Online Determination of Time Intervals for Statically Secure Distribution System Control

Automated metering infrastructure (AMI) and twoway communication networks enable the essential functions of real-time monitoring and online control in smart electric power distribution systems. The online control problem is challenging due to the increasingly complex network behavior and the introduction of additional control functionality (larger search space). For example, direct load control (DLC) has been significantly expanded in recent years by leveraging smart grid communications systems. In this paper, statically secure control paths spanning finite-horizon injection forecasts are developed using a combination of traditional and smart grid control options. Specifically, capacitors and DLC are considered, both separately and in tandem. Implicit temporal load capability (ITLC) is used to identify time windows for analysis and control when considering different sets of available control options. Since each control action affects the system moving forward, considering different sets of allowable control actions yields different time window divisions. The proposed method may be used to increase the value of (typically underutilized) DLC programs by replacing certain capacitor actions with DLC dispatch [2]. Simulation results are presented on a 2556-node distribution system.