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The deployment of smart grids has facilitated the integration of a variety of investor assets into power distribution systems, giving rise to the consequent necessity for positive and active interaction between those investors and local distribution companies (LDCs). This paper proposes a novel incentive-based distribution system expansion planning model that enables an LDC and distributed generation (DG) investors to work in a collaborative way for their mutual benefit. Using the proposed model, the LDC would establish a bus-wise incentive program based on long-term contracts, which would encourage DG investors to integrate their projects at specific system buses that would benefit both parties. The model guarantees that the LDC will incur minimum expansion and operation costs while concurrently ensuring the feasibility of DG investors’ projects. To derive appropriate incentives for each project, the model enforces several economic metrics including internal rate of return, profit investment ratio, and discounted payback period. All investment plans committed to by the LDC and the DG investors for the full extent of the planning period are then coordinated accordingly. Several linearization approaches are applied to convert the proposed model into an MILP model. The intermittent nature of both system demand and wind- and PV-based DG output power is handled probabilistically, and a number of DG technologies are taken into account. Case study results have demonstrated the value of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent deployment of distributed generation has led to a revolution in the use of distribution systems and the emergence of “smart grid” concepts. Smart grids are intended primarily as a means of facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources and of achieving greater system reliability and efficiency. Energy storage systems (ESSs) offer a number of benefits that can help utilities move toward those goals. One of those benefits is the capacity to improve the utilization of network infrastructure by means of proper load management. This paper proposes a methodology for allocating ESSs in distribution systems in order to defer system upgrades, minimize system losses, and take advantage of the arbitrage benefit. The cost and arbitrage benefit of energy storage installation are optimized with respect to system upgrade and energy losses costs. The primary goal of this research is to determine the optimal size and location of storage units to be installed, in addition to their optimal operation, so that total system costs are minimized, while system benefits are maximized. In this paper, a probabilistic load model is adopted instead of utilizing time-series based models, which provide an optimal solution that is valid only for the time-series pattern that is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a novel probabilistic distribution load flow (PDLF) algorithm to study the effect of connecting a wind turbine (WT) to a distribution system. This probabilistic approach is used to capture the stochastic behavior of the generation of WTs. Three different models of WTs are developed to be embedded in the PDLF. Consequently, a probabilistic approach to evaluate the impact of wind penetration into distribution systems is developed. Futhermore, the effect of WT penetration on feeder losses, voltage profile and substation powers is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, the dynamic models for adjustable speed drive (ASD) and distribution-static compensator (DSTATCOM) are presented. An eigen domain approach to the transient response investigation is formulated by means of dqo variable in synchronously rotating reference frame to study the dynamic interactions between ASDs and DSTATCOM. Two inverter topologies of ASD, current source inverter and voltage source inverter, are included in the study as well as two control techniques of the DSTATCOM, namely voltage and current control. The study shows that the voltage control DSTATCOM improves the stability boundaries of the ASD utilizing either current or voltage source inverters, while the current control DSTATCOM has minor influence. In addition, the system dynamics show less sensitivity to the dc link capacitance for the voltage control DSTATCOM. These results are supported by analytical study of the characteristic equation of both the voltage and the current control DSTATCOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel algorithm, based on calculating the energy operator of a sinusoidal waveform to track the voltage flicker, is presented. The mathematical derivation of the proposed algorithm different circuit designs required to realize it are described. The proposed algorithm is fast and robust and requires only a few samples to calculate the energy. The simulation and the experimental results prove that the new algorithm can successfully track the envelope. There are no spikes in the envelope even when the voltage signal is suddenly changed at its peak value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed measurement architecture, due to its efficiency, is used to monitor the power quality in the electric systems. This paper introduces a novel algorithm to determine the optimum allocations of power quality monitors to reduce the cost of the distributed monitoring system taking into account the data redundancy. The optimization problem is formulated as a covering and packing one which can be manipulated by integer linear programm algorithms. The appropriate constraints are deduced by the electrical circuit topology independent of the load parameters. In addition, the problem is adopted to a general form which can be implemented by any optimization package. The proposed algorithm is applied to five different systems for validation. Then, the results are discussed in terms of the cost and data redundancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed Generation (DG) is used widely in the modern distribution systems. This paper proposes a novel functionality of the interface between DG and the utility network to mitigate the voltage flicker and to regulate the voltage at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) in addition to its main function of controlling the power flow. A new control algorithm for the DG interface based on the Hilbert transform (HT) is presented. The HT is employed as an effective technique for tracking the voltage flicker levels in distribution systems. The mathematical simplicity of the proposed technique, compared with the commonly used algorithms in the literature, renders them competitive candidates for the on-line tracking of voltage flicker. The accurate tracking of the HT facilitates its implementation for the control of flicker mitigation devices. Simulation results are provided to verify the tracking capabilities of the HT and to evaluate the performance of the proposed DG interface for multifunction operation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]