Benefits of Utilizing AMI Data in Distribution Automation Applications

152 Pages·2009·1.64 MB·English

Benefits of Utilizing AMI Data in Distribution
Automation Applications

1018984

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Benefits of Utilizing AMI Data in
Distribution Automation
Applications
1018984
Technical Update, December 2009

EPRI Project Manager
E. Ibrahim
ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE
3420 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94304-1338 ▪ PO Box 10412, Palo Alto, California 94303-0813 ▪ USA
800.313.3774 ▪ 650.855.2121 ▪ [email protected] ▪ www.epri.com
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DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITIES
THIS DOCUMENT WAS PREPARED BY THE ORGANIZATION(S) NAMED BELOW AS AN
ACCOUNT OF WORK SPONSORED OR COSPONSORED BY THE ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH
INSTITUTE, INC. (EPRI). NEITHER EPRI, ANY MEMBER OF EPRI, ANY COSPONSOR, THE
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ORGANIZATION(S) THAT PREPARED THIS DOCUMENT
Utility Consulting International

This is an EPRI Technical Update report. A Technical Update report is intended as an informal report of
continuing research, a meeting, or a topical study. It is not a final EPRI technical report.

NOTE
For further information about EPRI, call the EPRI Customer Assistance Center at 800.313.3774 or
e-mail [email protected].
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Copyright © 2009 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

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CITATIONS
This report was prepared by
Utility Consulting International
4340 Stevens Creek Blvd. Suite 288
San Jose, CA 95129
Principal Investigator
N. Markushevich

This report describes research sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI.
This publication is a corporate document that should be cited in the literature in the following
manner: Benefits of Utilizing Advanced Metering Provided Information Support and Control
Capabilities in Distribution Automation Applications, EPRI, Palo Alto: 2009 <1018984>.

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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Advanced Metering systems can serve a variety of applications beyond revenue cycle services.
This paper describes several distribution automation functions that can significantly benefit from
integration with the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Installation of Smart Meters with
two-way communications is under way at several service territories of electric utilities
throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. These meters could be capable of
providing a variety of data representing the properties of energy usage, service reliability and
power quality at the end-user terminals. In addition to being information sources, these meters
could be used for controlling functions, such as connect-disconnect and Demand Response (DR)
under different programs. A true multi-functional Smart Meter could become one type of a
Customer Energy Management System (CEMS).
The added value made possible by AMI could increase in step with the penetration of Distributed
Energy Resources (DER), including Electric Storage (ES). A new paradigm of distribution
operations would ideally emerge with the transformation of the currently “passive” distribution
system with limited flexibility into a “resource-active” system with increased flexibility of circuit
connectivity. Fast and safe transfer of loads from one source to another, including intentional
islanding into “micro-grids” will become possible. This paradigm will also include a much better
transparency of the end-results of operations due to AMI, which will provide a better utilization
of the operational tolerances. However, none of this will happen without focused work on the
integration of next generation Distribution Automation (DA) with AMI. To date, specific studies
are lacking on what data and information are needed to support these potential DA applications.
Results and Findings
The paper briefly describes thirteen advanced DA applications. These descriptions cover the
existing conceptual designs of the applications and the expected updates of the applications to
meet the Smart Grid requirements, as they are formulated in the EISA Title XIII – Smart Grid.
Three major applications of these 13 applications are selected for a detailed analysis of what
benefits could be achieved from integration with AMI-supported capabilities. These three
architecturally challenging applications are the near real time Distribution Operation Model and
Analysis, which provides situational awareness of distribution operations and assists in Wide
Area Situational Awareness (WASA), the Voltage, Var and Watt Optimization, which optimizes
the normal operating conditions in distribution and assists in post-contingency situations; and
Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration, which controls the distribution operations in
contingencies. The analysis of these applications identifies several areas where the use of AMI-
supported information could add value to the advanced DA applications. These areas include
better accuracy of the background operational models, resulting in wider operational tolerances
for optimization of the distribution and transmission operations and integration of additional
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distributed controllable variables in the optimizing DA applications, resulting in amplifying the
benefits of the applications.
Challenges and Objectives
This paper introduces the concept of using the support and control capabilities of AIM for the
benefit of advanced applications of DA. The applications addressed in this paper are all near
real-time monitoring and controlling functions in the Smart Distribution Grid environment. The
goal of the paper is to assist in planning the functional requirements for the smart meters,
communications, and management systems of AMI; in the expansion and harmonization of the
interoperability standards for the Smart Grid; and in the development of functional requirements
for Smart Grid-focused DA applications and devices.
Applications, Values, and Use
The paper describes the conceptual approach for integrating advanced metering into DA
applications. The specifics of the integration may differ depending on the particular conditions in
the utilities. Further work based on utility practices and commitments is needed.
EPRI Perspective
Development of next generation customer metering systems should include the evaluation and
use of these resources for augmenting several applications across the enterprise. Metering and
associated resources of communications networks represent a significant public investment in
infrastructure. If metering infrastructure is to truly be considered “advanced” it should support
distribution automation as well as other applications. However, this study demonstrates that
meter-supported data will need to undergo sophisticated pre-processing before it can be
efficiently integrated in the advanced DA applications.
Approach
The results presented in this document are based on the conceptual design of major advanced DA
applications introduced in EPRI’s IntelliGrid program and related studies and updated in
accordance with the most recent developments in the Smart Grid area. The paper addresses the
information support and controlling capabilities of DA applications available under current
conditions and the improvements of the information support and control that could be made
possible by embedding AMI-supported data and controllable variables in the DA applications.
The paper also addresses the dependency of the efficiency of this integration on the surrounding
operational conditions in the utilities.
Keywords
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
Distribution Automation (DA)
Operation models
Distribution operations
Automated Meter Reading (AMR)
Demand Response (DR)
Electric Storage (ES)
Distributed Energy Resources (DER)
Micro-grids

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CONTENTS
1 DESCRIPTION OF THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF DA ADVANCED
APPLICATIONS ..........................................................................................................1-1
1.1 Real-time Distribution Operation Model and Analysis (DOMA)...............................................1-2
1.2 Distribution Contingency Analysis (DCA)..................................................................................1-7
1.3 Voltage, Var, and Watt Control (VVWC)......................................................................................1-8
1.4 Fault Location, Isolation and Service Restoration....................................................................1-8
1.5 Multi-level Feeder Reconfiguration (MFR)..................................................................................1-9
1.6 Relay Protection Re-coordination (RPR)..................................................................................1-10
1.7 Pre-arming of Remedial Action Schemes (RAS)......................................................................1-10
1.8 Coordination of Emergency Actions.........................................................................................1-11
1.9 Coordination of Restorative Actions.........................................................................................1-11
1.10 Optimal Allocation of Switching Devices.................................................................................1-12
1.11 Optimal Allocation of var and voltage controlling devices in distribution...........................1-12
1.12 Prioritization of AMI Allocation for the benefits of DA............................................................1-12
1.13 Prioritization of Demand Response Allocation........................................................................1-12
2 ASSESSMENT OF AMI CAPABILITIES FOR PROVIDING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
OF DA APPLICATIONS..............................................................................................2-1
2.1 Benefits of embedding AMI data in the Real-time Distribution Operation Model and Analysis
(DOMA)......................................................................................................................................................2-3
2.1.1 The domains............................................................................................................................2-3
2.1.2 The Objectives and Benefits....................................................................................................2-4
2.1.3 The Constraints........................................................................................................................2-5
2.1.4 The controllable variables........................................................................................................2-5
2.1.5 The information support requirements.....................................................................................2-6
2.2 Benefits of embedding AMI data in the Volt/VAr/Watt optimization application..................2-56
2.2.1 The domains..........................................................................................................................2-56
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2.2.2 The objectives and benefits...................................................................................................2-56
2.2.3 The constraints.......................................................................................................................2-58
2.2.4 The controllable variables......................................................................................................2-59
2.2.5 Information and control support requirements......................................................................2-59
2.2.6 Conclusions on benefits of embedding AMI data in VVWO application................................2-67
2.3 Benefits of embedding AMI data in the Fault Location, Isolation and Service Restoration
application..............................................................................................................................................2-68
2.3.1 The Domains..........................................................................................................................2-69
2.3.2 The objectives and benefits...................................................................................................2-69
2.3.3 The constraints.......................................................................................................................2-70
2.3.4 The controllable variables......................................................................................................2-70
2.3.5 The information and control support requirements................................................................2-71
2.3.6 Conclusions on benefits of embedding AMI data in FLIR application...................................2-79
3. REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EMBEDDING
AMI-RELATED CAPABILITIES IN DA APPLICATIONS............................................3-1
3.1 Major object models......................................................................................................................3-1
3.1.1 Nodal load model.......................................................................................................................3-2
3.1.2 Demand Response models.......................................................................................................3-5
3.1.3 Modeling Distributed Energy Resources and Micro-grids....................................................3-7
3.1.4 Model of Low Voltage Circuit Equivalent...............................................................................3-12
3.2 Major actors.................................................................................................................................3-14
3.3 Communication interfaces supporting AMI-related information exchange..........................3-17
4 SUMMARY ASSESSMENT OF EXPECTED BENEFITS AND INFORMATION
SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR EMBEDDING AMI-BASED DATA INTO DA
APPLICATIONS. .........................................................................................................4-1
5 FUTURE WORK.......................................................................................................5-1
6 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................1

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