Sharif Digital Repository

The main goal of this paper is to obtain the optimal Distributed Generation (DG) investments as well as purchase additional power from Transmission Companies (TRANSCOs). To do this, a new mathematical modeling and a new software package interfacing between the two powerful softwares MATLAB and GAMS are used. The proposed model optimizes total system planning costs and consequently costumers' bills, reduces total system losses, guaranties system voltage profiles and prevents feeders' congestion. This new model and software package have been executed in two different cases depending if system voltage profiles are in their permissible margin or not; in each case, three different scenarios are... 

This paper presents stability analysis of a distributed generation (DG) controller (1), in an islanded mode, based on the Mapping Theorem and the Zero Exclusion Condition, and validates the results based on a laboratory scale experimental setup. The DG unit is interfaced to the host system through a voltage-sourced converter (VSC). The control strategy regulates the load voltage at the desired value in the islanded mode, despite uncertainties in the load parameters. The frequency of the island is controlled in an open loop manner by an internal oscillator. The experimental results show that the controller provides robust voltage control for a wide range of load parameters, and even maintains... 

This paper analytically determines the nondetection zone (NDZ) of an active islanding detection method, and proposes a solution to obviate the NDZ. The method actively injects a negative-sequence current through the interface voltage-sourced converter (VSC) of a distributed generation (DG) unit, as a disturbance signal for islanding detection. The estimated magnitude of the corresponding negative-sequence voltage at the PCC is used as the islanding detection signal. In this paper, based on a laboratory test system, the performance of the islanding detection method under UL1741 anti-islanding test conditions is evaluated. Then, determining the NDZ of the method and proposing the... 

This paper presents stability analysis of a distributed generation (DG) controller [1], in an islanded mode, based on the Mapping Theorem and the Zero Exclusion Condition, and validates the results based on a laboratory scale experimental setup. The DG unit is interfaced to the host system through a voltage-sourced converter (VSC). The control strategy regulates the load voltage at the desired value in the islanded mode, despite uncertainties in the load parameters. The frequency of the island is controlled in an open loop manner by an internal oscillator. The experimental results show that the controller provides robust voltage control for a wide range of load parameters, and even maintains... 

DC microgrids (DC-MGs) are becoming popular as an effective means to integrate various renewable energy resources. Conventionally, the droop control is adopted as a decentralized control strategy for proper power sharing without using any communication link. However, the conventional droop control often deteriorates due to the effects of unequal line resistances. In this paper, a control strategy is proposed for a DC-MG to achieve perfect power sharing considering the effects of line resistances. The DC-MG under study consists of a photovoltaic system, two energy storage systems, a grid-connected converter system, and dc loads. The control strategy of the converters is addressed under... 

Cost is one of the most essential factors that influence many decisions taken in the distribution system planning. In general, cost can be defined as everything that should be sacrificed to gain the desired results. This paper proposes a new two-stage methodology for distributed generation (DG) placement as an attractive option for distribution system planner. This method aims to minimize cost and maximize total system benefit (TSB). Optimal placement and size are obtained from total cost minimization mathematical problem which is solved in the first stage. For each DG cost characteristics and for each investment payback time, there is an optimal location and size. Then the optimal DG... 

This paper introduces a new framework included mathematical model and a new software package interfacing two powerful softwares (MATLAB and GAMS) for obtaining the optimal distributed generation (DG) capacity sizing and sitting investments with capability to simulate large distribution system planning. The proposed optimization model allows minimizing total system planning costs for DG investment, DG operation and maintenance, purchase of power by the distribution companies (DISCOs) from transmission companies (TRANSCOs) and system power losses. The proposed model provides not only the DG size and site but also the new market price as well. Three different cases depending on system... 

Due to deregulation and restructuring in many countries, it is expected that the amount of small-scale generations connected to the distribution networks will increase. So, it is necessary that the impact of these kinds of generators on Volt/Var control should be investigated. This paper presents a new approach to Volt/Var control in distribution systems with Distributed Generation (DG). It has been shown that DG can improve the entire performance of a network system, by means of better control and decreasing losses. In this approach, the Genetic Algorithm (GA) has been used as the optimization method, where the amount of DG and its controlling parameters, the voltage regulators situation,... 

We propose novel techniques to find the optimal location, size, and power factor of distributed generation (DG) to achieve the maximum loss reduction for distribution networks. Determining the optimal DG location and size is achieved simultaneously using the energy loss curves technique for a pre-selected power factor that gives the best DG operation. Based on the network's total load demand, four DG sizes are selected. They are used to form energy loss curves for each bus and then for determining the optimal DG options. The study shows that by defining the energy loss minimization as the objective function, the time-varying load demand significantly affects the sizing of DG resources in... 

This paper presents a new robust control strategy for an islanded microgrid in the presence of load unmodeled dynamics. The microgrid consists of parallel connection of several electronically interfaced distributed generation units and a local load. The load is parametrically uncertain and topologically unknown and, thus, is the source of unmodeled dynamics. The objective is to design a robust controller to regulate the load voltage in the presence of unmodeled dynamics. To achieve the objective, the problem is first characterized by a two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) feedback-feedforward controller. The 2DOF control design problem is then transformed to a nonconvex optimization problem.... 

Along with the increasing demand for electrical power, distributed generations (DGs) have so far found their pivotal roles in the restructured environment of power distribution systems. As an indispensable step toward a more reliable power system, the DGs optimal allocation strategy, deemed to be the most techno-economically efficient scheme, comes to the play and is profoundly taken under concentration in this study. This paper devises a comprehensive multi-objective (MO) optimization approach by which all the crucial and maybe contradictory aspects of great influence in the placement process can be accounted for. Total imposed costs, total network losses, customer outage costs as well as... 

Distributed generation (DG) corresponds to the application of small generating units which are the set up in distribution systems or near load centers. Utilization of DG influences various operational indices of the distribution feeders such as feeder loading, electrical losses and voltage profile. In addition, use of DG in its appropriate size is an essential tool to attain the DG maximum potential advantages. In this paper, an optimization method is proposed to determine the optimal size of DG in the distribution system. This method considers the system technical factors such as losses, voltage profile and loading of the primary distribution system feeders. The optimization process is... 

The increasing use of electrical energy in nowadays modern societies and industries has brought about a sharp need for more efficient means of electricity generation. It seems rather logical to increase the electricity production proportional to the increasing rate of the demand. Distributed Generation (DG) has been recently accepted to be one of the most efficient means of electricity generation, particularly near to the load centers. The DG has been also considered in the generation expansion planning of power systems. In this paper, three main factors associated with the DGs placement procedure is scrutinized through a multi-objective optimization approach. One of the main factors... 

With anticipated proliferation of electric vehicles and distributed generations in near future, dynamic thermal rating (DTR) as a tool for unlocking network capacities, is becoming critical for distribution network operators. DTR is gaining a great and still growing focus of attention in today's power industries. However, potential benefits of DTR, although have been envisioned to be significant, have not yet been studied quantitatively. This paper intends to comprehensively assess the potential impacts of DTR on the performance of a realistic Finnish distribution network. For doing so, first a step-by-step procedure is devised. Then, weather data and loading information of circuits in the... 

A decentralized servomechanism controller for islanded (autonomous) operation of radial connection of two distributed generation (DG) units is proposed in this paper. Each DG unit utilizes a voltage-sourced converter (VSC) for interface to its dedicated load. The DG units and the loads are to operate in the islanded mode of operation. Each DG unit regulates the voltage of its dedicated load in a decentralized manner. In this paper, it is first shown that the radial connection of two DG units in the islanded mode constitutes an interconnected composite system consisting of two subsystems. Moreover, the paper shows that the overall islanded system can be controlled by the local controllers,... 

Distribution systems management is becoming an increasingly complicated issue due to the introduction of new technologies, new energy trading strategies and a new deregulated environment. In the new deregulated energy market and considering the incentives coming from the technical and economic fields, it is reasonable to consider Distributed Generation (DG) as a viable option for systems reinforcement in competition with voltage regulator devices, to solve the lacking electric power supply problem and meet the load growth requirements with a reasonable price as well as the system power quality problems. The problem of optimal placement and size is formulated in two stages; minimization of... 

Distributed generation (DG) units are increasingly installed in the power systems. Distribution companies (DisCo) can opt to purchase the electricity from DG in an energy purchase contract to supply the customer demand and reduce energy loss. This paper proposes a framework for optimal contract pricing of independent dispatchable DG units considering competition among them. While DG units tend to increase their profit from the energy purchase contract, DisCo minimizes the demand supply cost. Multi-leader follower game theory concept is used to analyze the situation in which competing DG units offer the energy price to DisCo and DisCo determines the DG generation. A bi-level approach is used... 

This paper is aimed at proposing a new hybrid method for the islanding detection of distributed-generation (DG) units. Hybrid method operation is based on the combination of an active and a passive method, for which the optimized Sandia frequency shift (SFS) method is used as the selected active method, and rate of change of frequency relay (ROCOF) is used as the passive method. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique on islanding detection, several simulation studies based on IEEE 1547 and UL1741 anti-islanding test requirements are carried out. The evaluation of simulation results reveals that the control system, based on the proposed hybrid algorithm, meets the... 

Microgrid (MG) protection is one of the main challenges in proliferation of microgrids. Due to limited fault current feeding of inverter-based distributed generations (DGs), in islanded operation of MG, protection problems become more complicated; and, therefore, conventional protection strategies cannot be applied. Hence, new protection methods that are applicable in islanded and grid-connected modes of operation are necessary. In this paper, a comprehensive digital-relay based protection is introduced for the protection of MGs. The proposed method includes protection of lines, distributed generations, and the point of common coupling. The structure and graphical schematic of the proposed...