Implementation of Multi-Agent System Algorithms for distributed restoration and cascading failure blackout prevention in a smart grid system

The possibilities of smart grid are numerous and the future of energy generation, transmission, distribution, consumption and sales is largely dependent on the progress made in smart grid technology. Some of the areas where such progress is expected are in the control and self-healing abilities of the power system. This thesis looks at two research topics in these areas.;One of these topics is distributed restoration which is of high importance as it ensures that only areas in the power system that are directly affected by a fault stays under the influence of the fault; most times this is not the case in the current power grid as the area affected by a fault is larger than the area that actually cannot stay online due to the fault. Most researches, if not all, in distributed restoration are based on the use of simulation but this thesis tested the proposed solution on both simulation and experimental systems.;Cascading failures, the second focus of this work, has been a great problem to power systems engineer as it results in blackout events. Historically, it has led to losses of uncountable worth and still possesses the ability to cause endless losses if not checked. This thesis is one of the researches looking at new lines of thought on cascading failures. The unique approach taken in this work is to use the right combinatorics of the power dispatched by the generators to redistribute the current flowing in the power system so that the cascading failures could be halted and blackout event prevented.;Multi-Agent System (MAS) Algorithms are used in this thesis to effect the proposed solutions to both distributed restoration and cascading failures since the possibilities of MAS made up of distributed and intelligent entities are endless if effectively programmed and trained. Surely, such entities when equipped with two-way communication even if geographically widespread are able to achieve goals or offer solutions that would be impossible to accomplish with non-smart entities.;The results obtained for the distributed restoration work shows that the proposed algorithm restores power in a timely and effective manner. Similarly, the results obtained for the research into halting cascading failures shows that the proposed algorithm in this case successfully halted the cascading failures and prevented the occurrence of a blackout event. A by-the-side discourse is given on a productive research carried out on the utilization of affordable encoders to acquire accurate real-time frequency measurements through LabVIEW.