Development of optimization methods and models for the smart grids

• Grant number: 13/23676-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - Brazil
• Start date: March 01, 2014
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Power Systems
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Carlos Pereira da Silva
• Grantee: Luiz Carlos Pereira da Silva
• Visiting researcher: Ruben Augusto Romero Lazaro
• Visiting researcher institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS), Brazil
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação (FEEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 10/01690-2 - Technological development for protection, analysis, supervision and automation of electrical power systems of the future, AP.TEM

Abstract

The recent technological advances dedicated to electric power systems have led to substantial investments in a supervised structure that explores the usage of measurement and monitoring devices and advanced telecommunication and control systems. These investments aim to improve the quality and reliability of electric power delivery as well as to decrease operational costs. With the advent of such technologies, the concept of smart grids has emerged. Additionally, new functions have been integrated to the traditional energy meters, which were originally used exclusively for billing purposes, allowing to access additional information in real time, such as voltage sag and swell and outages. More value can be added to this novelty as its functionalities are increased and these meters have been called smart meters. Until 2021, the Brazilian government intends to install about 63 million smart meters. In this context, this research project is based on the development of optimization methods that explore functions present (or potentially present) in smart meters so that useful information can be extracted and more value can be added to this novelty that has been the focus of investments of several utilities. The proposed research is focused on the application of smart meters in important functions of the Distribution Management System such as Volt/Var control, fault location, reduction of non-technical losses and state estimation. (AU)