Solar distribution feeders are commonly used in solar farms that are integrated into distribution substations. In this paper, we focus on a real-world solar distribution feeder and conduct an event-based analysis by using micro-PMU measurements. The solar distribution feeder of interest is a behind-the-meter solar farm with a generation capacity of over 4 MW that has about 200 low-voltage distributed photovoltaic (PV) inverters. The event-based analysis in this study seeks to address the following practical matters. First, we conduct event detection by using an unsupervised machine learning approach. For each event, we determine the event's source region by an impedance-based analysis, coupled with a descriptive analytic method. We segregate the events that are caused by the solar farm, i.e., locally-induced events, versus the events that are initiated in the grid, i.e., grid-induced events, which caused a response by the solar farm. Second, for the locally-induced events, we examine the impact of solar production level and other significant parameters to make statistical conclusions. Third, for the grid-induced events, we characterize the response of the solar farm; and make comparisons with the response of an auxiliary neighboring feeder to the same events. Fourth, we scrutinize multiple specific events; such as by revealing the dynamics to the control system of the solar distribution feeder. The results and discoveries in this study are informative to utilities and solar power industry.
Motivated by increasing penetration of distributed generators (DGs) and fast development of micro-phasor measurement units (μPMUs), this paper proposes a novel graph-based faulted line identification algorithm using a limited number of μPMUs in distribution networks. The core of the proposed method is to apply advanced distribution system state estimation (DSSE) techniques integrating μPMU data to the fault location. We propose a distributed DSSE algorithm to efficiently restrict the searching region for the fault source in the feeder between two adjacent μPMUs. Based on the graph model of the…
The lack of measurements in distribution grids poses a severe challenge for their monitoring: since there may not be enough sensors to achieve numerical observability, load forecasts (pseudo-measurements) are typically used, and thus an accurate state estimation is not guaranteed. However, an estimation is required to control distribution grids given the increasing amount of distributed generation. Therefore, we consider the problem of optimal sensor placement to improve the state estimation accuracy in large-scale, 3-phase coupled, unbalanced distribution grids. This is a combinatorial optimi…
This paper presents an innovative approach to micro-phasor measurement unit (micro-PMU) placement in unbalanced distribution networks. The methodology accounts for the presence of single-and-two-phase laterals and acknowledges the fact that observing one phase in a distribution circuit does not translate to observing the other phases. Other practical constraints such as presence of distributed loads, unknown regulator/ transformer tap ratios, zero-injection phases (ZIPs), modern smart meters, and multiple switch configurations are also incorporated. The proposed micro-PMU placement problem is …
High impedance faults (HIFs) in distribution grids may cause wildfires and threaten human lives. Conventional protection relays at substations fail to detect more than 10\% HIFs since over-currents are low and the signatures of HIFs are local. With more $μ$PMU being installed in the distribution system, high-resolution $μ$PMU datasets provide the opportunity of detecting HIFs from multiple points. Still, the main obstacle in applying the $μ$PMU datasets is the lack of labels. To address this issue, we construct a physics-informed convolutional auto-encoder (PICAE) to detect HIFs without labele…
University of California, Riverside（加州大学河滨分校）；Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory（劳伦斯利弗莫尔国家实验室）；Riverside Public Utilities（河滨公共事业公司）
Distribution-level phasor measurement units, a.k.a, micro-PMUs, report a large volume of high resolution phasor measurements which constitute a variety of event signatures of different phenomena that occur all across power distribution feeders. In order to implement an event-based analysis that has useful applications for the utility operator, one needs to extract these events from a large volume of micro-PMU data. However, due to the infrequent, unscheduled, and unknown nature of the events, it is often a challenge to even figure out what kind of events are out there to capture and scrutinize…
This paper presents a load switching group based energy management system (LSG-EMS) for operating microgrids on a distribution feeder powered by one or multiple grid-forming distributed energy resources. Loads on a distribution feeder are divided into load switching groups that can be remotely switched on and off. The LSG-EMS algorithm, formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem, has an objective function of maximizing the served loads while minimizing the total number of switching actions. A new set of topology constraints are developed for allowing multiple microgrids to…
University of California, Riverside（加州大学河滨分校）；Riverside Public Utilities（河滨公共事业公司）；Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory（劳伦斯利弗莫尔国家实验室）
A new data-driven method is proposed to detect events in the data streams from distribution-level phasor measurement units, a.k.a., micro-PMUs. The proposed method is developed by constructing unsupervised deep learning anomaly detection models; thus, providing event detection algorithms that require no or minimal human knowledge. First, we develop the core components of our approach based on a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) model. We refer to this method as the basic method. It uses the same features that are often used in the literature to detect events in micro-PMU data. Next, we prop…
FaultXformer: A Transformer-Encoder Based Fault Classification and Location Identification model in PMU-Integrated Active Electrical Distribution System
Forming a microgrid on a distribution system with large scale outage after a severe weather event is emerging as a viable solution to improve resiliency at the distribution level. This option becomes more attractive when the distribution system has high levels of distributed PV. The management of such feeder-level microgrid has however many challenges, such as limited resources that can be deployed on the feeder quickly, and the limited real-time monitoring and control on the distribution system. Effective use of the distributed PV is also challenging as they are not monitored and controlled. …
Towards Real-Time Estimation of Solar Generation From Micro-Synchrophasor Measurements
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory（SLAC国家加速器实验室）；Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory（劳伦斯伯克利国家实验室）；University of California, Berkeley（加州大学伯克利分校）；Riverside Public Utilities（河滨公共事业公司）
The increasing integration of intermittent renewable generation, especially at the distribution level,necessitates advanced planning and optimisation methodologies contingent on the knowledge of thegrid, specifically the admittance matrix capturing the topology and line parameters of an electricnetwork. However, a reliable estimate of the admittance matrix may either be missing or quicklybecome obsolete for temporally varying grids. In this work, we propose a data-driven identificationmethod utilising voltage and current measurements collected from micro-PMUs. More precisely,we first present a…
