Thesis

Optimisation of a power distribution network's active power loss and reliability performance

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2013
Thesis identifier
  • T13503
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Abstract
  • The deregulation of UK power distribution market started in 1990. Due to the drivers from the regulator, DNOs need to invest appropriately and optimise network operation by innovations to satisfy the targets set by the industry regulator, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). Reduction of network losses and improvement of reliability of supply to customers are extremely important for distribution network operators (DNOs) to take into account when designing and operating their networks. They are important because of the need to minimise wasted energy and carbon emissions and to provide customers with an adequate level of service. Moreover, in Great Britain, Ofgem has implemented financial incentives with respect to these things. This thesis describes an investigation of methods these have been developed to help DNOs improve their performance with respect to two particular incentives. The first relates to network losses; the second relates to reliability of supply to consumers. A new loss optimisation algorithm by feeder reconfiguration based on graph theory and topology search techniques is developed in this thesis. By means of a directed exhaustive search of network configurations (and unlike a number of previous methods in the literature that rely on heuristics), this algorithm can find the global optimal result. In addition the results of the algorithm can be readily used in the solution of a multiobjective optimisation problem (optimisation both of P loss and reliability in this thesis). A new reliability evaluation and optimisation algorithm developed in this thesis is based on topology search techniques. This algorithm can not only calculate the reliability indices but, unlike previous approaches emerging from the academic literature, also determines the restoration method of each fault affected bus for a specific fault which is critical to determining the restoration time following a fault. The loss and reliability optimisation is developed to optimise both network's P loss and reliability performance. It can also provide a number of options regarding the configuration of the network, and suggests which are optimal with respect to either incentive or to both of them combined. An analytical tool developed to perform these algorithms is described. Case studies are presented to illustrate how DNOs can use the analytical methods and tool developed in this thesis to accurately calculate the impacts of design or operation decisions on losses and reliability and thereby help in the identification of cost-effective network operation actions and longer-term investments.
Resource Type
DOI
Date Created
  • 2013
Former identifier
  • 995974

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