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This paper presents a new framework for multistage expansion planning in active power distribution networks, in which the distribution system operator (DSO) considers active network management by clearing the local energy market at the distribution level. The proposed model is formulated as a bi-level optimization problem, where the upper level minimizes the net present value of the total costs imposed to DSO associated with the investment and maintenance of the network assets as well as the network operation, while the lower level on clearing the local energy market captures the participation of distributed energy resource (DER) owners and demand aggregators to maximize the social welfare.... 

This paper presents a new framework for multistage expansion planning in active power distribution networks, in which the distribution system operator (DSO) considers active network management by clearing the local energy market at the distribution level. The proposed model is formulated as a bi-level optimization problem, where the upper level minimizes the net present value of the total costs imposed to DSO associated with the investment and maintenance of the network assets as well as the network operation, while the lower level on clearing the local energy market captures the participation of distributed energy resource (DER) owners and demand aggregators to maximize the social welfare.... 

Distribution automation application for fault management in the electricity distribution networks is one of the main potential remedial actions to reduce customers' outage times and hence improve service reliability. For this purpose, various automation schemes have been developed and introduced in different countries and by different venders. However, the challenge for electric utilities, especially in today's competitive electricity market, is to identify and evaluate potential reliability reinforcement schemes. Accordingly, appropriate schemes must be determined and prioritized for implementation. In this context, reliability cost/worth assessment plays an important role. A comprehensive... 

Demand response enabled by time-varying prices can propel the power industry toward a greater efficiency. However, a noncoordinated response of customers may lead to severe peak rebounds at periods with lower prices. In this regard, a coordinated demand response scheme can mitigate concerns about the peak rebounds. This paper presents a system-wide demand response management model to coordinate demand response provided by residential customers. The objective of the model is to flatten the total load profile that is subject to minimum individual cost of customers. The model is first formulated as a bi-level optimization problem. It is then casted into equivalent single-level problems, which... 

Massively multi user virtual environment (MMVE) applications must deal with the challenge of update message exchange among a large set of nodes distributed over the Internet. Therefore design of scalable network protocols is a major concern in such large scale distributed architectures. Several approaches have been proposed to aid update exchange in MMVEs. Message localization has always been a key point in the design of such distributed network protocols. Area of Interest Management (AoIM) mainly deals with the issues related to the update message localization with respect to the user's interest. As the number of users in the virtual environment increases, update message localization... 

This paper presents a dynamic multi-objective model for distribution network expansion, considering the distributed generations as non-wire solutions. The proposed model simultaneously optimizes two objectives namely, total costs and technical constraint satisfaction by finding the optimal schemes of sizing, placement and specially the dynamics (i.e., timing) of investments on DG units and/or network reinforcements over the planning period. An efficient heuristic search method is proposed to find non-dominated solutions of the formulated problem and a fuzzy satisfying method is used to choose the final solution. The effectiveness of the proposed model and search method are assessed and... 

This paper presents a dynamic multi objective model for distribution network expansion, considering the distributed generators (DGs) and network reinforcements. The proposed model simultaneously optimizes three objective functions namely, total cost, emission cost and technical satisfaction (voltage profile) by finding the optimal schemes of timing, sizing, placement and DG technologies in a long term planning period (dynamic planning). The importance of each objective function can be changed in the interactive steps. The calculation algorithm is based on Chaotic Local Search with Modified Honey Bee Mating Optimization (CLSMHBMO). The effectiveness of the proposed model and the calculation... 

This paper presents a new approach based on multi leader follower game in order to find the optimal contract price of distributed generation in distribution network considering competition among them. The leader problems correspond to the independent DG units who decide to maximize the individual profits, while the follower problem refers to the distribution company (DisCo) which seeks the minimization of the payments incurred in attending the expected demand while satisfying network constraints. Disco can purchase energy either from the transmission network through the substations or from the DG units within its network. The DisCo minimization problem acts as a constraint into the each DG... 

In this paper, a "Game Theory" approach for finding an optimal path in a "Wireless Sensor Network" is discussed. WSN is one of the most interesting research fields in the communication networks, and is the center of attention in recent years. In our model, a pricing and payment technique is presented to obtain an optimal path in a WSN by considering reliability, energy and traffic load. The proposed algorithm is able to find a path which improves network lifetime, load distribution and path reliability  

The proliferation of more sensitive loads has obliged distribution companies to pay greater attention to the voltage sag mitigation potential of different design alternatives in network planning studies. In doing so, a company has to have effective tools for estimating the voltage sag performance of its network. In this regard, this paper establishes a three-step framework for evaluating voltage sag performance of a distribution network. The first step, designated as state selection, is to select a network state in which voltage sag is likely. Although voltage sags have various causes, those that originated from faults in distribution networks are considered in this paper. The stochastic... 

With the introduction of restructuring concepts to traditional power systems, a great deal of attention is given to the utilization of distributed generation. Since the integration of DG units has been known as an alternative for main grid as a resource for energy supply, the determination of optimal sizing and sitting is an important issue in the planning procedure of DG. This work presents a comprehensive multi-objective model for integration of distributed generations into a distribution network, regarding various technical, economical and environmental issues such as reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and investment & running costs while the bus voltages shall be kept within... 

Islanding detection is a great challenge in connecting distributed generation (DG) in electrical power systems. Islanding detection methods are categorized into three groups, i.e., communication based methods, active, and passive methods. Communication based methods are established upon communication between utilities and DGs and have the inconvenience of being expensive and are limited in use. Active methods perturb the system with a disturbance and the system response to the disturbance is analyzed. Although, these methods have small Non Detection Zone, (NDZ) they degrade the power quality. Passive methods monitor one of the grid variables. Their implementation is easy but their NDZ is... 

A realistic and practicable modeling of unbalanced distribution networks (DNs) is the missing link in most studies undertaken in these networks, e.g., optimal power flow (OPF), energy markets, etc. To address the issue, this letter proposes an unbalanced linear three-phase four-wire power flow (PF) model based on current injection equations at nodes. Also, the ZIP representation is considered for loads. The model can be easily generalized for unbalanced three-wire networks with minor changes and assumptions. Hence, the scope of the proposed method can be extended to cover both low-voltage and medium-voltage DNs. The performance of the proposed model is verified through simulations on two... 

Time varying prices by motivating customers to reduce their consumption in peak periods propel the electricity industry towards a higher efficiency compared to that of common flat prices. Focusing on time-of-use (TOU) sale prices, this paper establishes a stochastic model for the medium-term decision making problem faced by a distribution company (DisCo). The developed model deals with the DisCo's decisions on the level of involvement in forward contracts and in the pool as well as the sale prices offered to customers. The demand response to TOU prices is captured using a price elasticity matrix (PEM). The objective is to maximize the DisCo's profit while the exposure risk imposed by... 

Reliability cost is considered as an inevitable criterion in expansion planning studies of distribution systems. However, nonlinear expressions of reliability indices aggravate complexity of planning studies. To address this issue, this letter proposes a novel method to linearize mathematical model of the reliability-based distribution expansion planning problem. Using this variant of reliability indices, reliability costs can easily be involved in mixed-integer linear programming model of distribution expansion planning. Validity of the derived expressions is tested by simulation results. © 1969-2012 IEEE  

The great share of interruptions in distribution networks motivates distribution decision makers to establish various reliability enhancement strategies. Amongst, deploying remote controlled switch (RCS) can make a crucial contribution to the reduction of interruption costs. Nevertheless, the stochastic nature of contingencies affects the RCS worth and imposes substantial financial risk to RCS deployment projects. This paper proposes a mathematical model to consider the risk in the optimal RCS deployment problem. The model determines the number and location of RCSs such that the expected profit is maximized while financial risk is minimized. The risk is modeled through conditional... 

The great share of interruptions in distribution networks motivates distribution decision makers to establish various reliability enhancement strategies. Amongst these strategies, deploying remote controlled switch (RCS) can make a crucial contribution to the reduction of interruption costs. Nevertheless, the stochastic nature of contingencies affects RCS worth and imposes substantial financial risk to RCS deployment projects. This paper proposes a mathematical model to consider the risk in the optimal RCS deployment problem. The model determines the number and location of RCSs such that the expected profit is maximized while financial risk is minimized. The risk is modeled through... 

This article presents a mixed-integer linear stochastic model for the optimal expansion planning of electricity distribution networks and distributed generation (DG) units. In the proposed framework, autonomous DG units are aggregated and modeled using the well-known energy hub concept. In this model, the uncertainties of heat and electricity demand as well as renewable generation are represented using various scenarios. Although this is a standard technique to capture the uncertainties, it drastically increases the dimensions of this optimization problem and makes it practically intractable. In order to address this issue, a novel iterative method is developed in this article to enhance the... 

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of electric vehicles' (EVs) charging/discharging decisions in energy resources scheduling problem of active distribution networks. Design/methodology/approach: The problem under study is modelled as a two-stage optimisation problem in which the main requirements of EV owners are introduced as an objective function of the first stage. The total energy costs and the emission factor are considered as the main criteria of the second stage. The output generation schedules of distributed generation (DG) technologies together with the charging/discharging schedule of EVs are proposed as decision variables of the energy scheduling... 

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of electric vehicles' (EVs) charging/discharging decisions in energy resources scheduling problem of active distribution networks. Design/methodology/approach: The problem under study is modelled as a two-stage optimisation problem in which the main requirements of EV owners are introduced as an objective function of the first stage. The total energy costs and the emission factor are considered as the main criteria of the second stage. The output generation schedules of distributed generation (DG) technologies together with the charging/discharging schedule of EVs are proposed as decision variables of the energy scheduling...