Sharif Digital Repository

In the past decade, distribution network operators have been broadly engrossed toward automated distribution networks. The operators acknowledge network automation as an efficient investment toward a better service reliability. This paper aims to provide a new long-term cost/benefit analysis for an optimal level of distribution network automation. In the analysis, reduction in customer outage cost is considered as the benefit of implementing automation systems with capital investment, and annual operation and maintenance costs. In the Finnish regulation model, there is a special incentive based on customer outage cost reduction. As the main contribution of this paper, the impact of earth... 

In the past decade, distribution network operators have been broadly engrossed toward automated distribution networks. The operators acknowledge network automation as an efficient investment toward a better service reliability. This paper aims to provide a new long-term cost/benefit analysis for an optimal level of distribution network automation. In the analysis, reduction in customer outage cost is considered as the benefit of implementing automation systems with capital investment, and annual operation and maintenance costs. In the Finnish regulation model, there is a special incentive based on customer outage cost reduction. As the main contribution of this paper, the impact of earth... 

Automation is acknowledged by distribution utilities as a successful investment strategy to enhance reliability and operation efficiency. However, practical approaches that can handle the complex decision-making process faced by decision makers to justify the long-term financial effects of distribution automation have remained scarce. An automated and remote-controlled sectionalizing switch play a fundamental role in an automated distribution network. This paper introduces a new optimization approach for distribution automation in terms of automated and remotely controlled sectionalizing switch placement. Mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) is utilized to model the problem. The proposed... 

Automation is acknowledged by distribution utilities as a successful investment strategy to enhance reliability and operation efficiency. However, practical approaches that can handle the complex decision-making process faced by decision makers to justify the long-term financial effects of distribution automation have remained scarce. An automated and remote-controlled sectionalizing switch play a fundamental role in an automated distribution network. This paper introduces a new optimization approach for distribution automation in terms of automated and remotely controlled sectionalizing switch placement. Mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) is utilized to model the problem. The proposed... 

Planning of distribution networks is usually accomplished using a cost-based conventional model that minimizes the total cost of construction and reinforcement of substations and feeders. The resulted expansion plan designed by this cost-based model is not necessarily the best choice for an electrical distribution company (DISCO) in the nowadays deregulated structure. This happening is mainly due to the fact that the utility seeks to maximize its profit in this competitive environment. On the other hand, this model does not consider the upcoming new challenges ahead of distribution systems, such as smart grid and distribution automation technologies. This paper presents a novel profit-based... 

Due to the huge amount of resources needed for implementing distribution automation systems (DAS), distribution companies (DISCOs) should develop long term plans for this project. Similarly, DISCOs have network capacity expansion (NCX) plans which specify the scheme of constructing the feeders and substations. Since considering DAS may lead to more efficient NCX plans, the planner should revise the NCX plan through the DAS planning. On the other hand, for DAS planning it is necessary to consider a NCX plan as a platform to determine the time and location for installation of automation equipment. Therefore the planner should simultaneously work on two plans, each of them affects the other. To... 

Fault indicator (FI) plays a crucial rule in enhancing service reliability in distribution systems. This device brings substantial benefits for fault management procedure by speeding up fault location procedure. This paper intends to develop a new optimization model to optimally deploy FI in distribution systems. The proposed model aims to consider a tradeoff between the total customer interruption cost and FI relevant costs, including capital investment, installation, and maintenance costs. As the main contribution of this paper, the problem is formulated in mixed integer programing, which guarantees global optimum solution achieved in an effective runtime. Moreover, the model takes... 

Due to the large amount of resources needed for implementing distribution automation systems (DASs), distribution companies (DISCOs) should develop long term plans for this project. Similarly, DISCOs have network capacity expansion (NCX) plans which specify the scheme of constructing the feeders and substations. Since considering DAS may lead to more efficient NCX plans, the planner should revise the NCX plan through the DAS planning. On the other hand, for DAS planning it is necessary to consider a NCX plan as a platform to determine the time and location for installation of automation equipment. Therefore the planner should simultaneously work on two plans, each of them affects the other.... 

Nowadays automation in distribution systems is growing largely. Automated and remote controlled switches play prominent rules in automated distribution systems. By opening and closing these remote controlled switches in emergency states when a fault has been occurred we can manage fault and restoration process in order to minimize interruption time and costs. In the normal states feeder load management and power loss minimization can be controlled by these remote controlled switches. Finding optimum numbers and optimum locations for installing these switches is the main concern in this between. Up to now a number of algorithms have been developed for optimum switch placement. In this paper a... 

This paper presents a novel profit-based model for multistage distribution network expansion planning. In the proposed model, some capabilities of the distribution automation system are considered to achieve a plan that is more compatible with the strategic plan towards a smart distribution grid. Moreover, a method for reliability evaluation of a distribution network in the planning studies is proposed. The objective function of the planning problem is the net present value of the company's profit. The problem is solved by employing the genetic algorithm approach as a promising technique in solving the mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem. The proposed method is evaluated on an... 

Distribution automation (DA) 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. As a result, various automation schemes have been developed and introduced in different countries and by different venders. The impacts of implementing a specific automation scheme on reliability indices of a given distribution system can be different from other available automation schemes. For this reason, when comparing the available automation schemes with each other or with the other reliability improvement measures, it is necessary to perform a course of reliability... 

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... 

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... 

Feeder Automation (FA) has been recognized by researchers and utilities as one of the attractive remedial measures to enhance service reliability in the electric power distribution systems. Until now, several kinds of FA schemes have been developed for automating of distribution feeders. They can be categorized into three main approaches: semiautomatic, distributed and centralized schemes. The challenge for the utilities, especially in today's competitive electricity market, is to identify and evaluate potential FA schemes and determine that appropriate for implementation. In this context, reliability cost/worth assessment plays an important role. This paper aims to propose a step by step...