Sharif Digital Repository

This paper investigates the operation of a smart distribution system comprised of multiple microgrids during emergency conditions. It proposes a two-stage hierarchical scheme for outage management in such a system to enhance the security of supply during contingencies. This goal is achieved through sharing the available generation and storage capacities among different microgrids. In doing so, a well-organized framework is devised in order to introduce the roles and tasks of each player in operation stage of a multi-microgrids system. Based on this framework, the general optimization model that needs to be evaluated at each stage of the proposed outage management scheme is formulated. In... 

Nowadays, the essentiality of asset management in power systems and higher utilization of resources have become more critical to keep pace with the radically growing demand of today's networks. Power transformers are amongst the most important equipments installed in power distribution systems. Therefore, this paper presents a novel methodology to improve the utilization of substation transformers. In this methodology, the transformer utilization of a two-transformer substation is increased via reconfiguration considering the single contingency policy (SCP). The online reconfiguration helps to maximize the amount of load transferred from a substation with a failed transformer to its... 

Estimation of physical parameters in dynamical systems driven by linear partial differential equations is an important problem. In this paper, we introduce the least costly experiment design framework for these systems. It enables parameter estimation with an accuracy that is specified by the experimenter prior to the identification experiment, while at the same time minimising the cost of the experiment. We show how to adapt the classical framework for these systems and take into account scaling and stability issues. We also introduce a progressive subdivision algorithm that further generalises the experiment design framework in the sense that it returns the lowest cost by finding the... 

Many Random Key Distribution (RKD) schemes have been proposed in the literature to enable security applications in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). A main security aspect of RKD schemes is their resistance against node capture attacks, since compromising the sensors and capturing their keys is a common risk in such networks. We propose a new method, based on a 2-Dimensional Hash Chain (2DHC), that can be applied on any RKD scheme to improve their resilience. Our method maintains the flexibility and low cost features of RKD schemes and it doesn't require any special-purpose hardware or extra memory to store keys in the sensors. We demonstrate that our approach significantly increases the... 

Multi-agent systems can be seen as an apparatus for testing the performance of real distributed systems. One problem encountered in multi-agent systems with the learning capability is credit assignment. This paper presents two methods for solving this problem. The first method assigns credit to the agents according to the history of the interaction while the second method assigns credit to the agents according to the knowledge of agents, and thus the shares of the agents are extracted from the feedback of the environment. The computer experiments show that critic learning has a positive impact in credit assignment problem  

Network coding was first introduced in information theory for increasing the multicast rate in the networks with directed links. We can model many of the content distribution networks and overlay networks with such a network. Therefore, the solutions introduced in information theory can be used in these networks. In this paper, we analyze using of network coding in uncoordinated cooperative content distribution systems. Reaching the optimum performance in an uncoordinated system needs blocks of the system to be "equally important". In that case, we can retrieve the whole data without need of central controller or complex algorithms. In part of this paper, we exactly define the concept of... 

Predicting latency between nodes on the internet can have a significant impact on the performance of many services that use latency distances among nodes as a decision making input. Coordinate-based approaches are among the family of latency prediction techniques where latency between each pair of nodes is modeled as the virtual distance among those nodes over a virtual system. This article proposes the Decentralized Coordinate System (DCS) as a fully distributed system that does not rely on any infrastructure support from the underlying network. DCS uses a two-phase algorithm: first, each host is assigned rough coordinates, then, the rough estimation is refined in a way that it gradually... 

Load Balancing has many applications in various systems, but specifically plays a major role in the efficiency of parallel and distributed systems. In these systems, by load balancing we mean scheduling the jobs in a way that every job could be executed concurrently while it is mapped to a processing unit, such as a processor (in a multi-processor system) or a computer (in a grid computer). By developing effective methods the whole program time execution will be decreased and process utilization will be optimized. In this paper, a solution is proposed for dynamic load balancing. Because of the NP-hard nature of the problem, heuristic methods are desired. A simple scheduling method, Round... 

Implementation of Distribution Automation (DA) in electric power distribution systems can result in customer satisfaction with improved reliability, consistent quality and high-tech services. Loop Restoration Strategy (LRS) is a special DA method in the feeder level which is used by electric utilities to improve distribution system reliability. The effects of the implemented LRS on the reliability indices of a given distribution system mainly depend on its Automatic Control System (ACS). Selecting the type of ACS of LRS by electric utilities relies on the level of improvement required at load points and system oriented reliability indices. A step by step evaluation procedure is proposed in... 

This paper presents a stochastic framework to properly involve the uncertainties associated with demand in distribution system restoration (DSR) problem. To reach this goal, these uncertainties are represented as probabilistic scenarios corresponding to different load levels. Subsequently, the associated stochastic optimization problem is formulated such that it can be readily solved using dynamic programming approach. Moreover, a clustering technique is presented that enables the dynamic programming approach to find near-optimal solutions for the stochastic load restoration problem with reasonable computational effort. The proposed framework is implemented on a real-world test system, and... 

An adaptive approach for distribution system reconfiguration and charging management of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) is presented in this study. A stochastic model predictive control is applied to stochastically, adaptively, and dynamically reconfigure the system, manage the incidental charging pattern of PEVs, and deal with the variable and uncertain power of renewable energy sources. The objective function of problem is minimizing daily operation cost of system. Herein, the geography of area is considered and the behavior of PEVs' drivers (based on their income level) is modeled with respect to the value of incentive and their hourly distance from each charging station. It is shown that... 

Implementing automation system in distribution networks needs a huge investment that usually cannot be funded entirely in a short period of time. So distribution companies (DISCOs) should develop long-term plans to equip their network with automation technologies as far as economically justifiable. Aiming to provide a methodology for development such plans, this paper presents a novel multistage planning model for implementing distribution automation system considering all main hardware and software infrastructures. The proposed method optimally determines the type, location, and time in which an equipment or infrastructure must be added to network considering the network capacity expansion... 

To achieve economic stability, distribution Company as an economic institution should be managed by various processes. In this way, knowledge of different processes is the first step. Furthermore, expectations, outputs, requirement data, and sub-processes should be extracted and determined. Accordingly, to assign the performance responsibility of each process, the decision making points must be introduced and, the deviation or change in set-points should be investigated into processes. Also, the performance of processes could be monitored by introducing of the sub-indictors. In this study, a practical method is presented for monitoring of reliability and power loss indices from viewpoint... 

This paper develops a general framework for reliability assessment of multi-microgrid (MMG) distribution systems. It also investigates reliability impacts of coordinated outage man-agement strategies in a MMG distribution network. According to the proposed reliability evaluation framework, which is based on sequential Monte Carlo simulation method, distribution system is divided into smaller sections/microgrids based on protection sys-tem configuration and operating measures are efficiently simulat-ed considering different operation modes. In order to demonstrate the role of outage management strategy in reliability performance of MMG distribution systems, at first, the required features of... 

Due to increasing the intensity and frequency of natural disasters in recent years, power system decision makers are seeking cost efficient methods to improve the resilience of power grids against low probability, high impact natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. In this paper, a new algorithm is presented for switch placement problem with the main goal of improving the resilience of distribution grids. To reach this goal, at first, a model is presented to simulate the effects of hurricane on availability of system components. Then, this model is involved in optimization model of switch placement problem. A new criterion is introduced as objective function of switch... 

A dynamical hybrid observer is proposed for online reconstruction of the active mode and continuous states of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) processes as an integral part of a hybrid control system. A mode observer is designed for estimation of the active mode, and the continuous spatial profiles are estimated by a Distributed and Decentralized Switching Kalman Filter. The proposed hybrid observer has been applied, in silico, for a two-bed, six-step PSA process. The active mode of the process along with the continuous spatial profiles of its adsorption beds have been estimated quite accurately based on very limited number of noise corrupted temperature and pressure measurements. © 2017  

Historically, the general target of affecting demand via voltage regulation was conservation, i.e., reducing peak demand and/or accumulated energy. In private environments however, profit maximization may take place of conservation, regardless of the social welfare and consumers' costs. This letter aims at highlighting the effectiveness of voltage regulation as a measure to maximize utilities' profit. The new strategy can indeliberately cause more payments for customers. The letter simulates different cases which reveal importance of the role regulatory bodies have to play to prevent unethical actions in private environments. IEEE  

Distribution system operator (DSO) has traditionally been responsible for the reliable operation of power distribution systems. The advent of distributed energy resources (DERs) and microgrids in distribution networks has required a new platform for DSOs. The new DSO, which is for the most part an independent agent, is responsible for aggregating a widely dispersed DERs (which include small thermal generation units, energy storage, and demand response) and flexible loads in electricity markets. DSO coordinates and balances the transactive dispatch of supply and demand at the distribution level and links wholesale and retail electricity markets. In this paper, a framework for the day-ahead... 

This paper investigates three different strategies for centralized charging/discharging management of electric vehicles, their features and the impacts on technical performance of distribution systems. Three goals of load factor maximization, load variance reduction and energy loss minimization are chosen as the main technical factors need to be optimized in the proposed electric vehicles charging/discharging management strategies. In this regard, at first, the mathematical model of these strategies for both cases of with/without vehicle-to-grid (V2G) programs are extracted. Then, solving procedure of the attained optimization problems with different optimization methods are explained. These... 

Remote control switches (RCSs) are often assumed to be fully reliable in reliability and cost/worth analyses. This assumption, however, overestimates their merits, thereby misguiding network owners about their optimal implementation. This letter extends the current reliability evaluation procedure to incorporate probability of RCS malfunctions. Then, the extended procedure is applied to a network equipped with a few RCSs. The numerical studies reveal that RCS malfunctions degrade their worth, which may even affect their optimal number and locations. © 1969-2012 IEEE