DISTRIBUTION

Unlock distribution capacity using dynamic thermal ratings

by Alex Neumann, Parsons Brinckerhoff Parsons Brinckerhoff leads a team developing a new device that will exploit the dynamic thermal capability of distribution system equipment by taking advantage of cooling factors such as ambient temperature and prevailing wind. Results to date are positive, indicating that when it is completed in late 2009, this prototype controller will facilitate increasing connections of distributed generation to distribution networks.

The location of the generation resource for optimal energy yield often coincides with sparse or electrically weak distribution network infrastructure. As a result, there are instances where the connection of distributed generation (DG) requires network reinforcement, which is sometimes deemed uneconomic to the generator. It is acknowledged that technical barriers such as voltage rise, reverse power flows and fault levels, particularly in weak networks, may inhibit the size of DG connections. To facilitate such generation connections, OfGEM, the UKs electricity and gas regulator, offers incentives to distribution network operators (DNOs) to connect and manage DG via an appropriate control scheme. There is the potential to reduce the requirement for expensive network reinforcement and new wayleaves, and to allow larger amounts of energy to be imported from DG developments by exploiting the short-and medium-term thermal ratings of distribution network components, particularly given the intermittency of certain types of renewable generation and the effects that prevailing weather conditions can have on the rating of outdoor distribution equipment. Thermal controller development A Parsons Brinckerhoff-led consortium in the UK is undertaking the research and development of a distribution network active thermal controller that uses local meteorological input to calculate real-time equipment ratings and to control network power flows. The group expects to achieve a deeper understanding of power system thermal capabilities and to apply this knowledge to developing an active controller that can safely and economically exploit the thermal ratings of plant. The proposed controller represents a move towards increased automation of distribution n e t w o r k s, s o t h e t e a m w i l l a l s o g i v e consideration to the effect of this automation on power system operational staff. Their aim will be to ensure an appropriate balance between those issues requiring action by the staff and those that can be accommodated by the introduction of further intelligence (distributed or centralised) in the network management systems of the future. The consortium includes Durham University; Scottish Power Energy Networks; Areva T&D, and Imass, an IT company providing custom software applications and services.[2] The consortiums work is part-sponsored by the UK governments Technology Strategy Board (TSB). PBs contribution has been further supported through its research & innovation (R&I) Program.

Fig. 1: Service-oriented architecture to be adopted for the thermal controller.

The thermal controller A service-oriented architecture (SOA) is being implemented for the thermal controller using web services. SOA is a software development technique that groups different functionalities into atomic services (Fig. 1). These services communicate with each other by passing data from one ser vice to another, or coordinating an activity between one or more services. Controller inputs Network management system It is expected that electrical input for the thermal controller will be provided through the DNOs network management system. The input will allow faults and network reconfiguration events to be detected from the circuit breaker status signals, and power flows through system components to be monitored. Other electrical measurements, such as generator outputs, network loads and voltages, will be used for the simulation task described later in this article. External parameter processor This service calculates the values of external parameters, such as wind speed, wind direction, air and soil temperatures, and solar radiation around the distribution network. This information will be based on signals from a small number of meteorological measurement units. Mathematical interpolations will be used initially, the accuracy of which will be verified using real measurements from the site trial network. Following the verification stage, the development team will decide to either continue on this path or improve the algorithms to increase the accuracy of the parameter estimation. Thermal state estimation (TSE) TSE, the service that calculates component energize - November 2008 - Page 18

ratings from external parameters, is a fundamental part of the active thermal control system that this project aims to realise. It will:
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Allow the precise assessment of each components thermal rating Reduce the number of necessar y measurements from network instrumentation Increase the reliability of assessments in case of measurement or communications failure.

Component thermal models An example of the thermal model to calculate the component rating for overhead lines (OHLs) is given below. OHLs are the most exposed (to wind) power system component, and their DTR offers the greatest exploitation opportunity. The model for OHL current rating is based on the energy balance equation: q c + q r = q s + I 2R (1) where the heat produced by the Joule effect (I2R) and solar radiation (qs) is balanced with the heat dissipated by radiation (q r) and convection (qc). The most important and changeable of the terms presented above is the convective heat exchange, which is strongly influenced by wind speed. Fig. 2 shows the results of simulations carried out at Durham University. The ratio of dynamic thermal rating (DTR) to nominal rating is shown over the period of one year. It was calculated using real weather data and equation (1) for a Lynx conductor. These results show a large variation in DTRs, with a mean ratio of approximately 250% of the static rating that is currently used. This variation in equipment ratings lends DTRs to applications with a control system that

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experience, we proposed implementing these algorithms within Areva MiCom protection relays. The cubicles housing the relays would act as collection points for the relevant data, which would also be passed on to the host of the thermal controller. Fig. 4 shows the prototype controller layout in basic graphical form. Under normal operation, the thermal controller and the relay would run the same algorithm predicting the thermal limits of the component. If for some reason the network management system and thermal controller fail to stop a component reaching its thermal limit, the relay would trip the circuit breaker protecting the component. The site trial network A section of Scottish Power Energy Networks distribution network has been made available to the development team for the field trials and development of the prototype thermal controller. The selected network delivers power from an offshore wind farm to the UKs interconnected power system using 33 kV and 132 kV circuits. The site trial network will be used as a source of electrical, thermal and meteorological data that will be gathered using existing and new measurement equipment installed specifically for this project. It will be overinstrumented so that sufficient information can be gathered to validate the thermal algorithms that were developed as the initial stages of this project. Selected signals will be used for the prototype controller, with the validation exercise providing an understanding of the number of additional measurements (meteorological, electrical and thermal) that will be required to ensure the algorithms are capable of providing DTRs of the required accuracy and reliability.
Fig. 4: Graphical representation of the prototype controller.

Fig.2: Ratio of thermal to static line rating over one year.

Fig. 3: Thermal State Estimation process.

Development overview and conclusions This project is into its second year and thermal algorithms have been developed for overhead lines, underground cables and transformers. Encouraging desktop simulation results based on actual UK meteorological data suggest appreciable headroom exists that may be exploited with the implementation of our active thermal controller. These simulations considered the site trial network and selected generic UK distribution networks, and gave our team an appreciation of the potential benefits of applying DTRs on the UKs distribution networks. Scottish Power Energy Networks is currently procuring thermal and meteorological measurement equipment to be installed on the site trial network, which will be commissioned during planned network outages during mid-2008 (Summer). The model validation and prototype development will follow the installation of the measurement e q u i p m e n t, w i t h p r o j e c t c o m p l e t i o n scheduled for September 2009. Contact Alex Neumann, Parsons Brinckerhoff, neumanna@pbworld.com v

can manage the power flowing through the particular network components. The TSE Algorithm A probability distribution is calculated for component thermal rating, based on probability distributions for each meteorological measurement and external parameter value. The method is described graphically in Fig. 3 with:
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Network optimisation Optimisation will take place using power flow sensitivity factors that relate changes in component power flow to changes in generator output. The load-flow engine will be used to simulate the state of the network and validate the generation set point(s) proposed by the optimisation service, thereby ensuring that the power flows across the network are managed effectively. Power flow limits and statutory voltage regulations will be adhered to following any control action. The final stage of the active thermal control system response is to dispatch a set of suggested operating set points to the generation schemes within the jurisdiction of the thermal controller. The prototype controller It is expected that the natural home of the thermal controller application would be within the software of the network management system. The prototype controller developed as part of this project will, however, be hosted on a separate system, taking in some data from the network management system and some additional data. DTR algorithms use information local to each component and may also be used to provide a useful protection function. Drawing on Arevas energize - November 2008 - Page 19

Nm being the number of meteorological measurements Np being the number of meteorological parameters Nc being the number of components.

The weather parameter probability estimates calculated in the external parameter processor act as an input to DTR algorithms and are used to calculate the rating and associated probability for each of the relevant network components. Correlation between the external parameter processor cal cu l ati on res u l ts a n d t h e h i s t o r i c a l measurements will be used to increase the precision and reliability of the estimates, and may be applied during measurement and/ or communication system failures.