Planning Of Active Distribution Networks Comprising Soft Open Points And Automation System

Distribution Networks(DNs)are becoming increasingly important for electric utilities.So,society's increased demand on better power quality profile and reliable electricity gets more focus.In this thesis,a set of studies in both planning and operation aspects is investigated.Active distribution networks are concerned for providing efficient control technologies for large-scale integration of Distributed Generation(DG)units into the distribution systems.This part of thesis proposes a methodology for distribution networks reconfiguration by controlling number,sharing,size,and location of DG units.Also,the Soft-Open Points(SOPs)are added instead of the tie line switches.The SOPs are benefited with their high capability in controlling active/reactive power flow to enhance transmission system performance.The main target of this work is to increase the efficiency of energy utilization through minimizing the power system losses and improving system voltage profile while preserving all system constraints within permissible limits with reliable and flexible networks in normal and abnormal conditions with a suitable penetration level of DG.A modified particle swarm optimizer is developed to find the best system configuration,size,and placement of DG units as well as the size and allocation of SOPs.Research methodology is tested on two standard test systems,i.e.,IEEE 33-node and 69-node distribution networks under different operating cases.This research work compares the obtained results with those in the literature to prove the capabilities of the proposed algorithm.Finally,the suggested work pursues the optimal number of DG units with their appropriate penetration levels and selects the most convenient location of SOPs for adequate network reconfiguration.Another section of thesis concerns with the development of an overall framework for optimal planning operation of Hybrid Renewable Energy Resources(HRERs)that involve the combination of PV/WT/Diesel units.In the proposed framework,a co-simulator tool is proposed to find the optimal scheduling of HRERs parameters.It composes HOMER PRO~?and NEPALN~?packages that are managed by C++based online optimizer.Different scenarios of hybridization of energy resources are considered achieving technical,economic and environmental perspectives using the HOMER PRO package.The best allocation and sizing of SOPs and the sharing of HRERs are obtained via multi-objective Artificial Electric Field Algorithm(AEFA).The simulation results propose a new hybrid grid-connected system to supply a realistic case study in Sohag-Egypt.The proposed HRERs system demonstrated a feasible economic solution at acceptable levels of gases emission and fuel consumption.Besides,the optimal operation of the HRERs system with SOPs potentially achieves significant technical perspectives that enhance the system losses,improve the voltage profile and increase the loading capacities of transmission lines.The technical perspective is handled using NEPLAN software.Furthermore,the simulation studies prove high flexible planning and operation of distribution system for achieving significant improvements for technical,economic and environmental perspectives.Around the world,automation is transforming work,business,and economy as one of the pillars of a smart grid.The vital role behind utilizing the automation system in distribution networks is to achieve grid self-healing and improve the reliability level.Distributed Automation(DA)can be achieved via smart secondary substations at each load point with installed automatic sectionalize switches that need a large investment.Therefore,this part of thesis provides a long-term plan based on a cost/benefit study to define the optimal automation level in distribution networks constrained with system reliability indices limits.DA planning is categorized as a non-linear mixed integer optimization problem with multi-dimensions.Hence,it is not possible to apply numerical algorithms to directly search for all possible automation scenarios.To solve that problem;Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization and Gravitational Search Algorithm(HPSO-GSA)technique provides a binary-coded procedure to handle all the controlled variables to provide the best solution within the permissible limits.The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is demonstrated by applying it to RBTS-Bus4 standard reliability test system considering uncertainty in Cost Damage Function(CDF),Investment Cost(IC),and Failure Rate(FR).Also,this research work studies the effect of changing Depreciation ratio(DR),Load Growth(LG)rate and peak Load Change(LC).Finally,a reliability assessment using NEPLAN software is done for the optimal decision to enhance the technical analysis.Moreover,Distributed Generations(DG)has a significant impact on the reliability of distribution networks.Simulation results indicate that the system reliability cost is significantly reduced with adequate system reliability level,with comparative results to those in literary studies.The electric utility industry is moving towards deregulated and competitive markets to meet customer expectations.So,system performance and reliability assessment are getting focused more than before.Several performance measures of reliability are developed in the literature.In this section of research work,NEPLAN simulator reliability analysis module is used to determine all the reliability indices in different case studies considering the effect of the Advanced Distributed Automation System(ADAS).The analysis also benefits from the presence of Penetration of Distributed Generation(DG)units and the Soft Open Points(SOP)to enhance system reliability besides power quality.Therefore,this research provides a methodology based on a cost/benefit study for distribution networks to define the best location of DG units and SOP devices that leads to better reliability indices.The objectives of the study are demonstrated and investigated through Bus 4 of the standard reliability Roy Bollington Test System(RBTS).NEPLAN uses a tool to apply the Reliability Centered Maintenance(RCM)strategy,which leads to a substantial reduction of maintenance expenses.Simulation results indicate a significant reduction in system reliability cost with significant enhancement in all reliability average indices and at each load point too.It worth saying also that,although using DG units or SOP devices separately leads to good results but the best outcomes are obtained with a good combination of both of them.Finally,simulation and experimental results demonstrate obviously the benefits of the design approaches with some of weak points that will be covered in the future work.