Decentralized Controller for Electrical Distribution Power Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional distributed control schemes in electrical distribution systems effectively maintain voltage within acceptable limits but fail to optimize active power losses, power factor, and voltage flatness across segments.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized coordinated control system using a controller with network interface and data processing circuitry that simulates various equipment configurations to minimize active power losses, controlling equipment such as load tap changing transformers and distribution capacitor banks to optimize operational parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If distributed control scheme is used to maintain voltage within limits, then voltage stability is improved, but active power loss optimization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control objectives (voltage regulation and active power loss minimization) into a unified decentralized coordinated control system. Controllers at different levels (substation and feeder) work together simultaneously to achieve both voltage stability and power loss optimization, rather than treating them as separate conflicting goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts equipment configurations based on real-time system conditions. The decentralized controllers continuously monitor voltage and power loss parameters, and adaptively modify control strategies to balance voltage stability requirements with active power loss minimization objectives under varying load conditions.
2Reliability
If distributed control scheme is used, then voltage regulation is improved, but power factor optimization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system merges voltage regulation and power factor optimization into a single coordinated control framework. By simultaneously considering both objectives in the control algorithm, the system achieves improved voltage regulation while also optimizing power factor, eliminating the trade-off present in conventional distributed control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes control parameters dynamically to optimize both voltage regulation and power factor. The decentralized controllers adjust equipment settings based on real-time measurements, modifying operational parameters to simultaneously improve voltage stability and power factor under different system conditions.
3Reliability
If distributed control scheme is used, then voltage limit compliance is improved, but voltage flatness optimization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges voltage limit compliance and voltage flatness into a unified control objective. The decentralized coordinated control system simultaneously ensures that voltages remain within acceptable limits while optimizing the flatness (uniformity) of voltage distribution across the network, achieving both goals together rather than in conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality control by allowing different controllers to optimize voltage characteristics specific to their local regions. Each decentralized controller adjusts equipment in its local area to maintain voltage limits while contributing to overall voltage flatness, with local conditions determining specific control actions.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for the decentralized, coordinated control of the active power losses of an electrical distribution system are provided. For example, a controller may include a network interface and data processing circuitry. The network interface may receive first measurements associated with a segment of an electrical distribution system and transmit a control signal configured to control equipment of the segment of the electrical distribution system. The data processing circuitry may run digital simulations of the segment of the electrical distribution system in various equipment configurations, selecting from among the various equipment configurations an equipment configuration that is expected to cause the active power losses of the segment to approach a desired value. The data processing circuitry then may generate the control signal, which may cause the equipment of the segment of the electrical distribution system to conform to the equipment configuration.