Data Analytics for Condition Monitoring in Modern Electric Power Distribution Systems

• Grant number: 20/10043-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2020
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Power Systems
• Principal Investigator: Walmir de Freitas Filho
• Grantee: Bárbara Resende Rosado
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação (FEEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/08645-9 - Interdisciplinary research activities in electric smart grids, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/11103-4 - A Volt-var and Volt-Watt control local method for PV distributed generators in modern electric power distribution systems, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Modern power distribution systems have migrated from a passive, non-supervised structure with low level of automation to an active, supervised structure with high level of automation due to the introduction of photovoltaic (PV) generators, dispersed smart sensors/meters, and new automatic control devices. Despite the technical and environmental advantages, these developments may create new adverse concerns on distribution systems. Examples of new concerns are resonances and instabilities between capacitors connected in low voltage (LV) systems and PV generators; or control conflicts between multiple devices performing voltage control actions such as voltage regulators, switched capacitors, PV inverters etc. Simultaneously, the massive amount of data (Big Data) provided by the modern measurement infrastructure contains valuable information to anticipate, detect, and mitigate these newfound issues. However, actionable information is not readily available in the raw data. In this context, the main goal of this Ph.D. project is to develop methods for system and equipment condition monitoring based on data analytics techniques by using data provided by the measurement infrastructure available in the modern distribution systems. Four specific issues will be investigated: resonances and instabilities in LV systems, resonances and instabilities in medium voltage (MV) systems, voltage control conflicts in LV systems, and voltage control conflicts in MV systems. For each of these problems, the objective is to use measurement data to (a) anticipate the risk of a given problem, (b) detect the problem in progress quickly, (c) determine the extent of its impact in the system, and (d) develop mitigation strategies to avoid it. Extensive simulation studies and field measurements will be used to validate the proposed techniques. Finally, the minimum measurement requirements to apply each proposed method will also be established. The development of these condition monitoring techniques and full characterization of the new system problems will increase considerably the situational awareness of the Distribution System Operators (DSOs) so that predictive mitigation actions can be adopted as soon as a risk situation is detected.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ARGUELLO, ANDRES; TORQUATO, RICARDO; ROSADO, BARBARA; FREITAS, WALMIR. Modeling of Single-Phase Photovoltaic Generators for System-Wide Harmonic Power Flow Studies. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, v. 38, n. 2, p. 13-pg., 2023-06-01. (16/08645-9, 20/10043-2, 18/24018-0, 21/11380-5)

ROSADO, BARBARA R.; RIDER, MARCOS J.; FREITAS, WALMIR; VENKATESH, BALA. Transmission System Usage Amount Planning by Brazilian Distribution Utilities. 2023 IEEE PES INNOVATIVE SMART GRID TECHNOLOGIES LATIN AMERICA, ISGT-LA, v. N/A, p. 5-pg., 2023-01-01. (20/10043-2, 23/01719-0, 22/11103-4)