NEW CHALLENGES IN THE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
ver the past decades, research has been focused
on developing software tools to analyze, plan,
optimize and simulate electrical networks. The
advent of distributed generation (DG) has
gradually changed power flow in the power distribution
network from downstream unidirectional to a bidirectional
scheme, introducing challenging technical issues, such
as unacceptable overvoltages, voltage unbalances, line
congestions, and protection issues. Although novel
control schemes have been proposed for interfacing DGs
to the grid and mitigating these issues, such controlled
inverters need to be also efficiently incorporated in the
simulation software packages. A major drawback of current
software platforms is that they usually have a closed form
architecture, not allowing the easy and efficient integration of
user developed models, especially regarding control
systems.
THE INCREASE APPROACH
To overcome these issues, a new simulation platform has
been developed in the framework of the INCREASE project,
allowing the efficient integration of several distributed
renewable energy sources (DRES) control strategies. The new
simulation tool has the following basic characteristics:
- Employs phasor-domain solutions, resulting in short
execution times even in cases of extended distribution
networks.
- Offers a graphical user interface (GUI) for the convenient
input and configuration of the system under study.
- Can allow the efficient incorporation of any DG control
scheme
- Can be interlinked with other software platforms
and tools to form a generic co-simulation platform,
capable to simulate modern power system networks
from both power, control and communication point
of view.
FEATURES
The INCREASE simulation platform provides the user with
a co-simulation tool that can be used to investigate the
influence of DRESs on their distribution system. In general,
the simulation platform offers the following major features:
- Detailed analysis of MV/LV electrical power grids,
including all potential DRESs, DGs, loads and control
systems and high-end control schemes in DRESs. Due to
the required analysis, a quasi-dynamic solution is adopted.
- Incorporation of an adaptive Multi-Agent System (MAS)
taking into account multi-objective control algorithms as
well as the communication among the individual agents.
- Implementation of a multi-layer control strategy for
the secure and optimal operation of active distribution
grids. The distinct control strategies are coordinated by
employing a user defined timeslot concept.
- Ability to simulate balanced as well as unbalanced
distribution networks with high accuracy.
- Offers the ability to perform time-series simulation with
reduced execution times.
- Allows the integration of load and generation forecasting
algorithms for short- and medium-term provision of
reserve, focusing on the power loss reduction, maximizing
active power injection and the optimal performance of
DRES.
- Employs a discrete LAN simulator of communication
networks to evaluate the communication performance
and the vulnerability of a communication-based control
system.
- Simple GUI for the power system design with user-friendly
post-processing tools for reporting and plotting results.
- Built-in import and export features for most common data
and calculation formats.
- Flexible platform based on open-source software with
modular architecture structure to readily integrate future
packages, features and functions.
The above features and advantages, make the INCREASE
simulation platform a competitive simulation program among
other commercial and open-source software packages.
KEY STAKEHOLDERS
The key stakeholders that can make use of the INCREASE
simulation platform include:
- Distribution system operators (DSOs). They can perform
long-term analysis of the distribution grids to assess
different control techniques of DRESs and their impacts.
- Transmission system operators (TSOs). The INCREASE
simulation platform can be a valuable tool for developing
and/or evaluating the provision of ancillary services for
the TSOs.
- Aggregators. It can be used as a powerful tool for the
aggregators to ensure the safe and reliable network
operation, following certain interventions.
- Power retailers. The developed platform can be used to
investigate different pricing policies for the prosumers,
taking also into consideration the network operation from
a power systems point of view.
- Other regulatory authorities. They can exploit the
INCREASE simulation platform to develop new and/or
assess existing regulatory frameworks.
- Energy companies. It can be used to investigate the longterm
performance of the network from the grid side as
well as from the economic point of view.
- Universities or research institutes. They can perform
simulation studies to evaluate existing control techniques
and/or to develop new control strategies.
Contact details:
Dr. ir. Bart Meersman – bart.meersman@ugent.be & bart@s2enso.com
Prof. dr. ir. Grigoris Papagiannis – grigoris@eng.auth.gr