Electric Distribution Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Deep Learning Methods for Fault Avoidance and Predicting Demand in Electrical Distribution

In recent years, the distribution network in Chile has undergone various modifications to meet new demands and integrate new technologies. However, these improvements often do not last as long as expected due to inaccurate forecasting, resulting in frequent equipment changes and service interruptions. These issues affect project investment, unsold energy, and penalties for poor quality of supply. Understanding the electricity market, especially in distribution, is crucial and requires linking technical quality standards with service quality factors, such as the frequency and duration of interruptions, to understand their impact on regulated distribution to customers. In this context, a comparative study will be carried out between Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and transformer architectures, with the aim of improving the sizing of distribution transformers and preventing failures when determining the nominal power of the transformer to be installed. Variables such as voltages and operating currents of transformers installed between 2020 and 2021 in the Valparaíso region, Chile, along with the type and number of connected customers, maximum and minimum temperatures of the sectors of interest, and seasonality considerations will be used. The compilation of previous studies and the identification of key variables will help to propose solutions based on error percentages to optimise the accuracy of transformer sizing.

Analysis of Factors Influencing Health and Safety Programmes in Selected Electricity Distribution Companies

The study determined the factors influencing health and safety programme in the selected electricity distribution companies in Southwest, Nigeria. The study used descriptive survey research design. The study used primary sources of data, and the data were gathered through administration of questionnaire. The population for the study comprised of 11,621 workers of electricity companies in Southwest, Nigeria. A sample size of 400 was determined through the use of Taro Yamane formula and 385 were valid for usage. The sample was selected using two-stage sampling technique. At the first stage, purposive sampling technique was used in selecting employees who have used at least five years in the company; at the second stage, stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting employees using a senior, middle and junior categorisation of workers for stratification. The results also revealed that the human factors (t =5.836, p < 0.05), management factors (t = 3.898, p < 0.05), organisational factors (t = 2.120, p < 0.05) and environmental factors (t = 2.102, p < 0.05) were the factors influencing occupational health and safety practices in the study area. The study concluded that occupational health and safety practices have the potency of reducing the rate at which accidents and injuries occur among the workers and thereby improving the employees’ performance in Southwest, Nigeria. The study recommended that the factors that could reduce the potency of the health and safety programme should be controlled and be prevented.

Investments in Electricity Distribution Grids: Strategic versus Incremental Planning

The ongoing electrification of the transport sector is expected to cause an increase in electricity demand and, therefore, trigger significant network investments to accommodate it. This paper focuses on investment decision-making for electricity distribution grids and specifically on the strategic and incremental investment network planning approaches. In particular, the former involves network planning with the consideration of a long-term multi-stage study horizon, as opposed to a shorter–term view of the future that applies to the latter case. An investment analysis that is carried out underlines the economic savings generated from adopting a strategic investment perspective over an incremental one. These economic savings are achieved from the fact that the associated fixed investment costs are incurred only once in the horizon under strategic planning. On the other hand, incremental planning involves a series of network reinforcement decisions, thereby incurring the fixed cost multiple times. In addition, sensitivity analyses that are carried out capture the effect of key parameters, such as investment cost, discount rate and investment delay, on the generated economic savings.

Distribution Pattern of ELF Field Exposure Electricity Distribution Substation Portal Pole Type 20 kV Medium Voltage Network

The electricity distribution substation is one of the components of the electricity distribution system. Electrical distribution substations, especially portal pole-type electrical distribution substations, can emit ELF fields. However, people need to be aware of the health risks of ELF fields and continue to carry out various activities near electricity distribution substations. This research aims to create a distribution pattern for ELF Field and determine its safety level based on WHO thresholds. The research was conducted in the Jember Regency, particularly in Sumbersari District. This research uses a portal pole-type electricity distribution substations. The substation criteria studied were a portal pole distribution substation on a 20 kV transmission line with a transformer capacity of 160 kVA. The measurement points are 0 m below the transformer, 0.7 m, 1.4 m, 2.1 m, 2.8 m, 3.5 m, 4.1 m, and 4.9 m from the distribution substation building at a height of 1.5 m from the ground for three days at 21.00 WIB and 30 measurements were taken. The distances of these points to the transformer are 4.256 m, 4.313 m, 4.480 m, 4.745 m, 5.094 m, 5.510 m, 5.979 m and 6.490 m respectively. The type of research used is quantitative research with survey data collection techniques. The research design used was cross sectional study. Cross sectional study is a type of observational research design that collects data at one specific point in time from a sample which represents the population studied. ELF field measurements show a spherical distribution pattern with an average magnetic field intensity between 0.0358 µT and 2.91 µT and an average electric field intensity between 2.35 V/m and 16.42 V/m. The magnitude of the magnetic field and electric field measured gets smaller as the distance from the measurement point increases. According to WHO, these results are below the threshold for the general group. This research concludes that the portal pole-type distribution substation in the medium voltage network produces a safe ELF field with a spherical distribution pattern that is inversely proportional to the distance.

Evaluation of the Electrical Power Transformer Fins Design Technology: Numerical Analysis and Experimental Validation

The study includes numerical analysis and experimental verification on an electrical power distribution transformer (250 kVA, 11 kW, Oil Natural Air Natural). ANSYS Fluent R3 2019 software was used to develop the numerical simulation model. The validity of the numerical model was confirmed by comparing the results of the numerical model and experimental data. The study aims to improve the efficiency and performance of electrical power distribution transformers by proposing a design that reduces the temperature of the transformer while maintaining its traditional size. Numerically, the effect of fin geometry on the temperature and density of transformer oil was studied. Four different fin designs were proposed and compared with the traditional design. According to the results, all proposed designs contributed to improving the cooling performance of the transformer compared to the traditional design. Design A is similar to the traditional transformer design, with the only modification being manipulation of the fin length, and achieves an average oil temperature reduction of 4 K. Design B showed the smallest temperature drop of the four designs, with a 3 K drop. Designs C and D include ventilation channels that match the shape of the fin, providing distinct design differences. The difference between both designs relied on the fact that for design C, the orthogonally of fin plates was retained. On the other hand, in design D, skewing of fin plates was introduced. Design D proved to be the most effective in reducing the average oil temperature, being reduced by 10 K. On the other hand, Design C reduced the average oil temperature by 7 K.

Circular Economy as an Important Lever to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Case of an Electricity Distribution Company in Morocco

This article discusses the major challenges related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the electricity sector and their impact on global climate change. The electricity sector is responsible for about a quarter of total global GHG emissions. To address these challenges, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to measure the environmental impact of different energy sources and electricity generation and distribution processes. The circular economy is presented as a promising approach to reducing the carbon footprint of the electricity sector. By optimizing the use and value of materials throughout their life cycle, this approach contributes to waste minimization and resource efficiency. Morocco is committed to reducing its GHG emissions and has adopted policies and regulatory frameworks to combat climate change. This study aims to calculate the climate change impacts of electricity distribution phases by applying a life-cycle approach to the case of an electricity distribution company in Morocco. This assessment makes it possible to identify significant contributors from each area. In the context of this company, it is a question of demonstrating how the application of the principles of the circular economy concepts contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, in particular, that of scope 3. This study may be useful for other similar companies.

Three-phase model of SCIG-based variable speed wind turbine for unbalanced DSLF analysis

Steady state performances of the electric power distribution system are normally assessed or evaluated based on load flow analysis. To properly carry out the analysis, a valid steady state load flow model of each distribution system component, including the wind power plant (WPP), needs to be developed. The present paper proposes a method for modeling and integrating squirrel cage induction generator (SCIG)-based variable speed WPP into a three-phase unbalanced distribution system load flow (DSLF) analysis. The proposed method is based on a single-phase T-circuit model of fixed speed WPP, which has successfully been applied to balanced electric power systems. In the present work, the single-phase T-circuit model is extended and modified to be used in steady state load flow analysis of three-phase unbalanced distribution systems embedded with SCIG-based variable speed WPP. Results of the case studies confirm the validity of the proposed method.

Sufficiency of level 1 charging to meet electric vehicle charging requirements

As electric vehicle (EV) deployment increases there is increasing attention to meeting charging needs. We analyze 13 months of real world driving and charging data for 129 battery electric vehicles in Calgary, Canada to evaluate the potential for home-based level 1 charging to deliver the energy needed to satisfy observed driving demand. We find that 29% of vehicles can have their energy needs met entirely with level 1 charging. A further 53% of vehicles in our sample require only occasional supplementary level 3 charges and only a small minority of vehicles require 12 or more supplementary level 3 charges across the sample period. Across all vehicles the median ratio of charge energy that can be shifted to level 1 charging is 0.99. These results challenge the assumption that level 2 charging access is required for convenient operation of EVs and offer a partial solution to enable broader EV charging access and reduce the need for near term electrical panel or distribution grid upgrades.

Joint Scheme for Electric Locomotive Evacuation and Distribution System Restoration With Faults of External Power Supply Systems

Joint Scheme for Electric Locomotive Evacuation and Distribution System Restoration With Faults of External Power Supply Systems

Optimal coordination of directional over current relays for distribution systems using hybrid GWO-CSA

Coordination of protective relays is a critical aspect of electrical distribution systems, ensuring effective and reliable protection against faults. In modern power systems, the integration of distributed generation (DG) sources adds complexity to the coordination task. The dynamic nature of DG systems requires adaptive relay settings that can swiftly detect and isolate faults while minimizing potential damage and downtime. The purpose of this research is to improve the coordination of directional over current relays in electrical distribution systems, particularly in DG systems. An optimization technique combining the grey wolf optimization (GWO) and cuckoo search algorithm (CSA) is developed to identify the best relay settings that reduce overall operation time while ensuring excellent fault identification and isolation. To address relay faults caused by DG integration, a suitable primary and backup relay design is chosen, and the influence of time multiplier settings (TMS) on system performance and reliability is investigated. The proposed GWO-CSA technique is evaluated and implemented on IEEE 3, 8 and 15-bus systems using MATLAB. Simulation results show that the GWO-CSA strategy outperforms well compared to previous algorithms, enabling optimal coordination and increased protection in DG systems while drastically lowering relay operating time.

FACTORS ANALYSIS USE ELECTRICAL ENERGY SOURCES IN MICROGRIDS FROM ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM POSITION

The analysis of the factors of the use of electrical energy sources in microgrids from the point of view of the energy management system is a comprehensive study aimed at studying and evaluating various aspects of the use of electrical energy in small energy systems that can function independently of centralized energy networks. The main purpose of such an analysis is to identify key factors , which affect the efficiency and stability of the microgrid, as well as in the development of strategies to optimize their operation from the point of view of energy management. To achieve this goal, research is conducted covering the following aspects: technical characteristics of electrical sources, economic aspects, environmental consequences, energy management, social aspects. This is an important stage in the development of energy systems, aimed at creating efficient and sustainable energy solutions for the future. The analysis of the efficiency, reliability and power of various energy sources, such as solar batteries, wind turbines, batteries, etc., was considered. The cost of installation and operation of electric energy sources was calculated. , including the costs of maintenance, maintenance and replacement of equipment. The method of analyzing the impact of the use of various energy sources on the environment and the development of strategies for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and other harmful substances are given. The essence of energy management systems that allow efficient management of production, storage and distribution of electricity in microgrids to ensure maximum efficiency and stability of system operation is considered. The question of the development of alternative energy sources has become particularly relevant, therefore, considering the existing structures of microgrids, it is advisable to notice the peculiarities of the construction of each microgrid, for example, the structure of a microgrid based on a wind generator can be built in several variants, and in a solar power plant, for efficient operation, the MPPT control algorithm is used, which aims to control the step-up converter in that point of the current and voltage characteristics of the photovoltaic battery, where the maximum output power can be obtained. In such microgrid structures, storage batteries are used for reserve, which are charged through step-up converters. Inverters are used to power the AC load. It is advisable to combine the solar power plant and the wind generator system into one microgrid structure, and to ensure the operation of the microgrid in conditions of low generation of one or both generating units, a diesel-generator system is used. In the built hybrid structure of the microgrid, there are operational costs that must be minimized.

Transmission Line Power Theft

Abstract: Generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy involve many operational losses. We can defined the losses in generation technically but distribution and transmission losses cannot be precisely quantified with the sending end information. This illustrates the involvement of nontechnical parameter in transmission and distribution of electricity. Moreover technical losses occur naturally and are caused because of power dissipation in transmission lines, transformers, and other power system components. Technical losses in Transmission & Distribution are computed with the information about total load and the total energy bill. While technology in the raising slopes, we should also note the increasing immoral activities. The system prevents the illegal usage of electricity. At this point of technological development the problem of illegal usage of electricity can be solved without any human control using IoT. With the implementation of this system will save large amount of electricity, and there by electricity will be available for more number of consumer then earlier, in highly populated country such as India, China. Power theft can be defined as the usage of the electrical power without any legal contract with the supplier. To see it, a proposed system (current measurement and comparison) is proposed in which the distribution of family power is done indirectly from the distribution box to each house. Power theft is a persistent issue in many countries, leading to significant financial losses for utility companies and affecting the reliability of power supply. In this study, we propose a novel approach for detecting power theft in transmission lines using NodeMCU ESP8266, a low-cost Wi-Fi-enabled microcontroller, and Blynk IoT platform for remote monitoring and control.The proposed system involves installing current sensors at various locations along the transmission lines to measure the current flow. The NodeMCU ESP8266 is used as a data acquisition unit that collects the current data from the sensors and sends it to the Blynk IoT platform via Wi-Fi for real-time monitoring. The Blynk platform provides a user-friendly interface for visualizing the data and setting up alarms and notifications for abnormal current patterns, which could indicate power theft. The system can also track power consumption trends, identify abnormal usage patterns, and provide insights for optimizing power distribution. The proposed system has several advantages, including low-cost implementation, real-time monitoring, remote access, and easy customization through the Blynk platform. It has the potential to significantly reduce power theft, improve revenue collection for utility companies, and enhance the overall reliability of power supply in transmission lines. Further research and development can be done to optimize the system's performance and expand its applications in different power distribution scenarios.

Evaluation of electric field in polymeric electrodes geometries for liquid biosensing applications using COMSOL multiphysics

This work investigates the electrical field distribution in polymeric electrodes, materials composed of polymers and nanoparticles that leverage the physicochemical interactions between constituents to modify mechanical and electrical properties. Polymeric matrices often incorporate carbon nanoparticles to impart specific conductive properties while simultaneously enhancing mechanical stability through a protective polymer layer. The morphology, dielectric properties, and geometric configuration of these materials influence the electric field distribution, which is critical to their functionality. Utilizing finite element modeling, this study not yet explored aims to predict these effects and guide the design of material compositions and structural geometries to optimize functionalities like catalytic activity, adhesion enhancement, and interface energy reduction. Simulations were conducted using COMSOL 6.0 across eight similar geometric configurations, assessing polarization, and electric potential distribution. Results underscore the importance of surface polarization in controlling roughness and optimizing biosensor performance for liquid samples. Notably, controlled surface roughness induces asymmetric electric field distortions at biosensor edges, influencing dipole moments in polarizable nanoparticles. Each tested geometry demonstrated unique characteristics pertinent to its application in 3D-printed biosensors, influenced by surface roughness and wettability. Additionally, modifications in the electrical double layer due to controlled roughness alter charge distributions at the electrode-electrolyte interface, affecting electric field configurations.

Trapping and recapturing single DNA molecules with pore-cavity-pore device

Single-molecule detection technology is a technique capable of detecting molecules at the single-molecule level, characterized by high sensitivity, high resolution, and high specificity. Nanopore technology, as one of the single-molecule detection tools, is widely used to study the structure and function of biomolecules. In this study, we constructed a small-sized nanopore with a pore-cavity-pore structure, which can achieve a higher reverse capture rate. Through simulation, we investigated the electrical potential distribution of the nanopore with a pore-cavity-pore structure and analyzed the influence of pore size on the potential distribution. Accordingly, different pore sizes can be designed based on the radius of gyration of the target biomolecules, restricting their escape paths inside the chamber. In the future, nanopores with a pore-cavity-pore structure based on two-dimensional thin film materials are expected to be applied in single-molecule detection research, which provides new insights for various detection needs.

Cold ironing techno-economical study for a port with photovoltaic plants

According to European regulation 2023/1804/EU, all member states shall ensure the availability of cold ironing (CI) in large ports for at least 90 % of the total number of port calls of seagoing ships above 5000 gross tonnes, by the end of 2029. This is a measure expected to improve air quality, especially in the vicinity of the port's urban environment. Preliminary studies show that there are financial viability issues related to CI installations, under the current electricity pricing policies and the high investment cost for CI infrastructure. In this paper, the financial viability of the penetration of photovoltaic (PV) units optimized from spatial and power produced point of view is investigated. The proposed method is applied to various ship types, indicatively for the Thessaloniki Port, taking into consideration the connection with the Medium Voltage (MV) electricity distribution grid, as well as the construction, operation, and maintenance costs, under modified economic criterion of benefit-cost ratio (BCR).

Ray-Tracing modeling for urban photovoltaic energy planning and management

The traditional Radiative Transfer Modelling solutions for Solar Energy monitoring and forecasting often provide outputs for a single point location or an area location. However, for high resolution representation of areas these solutions suffer due to low simulation speeds. This approach makes it difficult for decision-makers to accurately estimate the solar potential of the administrative area and plan installations accordingly. In this direction, the study introduces three-dimensional Ray-Tracing based radiative modeling which is a high-speed area-based solution for solar energy monitoring. The three-dimensional ray-tracing was simulated by using advanced graphic creation platforms and cloud computing in conjunction with satellite data of the clouds, aerosols, building shadows effects and three-dimensional representations of the city using Cesium 3D tiles and Unreal Engine ®. The entire system was developed in a hybrid model to be exploited by urban planners for solar PV installations and by electricity distribution system operators for energy management and efficient incorporation of the produced energy into the regular and smart grids. This study implements and analyses this Ray-Tracing model for solar photovoltaic energy potential estimation at a rooftop level for the city of Athens, Greece. The total rooftop exploitable area in Athens was found to be close to 34 km2, which is able to massively host distributed PVs followed by almost 4.3 TWh of annually produced energy, whilst Penteli (a Municipality in Athens) possessed a potential of 96.8 GWh with an exploitable area of just 0.8 km2. This amount of energy, in a hypothetical full coverage scenario, is able to provide for 48.7% of Athens’s total energy requirement. Similar year-long simulations were conducted using the EU’s largest rooftop solar installation at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center and randomly selected rooftops having solar installations in different municipalities in Athens. With these estimated solar potential values, the gross savings in natural gas consumption and hence the CO2 equivalent emissions can be computed. With the current estimated solar potential of Athens, the analyzed savings accounted of nearly 2.43 billion euros and 18 MT CO2 equivalent emissions. These computed annual savings are capable of covering installation costs for nearly 100,000 new solar installations. The end-product of this study is the development of a solar cadastre web tool which will support the decision-makers in the energy transition policies and the solar PV penetration into the urban environment and eventually drive the effort into renewable energy transition across the globe.

Features of multi-agent evaluation of of microgrid systems efficiency in parallel operation with the power system according to the reliability criterion

Ensuring reliable electricity supply to consumers in the face of destruction of critical energy infrastructure and shortage of generating capacities in Ukraine requires the development of distribution systems and their management systems. The purpose of the study was to substantiate the development of models for ensuring the optimal structure of electrical distribution networks under the conditions of connecting micro-networks according to the reliability criterion in conditions of limited investments. The paper uses a method for assessing the structural reliability of complex electrical systems with microgrid structures and forms a rational power distribution of such structures according to the criterion of optimising the reliability indicators of the studied electric power system. A mathematical optimisation model based on a computational system was proposed, designed to solve non-convex problems with minimising integral reliability indicators, considering financial constraints and the investment efficiency curve. Based on the research, the possibilities of optimisation using the BARON solver available on the NEOS server were examined. The results of the model’s performance are demonstrated using examples, considering the parameters of distribution system objects and their limitations on network components. An algorithm and programme for solving the problem of targeting power flows of microgrid structures in multi-node regional power systems are proposed. Algorithms and scenarios for the response of dispatching services are developed, provided that investments are limited, which will ensure the survivability of the power system as a whole. It is established that the development of rational electricity flows of microgrid structures will minimise the under-supply of electric energy by specific load nodes and determine their shares in covering the demand of the energy island in conditions of power shortage. The findings can be used in the operational management of power systems

Efficiency in electricity distribution in Sweden and the effects of small-scale generation, electric vehicles and dynamic tariffs

We measure the cost of technical inefficiency for local electricity distribution firms in Sweden using Stochastic Frontier Analysis, and explore how small-scale generation, the number of electric vehicles and the introduction of dynamic pricing schemes affects the transient inefficiency and efficiency scores. Our results show little to no effect of these environmental variables on the cost of technical inefficiency of electricity distribution grids in Sweden.

An Innovative Approach to Radiality Representation in Electrical Distribution System Reconfiguration: Enhanced Efficiency and Computational Performance

An Innovative Approach to Radiality Representation in Electrical Distribution System Reconfiguration: Enhanced Efficiency and Computational Performance

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Study for Apartment Buildings

Changes in the engine type of cars aimed at climate goals also have an impact on the habit of electricity consumption at home. Charging electric cars from the residential grid also increases the total electricity consumption of the residential building. If all apartment owners in an apartment building want to charge their electric car at the same time, this may create a situation where the main protection of the apartment building is activated. The purpose of this research is to identify possible options to avoid this problem, based on different real-life data. For example: adding an energy storage to the electrical system of an apartment building is seen as one solution. Also supplement of an energy management software to the electrical and battery bank system to enables residents to schedule and prioritize their electric car charging times to avoid simultaneous high-demand periods. This system can also be used to optimize electricity distribution and consumption in apartment buildings under volatile electricity price conditions.