S. A. Soman

Optimal Multistage Scheduling of PMU Placement: An ILP Approach

This paper addresses various aspects of optimal phasor measurement unit (PMU) placement problem. We propose a procedure for multistaging of PMU placement in a given time horizon using an integer linear programming (ILP) framework. Hitherto, modeling of zero injection constraints had been a challenge due to the intrinsic nonlinearity associated with it. We show that zero injection constraints can also be modeled as linear constraints in an ILP framework. Minimum PMU placement problem has multiple solutions. We propose two indices, viz, BOI and SORI, to further rank these multiple solutions, where BOI is bus observability index giving a measure of number of PMUs observing a given bus and SORI is system observability redundancy index giving sum of all BOI for a system. Results on IEEE 118 bus system have been presented. Results indicate that: (1) optimal phasing of PMUs can be computed efficiently; (2) proposed method of modeling zero injection constraints improve computational performance; and (3) BOI and SORI help in improving the quality of PMU placement.

Adaptive Current Differential Protection Schemes for Transmission-Line Protection

Throughout the history of power system protection, researchers have strived to increase sensitivity and speed of apparatus protection systems without compromising security. With the significant technological advances in wide-area measurement systems, for transmission system protection, current differential protection scheme outscores alternatives like overcurrent and distance protection schemes. Therefore, in this paper, we address this challenge by proposing a methodology for adaptive control of the restraining region in a current differential plane. First an error analysis of conventional phasor approach for current differential protection is provided using the concept of dynamic phasor. Subsequently, we extend the methodology for protection of series compensated transmission lines. Finally, we also evaluate the speed versus accuracy conflict using phasorlets. Electromagnetic Transient Program simulations are used to substantiate the claims. The results demonstrate the utility of the proposed approach.

Placement and Penetration of Distributed Generation under Standard Market Design

Distributed Generation (DG) can help in reducing the cost of electricity to the costumer, relieve network congestion and provide environmentally friendly energy close to load centers. Its capacity is also scalable and it provides voltage support at distribution level. Hence, DG placement and penetration level is an important problem for both the utility and DG owner. The cost of electricity as a commodity depends upon market model. The restructured power markets are slowly maturing with standardizations like Standard Market Design (SMD). The key feature of SMD is the Locational Marginal Pricing (LMP) scheme. This paper examines placement and penetration level of the DGs under the SMD framework. The proposed approach is illustrated by case studies on MATPOWER 30 bus and IEEE 118 bus systems.

Secure Remote Backup Protection of Transmission Lines Using Synchrophasors

We consider the problem of detecting a fault on a transmission line from the residual vector of a synchrophasor state estimator (SynSE). For a transmission line under fault, we identify six operating modes depending upon location of the phasor measurement units (PMUs). We show that in five operating modes, the fault is seen in the residual vector while in one mode, the fault will not reflect in the residual vector. The analysis leads us to propose a remote backup protection scheme for supervised zone-3 operation of distance relays. In case of inadequate PMU penetration in the system, the implementation of SynSE can even be restricted to a small subsystem of critical lines.

Analysis of angle stability problems: a transmission protection systems perspective

Postfault rotor angle oscillations lead to power swings. Both unstable and stable swings can induce distance relay tripping. For unstable swings, a new computational procedure to locate all of the electrical centers is developed. It simplifies the work associated with visual screening of all the R-X plots. For stable swings, a generic three-tier hierarchy of stability-related norms defined by branch norm, fault norm, and system norm is proposed. Ranking by branch norm leads to ranking of power swings. Ranking by fault norm leads to ranking of faults or contingencies. Magnitude and rate of change of system norm can be used to detect an out-of-step condition. Results on a ten-machine system and a utility system with detailed models are also presented.

Min-Max Fair Power Flow Tracing for Transmission System Usage Cost Allocation: A Large System Perspective

Power flow tracing has been suggested as an approach for evaluating 1) transmission system usage (TSU) cost and 2) loss (MW) cost for generator and load entities in the system. Recently, optimal power flow tracing methods have been proposed to “explicitly” model fairness constraints in the tracing framework. This paper, further, strengthens the tracing-compliant min-max fair cost allocation approach. The min-max model proposed in this paper is robust. It addresses concerns like scalability, numerical stability and termination in a finite number of steps while searching the optimal solution. We also propose a methodology to model DISCOMs and GENCOs as coalition within min-max framework. Case studies on an all India network of 1699 nodes and comparison with average participation and marginal participation methods bring out the better conflict resolution feature of the proposed approach. A method to model HVDC lines within the marginal participation scheme is also proposed. Quantitative and qualitative comparison of various TSU cost allocation methods on such a large system is another noteworthy contribution of the paper.

An Expert System Approach for Multi-Year Short-Term Transmission System Expansion Planning: An Indian Experience

This paper proposes an expert system approach to short-term expansion planning (STEP). The rules which drive STEP can be classified into MW, MVAR, and ampacity management rules. MW and ampacity management rules are for alleviating transmission line congestion. Reactive power management is required for voltage control at load busses, conformity to the capacity curve of the generators, and containing the MW losses within acceptable limits. Embedding reactive power management in STEP is a challenging task since ac load flow may not converge in absence of proper reactive power planning and load modeling. Therefore, we also propose enhancements to the fast decoupled load flow algorithm for on-the-fly reactive power management. The enhanced algorithm not only can detect divergent load flow scenarios but also self-correct it by restarting the whole process with greater degree of freedom in reactive power controls. The proposed approach leads to development of an automated tool for STEP which has the capability to work, even with incomplete information. A simple method for evaluating location and requirement of shunt reactor is also proposed. By analysis and comparative evaluation, we show that the proposed system can arrive at a solution which is close to optimal. Results on the Western Regional Grid of India with an approximate load of 28 000 MW and 1200 nodes are presented to demonstrate effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Computationally Efficient Methodology for Analysis of Faulted Power Systems With Series-Compensated Transmission Lines: A Phase Coordinate Approach

A capacitor in series with a transmission line is protected from overvoltage due to a large fault current by a nonlinear metal-oxide varistor (MOV) connected in parallel. Fault analysis, as well as the evaluation of performance of the transmission protection system, in the presence of MOV action becomes complex because (1) v-i characteristics of the MOV are nonlinear; (2) un- symmetrical MOV action for unsymmetrical faults will introduce coupling in sequence networks; and (3) MOV action will influence voltage or current inversion phenomenon. This paper presents a computationally efficient and simple methodology for fault analysis wherein the linear part of the network is modeled by an equivalent multiport Thevenin network. The proposed approach handles nonlinearity in fault analysis efficiently. It also provides an elegant approach to model unbalance in a network due to MOV action. The proposed approach can be used to determine relays prone to voltage or current inversion. Results on a real-life 716-bus Indian system illustrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.

Object-oriented design for power system applications

A sound design method is based upon a sound theoretical foundation, yet it offers degrees of freedom for artistic innovation. In the object oriented paradigm, the world is viewed as a collection of objects interacting with each other to achieve a meaningful behavior. The design perspective provided in this article can be used for many applications, such as power system state estimation and optimal power flow (OPF), and the sparse matrix class can be developed further to include eigenvalue analysis. As such, the architecture presented in this article is scalable.

Current Differential Protection of Transmission Line Using the Moving Window Averaging Technique

We propose a new approach to current differential protection of transmission lines. In this approach, we transform the instantaneous line current(s) by using a moving window averaging technique. If the time span of moving window is equal to one-cycle time, then the steady-state value of the transformed current is zero for a periodic signal which is composed of fundamental and harmonic frequencies. Signal distortions (e.g., a fault) cause the transformed currents to deviate from the nominal zero value. This permits the development of a sensitive, secure, fast, and yet simple current differential protection scheme. The scheme can be applied in toto to series-compensated transmission lines. Results on a four-machine ten-bus system and comparative evaluation with state-of-the-art methods brings out promise of the proposed method.