Abstract
One of the fundamental tasks of electric distribution utilities is guaranteeing a continuous supply of electricity to their customers. The primary distribution network is a critical part of these facilities because a fault in it could affect thousands of customers. However, the complexity of this network has been increased with the irruption of distributed generation, typical in a Smart Grid and which has significantly complicated some of the analyses, making it impossible to apply traditional techniques. This problem is intensified in underground lines where access is limited. As a possible solution, this paper proposes to make a deployment of a distributed sensor network along the power lines. This network proposes taking advantage of its distributed character to support new approaches of these analyses. In this sense, this paper describes the aquiculture of the proposed network (adapted to the power grid) based on nodes that use power line communication and energy harvesting techniques. In this sense, it also describes the implementation of a real prototype that has been used in some experiments to validate this technological adaptation. Additionally, beyond a simple use for monitoring, this paper also proposes the use of this approach to solve two typical distribution system operator problems, such as: fault location and failure forecasting in power cables.
Highlights
In the last few years, electric systems have become one of the backbones of the modern world.In order to afford this complex scenario, the paradigm of Smart Grids [1,2] was proposed, adding a new hierarchical organization to make its management possible
A general description of today’s conventional electric delivery system can be broken down into mostly isolated components of generation, transmission, substation, distribution, and the customer [3]. It is the part of power system that connects primary substations to costumers, and which is divided into two levels; the primary distribution network and the secondary distribution network
This philosophy is known as Fault Location, Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR) [10]. Most of these fault location methods are typically not applicable because they usually lack information or have problems in scenarios with distributed generation. As it will be detailed this paper proposes taking advantage of a new approach based on a proposed new distributed instrumentation which use its distributed character to solve the fault location problem
Summary
In the last few years, electric systems have become one of the backbones of the modern world.In order to afford this complex scenario, the paradigm of Smart Grids [1,2] was proposed, adding a new hierarchical organization to make its management possible. It is the part of power system that connects primary substations to costumers, and which is divided into two levels; the primary distribution network (at Medium-Voltage, MV) and the secondary distribution network (at Low-Voltage, LV). The primary distribution network is responsible for connecting primary substations (from High-Voltage to Medium-Voltage, HV/MV, conversion) to secondary substations (from Medium -Voltage to Low-Voltage, MV/LV, conversion). Taking this structure into account, a blackout in one feeder of this top level of this distribution network would affect to a high number of consumers, causing inconveniences to them and the utility company. A proof of its importance is the existence of some indicators whose mission is to assess the quality of Distribution System Operator (DSO) service, e.g., System Average Interruption Frequency
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