hour h; Iav,SP (h) -the average value of the phase currents on the LV side of the SP and hour h; Ia,ns,SP (h) , Ib,ns,SP (h) , Ic,ns,SP (h) , Ib,pGC ( (h) , Ic,pGC (h) -the currents on the phases a, b, and c, at the pillar pGC  {PGC} and hour h; Iav,pCG (h) -the average value of the phase currents at the pillar pCG  {PGC} and hour h; Ia,d (h) , Ib,d (h) , Ic,d (h) -the currents on the phases a, b, and c, at the pillar d  {PT} (located downstream by pillar pCG), and hour h; Ia,ns,pGC (h) , Ib,ns,pGC ( (h) , Ic,ns,pGC (h) -the currents of the nonswitchable consumers on the phases a, b, and c, at the pillar pGC  {PGC} and hour h; Ia,s,pGC (h) , Ib,s,pGC ( (h) , Ic,s,pGC (h) -the currents of the switchable consumers on the phases a, b, and c, at the pillar pGC  {PGC} and hour h; Ia,ns,ni (h) -the current of the non-switchable consumer ni connected on the phase a, at the pillar pCG  {PGC}, and hour h; Ib,ns,nj (h) -the current of the non-switchable consumer nj connected on the phase b, at the pillar pCG  {PGC}, and hour h; Ic,ns,nl (h) -the current of the non-switchable consumer nl connected on the phase c, at the pillar pCG  {PGC}, and hour h; Ia,s,mi (h) -the current of the switchable consumer mi belonging the candidate groups GC connected on the phase a, at the pillar pCG  {PGC}, and hour h; Ib,s,mj (h) -the current of the switchable consumer mj belonging the candidate groups GC connected on the phase b, at the pillar pCG  {PGC}, and hour h; Ic,s,ml (h) -the current of the switchable consumer ml belonging the candidate groups GC connected on the phase c, at the pillar pCG  {PGC}, and hour h; Na,ns,pGC (h) , Nb,ns,pGC (h) , Nc,ns,pGC (h) -the number of the non-switchable consumers connected on the phases a, b, and c, at the pillar pGC  {PGC}, and hour h; Na,s,pGC (h) , Nb,s,pGC (h) , Nc,s,pGC (h) -the number of the switchable consumers belonging the candidate groups GC connected on the phases a, b, and c, at the pillar pGC  {PGC}, and hour h; NC,ns,pCG (h) -the total number of the non-switchable consumers connected at the pillar pGC  {PGC}, and hour h; NC,s,pCG (h) -the total number of the switchable consumers belonging the candidate groups GC connected at the pillar pCG  {PGC}, and hour h; NC,pCG (h) -the total number of the consumers connected at the pillar pCG  {PGC}, and hour h; Na,ns -the total number of the non-switchable consumers from the μG connected on the phase a; Nb,ns -the total number of the non-switchabl...…”