Flexible Interconnection Control for Autonomous Feeder Balancing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional distribution networks face challenges such as voltage violations, lower power factor, and unbalanced load distribution among feeders, and are vulnerable to control losses due to telecommunication faults, requiring complex and costly computation for standalone control systems.
Innovation Solution
A flexible interconnection device (FID) that receives voltage and current signals to determine reference active and reactive power values for converters, allowing for autonomous power distribution and balance between feeders without reliance on a global controlling center, using a method that includes active and reactive power units and a converter controller to manage power flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standalone control system is implemented for loop distribution system, then control reliability is improved (independent of telecommunication), but device complexity and computational cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple distributed control units, each responsible for a specific converter or section. Each control unit performs local calculations based on locally available measurements, rather than one centralized unit performing all calculations. This segmentation reduces the computational burden on any single unit while maintaining autonomous control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each control unit autonomously determines its own control actions based on local measurements and pre-stored control strategies. The system serves itself through distributed intelligence where each unit independently makes decisions without requiring complex centralized computation or telecommunication infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If conventional distribution networks use telecommunication for control, then control coordination is improved, but system vulnerability increases due to telecommunication faults
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized control function is segmented into distributed control units that operate autonomously. Each unit can make local control decisions without relying on telecommunication links to a central controller, thereby eliminating the single point of failure represented by the telecommunication infrastructure while maintaining coordinated operation through peer-to-peer communication or independent decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed with redundant control capabilities that function independently of telecommunication infrastructure. By preparing distributed control units in advance that can operate autonomously, the system cushions against the potential failure of telecommunication links, ensuring continuous operation even when communication channels are compromised.
3Extent of automation
If standalone control system is used with complex computation, then control autonomy is improved, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computational workload is segmented and distributed across multiple low-power control units rather than concentrated in one high-performance computing system. Each unit performs only the calculations necessary for its local control functions, significantly reducing total energy consumption while maintaining full automation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each distributed control unit performs only the minimum necessary computations for local control decisions, rather than every unit performing full-system optimization calculations. This partial action approach achieves sufficient automation for reliable operation while dramatically reducing computational energy requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method can be used to control a flexible interconnection device that includes a number of converters. The method includes receiving a plurality of voltage signals indicating respective voltages of a plurality of load branches and a plurality of current signals indicating respective currents of the plurality of load branches, determining reference active power values for each of the plurality of converters based on the plurality of voltage signals and a plurality of reference voltage signals, determining reference reactive power values for each of the plurality of converters based on the plurality of voltage signals, the plurality of reference voltage signals and the plurality of current signals, and controlling the plurality of converters based on the determined reference active power values and the determined reference reactive power values.