Power Restoration Approach for Resilient Active Distribution Networks in the Presence of a Large-Scale Power Blackout

Abstract

The increasing integration of different forms of distributed generations (DGs) into current medium- and low-voltage power distribution networks can result in increased system instability and protection performance degradation. Efficient power supply restoration upon a power outage is demanded to ensure resilient operation of power distribution networks consisting of DGs with stochastic generation and diverse characteristics. This work proposes an algorithmic solution of power supply restoration under the condition of a large-scale power blackout. The solution consists of DGs starting path searching and collective load restoration combining DG-based and topology reconfiguration strategies to improve network resilience under failures. In the DG starting path searching algorism, non-black-start DGs (NBDGs) can be started by black-start DGs (BDGs) nearby through the shortest path as much as possible. This solution enables simultaneous power restoration in the presence of multiple faults with maximized restored loads and minimized power loss and power flow changes. The developed solution of power supply restoration is evaluated on the basis of a 53-bus test distribution feeder penetrated with wind turbines (WTs) for a set of fault scenarios through simulations. The stochastic generation of WTs is fully considered using the heuristic moment matching (HMM) method. The proposed solution is assessed through mathematical simulations, and the results confirm that this solution can provide efficient supply restoration under a large-scale power blackout.