Systems and methods for edge of network voltage control of a power grid
Systems and methods for an edge of network voltage control of a power grid are described. A system includes a distribution power network, a plurality of loads (at or near an edge of the distribution power network), and a plurality of shunt-connected, switch-controlled volt ampere reactive (VAR) sources also located at the edge or near the edge of the distribution power network where they may each detect a proximate voltage. The VAR source can determine whether to enable a VAR compensation component therein based on the proximate voltage and adjust network VAR by controlling a switch to enable the VAR compensation component. Further still, each of the VAR sources may be integrated within a customer-located asset, such as a smart meter, and a multitude of such VAR sources can be used to effectuate a distributed controllable VAR source (DCVS) cloud network.
1. A method of controlling a plurality of distributed controllable voltage ampere reactive (VAR) sources (DCVS's), comprising:
detecting, by a first distributed controllable Volt-Ampere Reactive (“VAR”) source of said plurality of distributed controllable voltage ampere reactive (VAR) sources (DCVS's) at an edge of a distribution power network proximate to a first load, a first proximate voltage, the first load configured to receive power from the distribution power network, the first distributed controllable Volt-Ampere Reactive (“VAR”) source comprising a first processor and a first VAR compensation component;
monitoring the first proximate voltage by waiting for a first delay and then evaluating the first proximate voltage;
detecting, by a second distributed controllable Volt-Ampere Reactive (“VAR”) source of said plurality of distributed controllable voltage ampere reactive (VAR) sources (DCVS's) at the edge of the distribution power network proximate to a second load, a second proximate voltage, the second distributed controllable Volt-Ampere Reactive (“VAR”) source comprising a second VAR compensation component and a second processor;
monitoring the second proximate voltage by waiting for a second delay and then evaluating the second proximate voltage;
wherein the first delay is not equal to the second delay;
determining a voltage difference by comparing an actual voltage of one of the plurality of the DCVS's measured to a voltage set point of the DCVS;
comparing the voltage difference to a threshold voltage;
setting a time constant for the DCVS if the voltage difference does not exceed the threshold voltage;
determining and setting a gain for the DCVS; and
depending on whether the voltage difference at least exceeds a zero value, removing at least one VAR source of the plurality of the DCVS's or injecting reactive power via at least one DCVS of the plurality of the DCVS's.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, taking no action to set a time constant, if the voltage difference exceeds the threshold voltage.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time constant is randomized such that operation of neighboring DCVS's of the plurality of the DCVS's, do not conflict with each other.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gain is proportional to the voltage difference.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removal of at least one VAR source of the plurality of the DCVS's comprises removal of multiple VAR sources when the voltage difference does not exceed the zero value.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injection of the reactive power via at least one DCVS of the plurality of the DCVS's comprises enabling multiple VAR sources to inject reactive power when the voltage difference at least exceeds the zero value.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removal of at least one VAR source of the plurality of the DCVS's comprises removal of a DCVS when the voltage difference does not exceed the zero value.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injection of the reactive power via at least one DCVS of the plurality of the DCVS's comprises enabling a DCVS to inject reactive power when the voltage difference exceeds the zero value.