Systems and methods for volt/VAR control in electric power management and automation systems
A dynamic auto-adaptive volt/VAR control includes a memory storing program code, a communications channel operatively connected to a volt/VAR device, and a processor. The processor is configured to access a database of prior system knowledge and receive real-time measurements and power system operating condition information. The processor processes the prior system knowledge and the real time measurements and operating condition information to create a set of commands for voltage and reactive power control that will result in at least one of: (a) maintaining a voltage profile at the volt/VAR device within predefined limits, or (b) reducing electrical losses through voltage optimization. The processor causes the set of commands to be sent to the volt/VAR device.
1. A multi-stage dynamic auto-adaptive volt/VAR control, comprising:
memory storing program code;
a communications channel operatively connected to a volt/VAR device;
a processor configured to:
access a database of prior system knowledge;
receive real-time measurements and power system operating condition information;
process the prior system knowledge and the real time measurements and power system operating condition information to create a set of commands for voltage and reactive power control, the set of commands causing the volt/VAR device to (a) maintain a voltage profile at the volt/VAR device within predefined limits, or (b) reduce electrical losses through voltage optimization;
cause the set of commands to be sent to the volt/VAR device through a plurality of cascaded stages in the time dimension, the plurality of cascaded stages in the time dimension comprising at least a first stage and a second stage, the second stage being configured to tune set points resulting from the first stage.
2. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the commands comprise updated set points.
3. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the commands comprise control decisions.
4. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the volt/VAR device comprises a voltage regulator.
5. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the volt/VAR device comprises a load tap changer.
6. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the volt/VAR device comprises a primary or secondary capacitor bank.
7. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the volt/VAR device comprises a distribution flexible AC transmission system.
8. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the volt/VAR device comprises a unified power flow control.
9. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the volt/VAR device comprises an energy storage system.
10. The volt/VAR control according to claim 9 , wherein the volt/VAR device comprises a switched capacitor bank.
11. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the volt/VAR device comprises a smart inverter.
12. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the volt/VAR device comprises a device having with real and reactive power controls.
13. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the control is configured to support parallel processing in a manner whereby it can be centralized at one controller or decentralized across multiple controllers.
14. The volt/VAR control according to claim 1 , wherein the volt/VAR device comprises a plurality of volt/VAR devices.
15. A multi-tiered dynamic auto-adaptive volt/VAR control, comprising:
memory storing program code;
a communications channel operatively connected to a volt/VAR device;
a processor configured to:
access a database of prior system knowledge;
receive real-time measurements and power system operating condition information;
process the prior system knowledge and the real time measurements and power system operating condition information to create a set of commands for voltage and reactive power control, the set of commands causing the volt/VAR device to maintain a voltage profile at the volt/VAR device within predefined limits, or (b) reduce electrical losses through voltage optimization;
cause the set of commands to be sent to the volt/VAR device through a plurality of tiers of a hierarchical electrical power system, each of the plurality of tiers of the hierarchical electrical power system comprising hardware controlled by a different grid operator, and through a plurality of cascaded stages in the time dimension, the plurality of cascaded stages in the time dimension comprising at least a first stage and a second stage, the second stage being configured to tune set points resulting from the first stage.
16. A distributed dynamic auto-adaptive volt/VAR control, comprising:
memory storing program code;
a communications channel operatively connected to a volt/VAR device;
a processor configured to support parallel processing in a manner whereby like functions of the processor can be centralized at one controller and can be decentralized across multiple controllers, the processor being further configured to:
access a database of prior system knowledge;
receive real-time measurements and power system operating condition information;
process the prior system knowledge and the real time measurements and power system operating condition information to create a set of commands for voltage and reactive power control, the set of commands causing the volt/VAR device to (a) maintain a voltage profile at the volt/VAR device within predefined limits, or (b) reduce electrical losses through voltage optimization; and
cause the set of commands to be sent to the volt/VAR device through a plurality of cascaded stages in the time dimension, the plurality of cascaded stages in the time dimension comprising at least a first stage and a second stage, the second stage being configured to tune set points resulting from the first stage.