Distributed control in electric power delivery systems

1. A controller configured to implement a distributed control scheme in an electrical power delivery system, the controller comprising:

a communications interface in communication with a plurality of control devices, each of the control devices distributed from the controller;

a processor communicatively coupled to the communications interface; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, enable the controller to:

receive a plurality of indications of electrical conditions from the plurality of control devices in electrical communication with distributed portions of the electrical power delivery system, the plurality of indications including impending overload condition indications, crossed overload condition indications, and electrical power system measurements from the plurality of control devices;

determine an operating stage from among a plurality of operating stages based upon the impending overload condition indications, overload condition indications, and electrical power system measurements from the distributed portions of the electrical power delivery system;

select a control strategy based upon the operating stage, the control strategy for a control device of the plurality of control devices causing the control device to implement a first control action for measured electrical conditions different from a second control action for the measured electrical conditions before selection of the control strategy; and

communicate the control strategy to the plurality of control devices via the communications interface;

wherein the plurality of control devices are configured to implement a plurality of control actions based upon the control strategy.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operating stages comprise an alert operating stage in which the control strategy permits the electrical power delivery system to prohibit implementation of a category of control actions during a temporary condition in the electrical power delivery system.

3. The controller of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further enable the controller to generate at least one of the plurality of control actions based on the alert operating stage, the at least one control action comprising one of adjusting a set-point of an active volt-ampere reactive (“VAR”) device and adjusting a threshold of a direct current line.

4. The controller of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further enable the controller to receive a load characteristic estimate from one of a plurality of control devices and to generate at least one of the plurality of control actions based on the alert operating stage, the at least one control action comprising adjusting a setting of a tap changer controlling a change of a tap position based on the load characteristic estimate.

5. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operating stages comprise an alert operating stage in which the control strategy permits the electrical power delivery system to delay implementation of a category of control actions during a temporary condition in the electrical power delivery system.

6. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operating stages comprises an emergency operating stage in which the control strategy increases a capacity of the electrical power delivery system.

7. The controller of claim 6 , wherein the instructions further enable the controller to generate at least one of the plurality of control actions based on the emergency operating stage, the at least one control action comprising one of re-dispatching generation of electrical energy, starting reserve generation capacity, and importing remotely generated power.

8. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operating stages comprises an emergency operating stage in which the control strategy comprises a demand response strategy.

9. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operating stages comprises an extreme stage in which the control strategy reduces a cumulative load on the electrical power delivery system.

10. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further enable the controller to generate at least one control action based on the extreme stage, the at least one control action comprising one of selectively disconnecting a portion of the cumulative load and implementing transmission line loading relief.

11. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the operating stage is determined, at least in part, based on the plurality of indications of electrical conditions comprising an indication of an asset removal from the electrical power delivery system.

12. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the first control action comprises a continuous control action and the second control action comprises a discontinuous control action.

13. A method of implementing distributed control in an electrical power delivery system, the method comprising:

measuring, by a plurality of control devices in electrical communication with distributed portions of the electrical power delivery system, a plurality of electrical power system measurements;

determining, by the plurality of control devices, a plurality of indications including impending overload condition indications, and crossed overload condition indications using the electrical power system measurements;

sending, from the plurality of control devices, the plurality of indications and electrical power system measurements to a controller;

receiving, at the controller, the plurality of indications including the impending overload condition indications, the crossed overload condition indications, and the electrical power system measurements from a plurality of control devices in electrical communication with distributed portions of the electrical power delivery system;

determining an operating stage from among a plurality of operating stages based upon the impending overload condition indications, crossed overload condition indications, and the electrical power system measurements from the distributed portions of the electrical power delivery system;

selecting a control strategy based upon the operating stage, the control strategy for a control device of the plurality of control devices causing the control device to implement a first control action for measured electrical conditions different from a second control action for the measured electrical conditions before identification of the control strategy;

communicating the control strategy to the plurality of control devices via the communications interface;

implementing, using the plurality of control devices, a plurality of control actions based upon the control strategy.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the control strategy comprises delaying implementation of a category of control actions during a temporary condition in the electrical power delivery system.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein plurality of control actions comprise adjusting a set-point of an active volt-ampere reactive (“VAR”) device and adjusting a threshold of a direct current line.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving a load characteristic estimate from one of the plurality of control devices; and

wherein plurality of control actions comprise one of adjusting a setting of a tap changer and controlling a change of a tap position based on the load characteristic estimate.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein plurality of control actions comprise at least one of re-dispatching generation of electrical energy, starting reserve generation capacity, and importing remotely generated power; and implementing a demand response strategy.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising reducing a cumulative load on the electrical power delivery system.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining the operating stage is based, at least in part, on the plurality of indications of electrical conditions comprising an indication of an asset removal from the electrical power delivery system.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first control action comprises a continuous control action and the second control action comprises a discontinuous control action.