20 I 0 China International Conference on Electricity Distribution

Advanced Distribution Automation (ADA) Applications and Power

Quality in Smart Grids
Francisc Zavoda
Department of Electrical Apparatus, IREQ (Hydro-Quebec Research Institute), Varennes, PQ, Canada
E-MAIL: zavoda.francisc@ireq.ca
Abstract: Increasing complexity of power grid and its
management, growing demand and service quality
expectations such as greater grid reliability, efciency and
security as well as environmental and energy sustain ability
concerns have triggered the next major step in the evolution of
the power grid towards a "Smart Grid". It is an expected
voltage level at the end of the distribution feeder and the
prototype FL system based on a Voltage Drop Fault Location
(VDFL) technique uses voltage and current waveforms from
distributed power-quality measurements. The impact of these
systems on distribution grid and customers is permanently
evaluated.
result of implementing new technologies in power systems, Meters and major distribution equipment controllers
including renewable energy resources, distributed generation belonging to different ADA systems can be used as well as
and latest information and communication technologies. elements of an integrated PQ monitoring system. This
A successful power grid management activity such as DA symbiosis, between ADA applications and the power quality
hinges on the information collected from the network itself monitoring activity, represents one of the advantages offered
using an integrated monitoring system. It enables real-time by Smart Grids.
monitoring of grid conditions for the distribution system
operators and allows automatic reconfguration of the network
to optimize the power delivery efciency and/or reduce the
impact and duration of outages. Hydro-Quebec is showing
Keyords: Smart Grid, ADA, VVC (Volt & V AR Control),
FL (Fault Location), PQ (Power Quality), PQ Monitoring,
intelligent meters, controllers
leadership in this feld with its proposed evolution plan
1. Introduction
towards a smart grid, which should include:
Grid monitoring (to improve reliability), Increasing complexity of power grid and its management,
Equipment monitoring (to improve maintenance), growing demand and service quality expectations such as greater
Product monitoring (to improve power quality). grid reliability, efciency and security as well as environmental
The utility has ambitious programs. To achieve its energy and energy sustainability concerns have triggered the next major
efciency program, HQ has focused on two targets: step in the evolution of the power grid towards a "Smart Grid".
Capacitor banks installation, It is an expected result of implementing new technologies in
Volt control. power systems, including renewable energy resources, distributed
To reduce the outage duration, HQ has focused on fault generation and latest information and communication
location. Pilot projects have been conducted to demonstrate technologies.
the efciency of two ADA systems such as:
Volt & VAR Control (VVC) system
2. ADA applications
Fault Location (FL) system.
The VVC system requires a permanent surveillance of the
A successful power grid management activity such as DA
hinges on the information collected from the network itself using
2 2010 China Interational Conference on Electricity Distribution
an integrated monitoring system. It enables real-time monitoring
of grid conditions for the distribution system operators and allows
automatic reconfguration of the network to optimize the power
delivery efciency and/or reduce the impact and duration of
outages.
By defnition, an ADA is a "set of technologies that enable
an electric utili to remotely monitor coordinate, and operate
distribution components in a real time mode from remote
locations" .
The group of ADA Applications includes:
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA),
Volt & Var Control (VVC),
.Fault Location (FL),
HQD GRID 2010 2015
I
Transmission! Distribution
System control
CUSTomer
.Feeder Reconfguration (FR) (Self Healing), Figure 1: Grid, equipment ad product monitoring .
FLlSR (Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration),
which is a hybrid of FL and FR
4. Volt and V AR control
An integrated PQ Monitoring is not a real ADA application,
but this activity can be easily performed in symbiosis with the
above mentioned applications.
3. Hydro-Quebec and smart grid
Hydro-Quebec is showing leadership In this feld with its
proposed road map towards a smart grid, which should include
(see Figure 1):
Grid monitoring (to improve reliability),
.Equipment monitoring (to improve maintenance),
.Product monitoring (to improve power quality).
The utility has ambitious programs. To achieve its energy
efciency program, HQ has focused on two targets:
Capacitor banks installation,
.Volt control.
To reduce the outage duration, HQ has focused on fault
location.
Pilot projects have been conducted to demonstrate the
efciency of two ADA systems such as:
Volt & VAR Control (VVC) system,
.Fault Location (FL) system.
The impact of these systems on distribution grid and
customers is permanently evaluated.
The VVC application is based on the CVR (Conservation
Voltage Reduction) concept, which is associated with having the
customer's voltage at the lowest level consistent with proper
operation of equipment and within levels set by regulatory
agencies and standards setting organizations.
Hydro-Quebec aims saving energy by controlling the voltage
level and by managing the reactive power (VAR) in the
distribution network .
To fulfll this goal, the utility decided to use a VVC system,
which requires a permanent surveillance of the voltage level at the
end of the distribution feeder and the installation of switching
shunt capacitor banks along the feeders (see Figure 2 a).
In 2005 and 2006, Hydro-Quebec has done some experiments
at Pierre-Boucher (PBR) substation (in suburban Montreal) to fnd
the efectiveness of the conservation voltage reduction for energy
saving and to evaluate the economic feasibility of the concept [1].
In the fall of 2008, Hydro-Quebec Distribution (HQD)
commissioned a voltage and VAR control system named CATVAR
at PBR substation to reduce energy consumption and distribution
system losses. Basically, the voltage regulation system at the
substation was replaced with an intelligent system that uses
network measurements to maintain a stable voltage level at the end
of the feeder that is close to the lower limit specifed by Standard
CSA-235. The CATVAR system also analyzes the network's VAR
20 I 0 China International Conference on Electricity Distribution 3
requirements and orders the switching on and off of shunt Intelligent Maintenance for Electrical Lines), based on this
capacitor banks when required. technique.
One of the goals of this pilot project was to determine
whether the fact of maintaining a lower medium voltage near the
lower limit of Standard CSA-235 would have an impact on the
number of voltage sags experienced by customers.
Another goal was to prevent potential power quality
problems created by the switching operations of 1.2-MVAR
capacitor banks. To do so, EMTP power system simulations were
conducted and the results were compared with real life
measurements made on the network.
Figure 2: (a) Capacitor bak; (b) Voltage monitoring device
5. Fault location
The most known methods used for fault location are:
.VDFL (Voltage Drop Fault Location ) that:
Uses distributed PQ measurements (an average of 4
monitoring sites along the feeder is required).
.Based on voltage sags triangulation technique that
shrinks the zone of investigation (low number of possible
fault locations).
.lBFL (Impedance Based Fault Location), which:
Uses centralized PQ measurements (voltage and
current waveforms recorded at substation).
Based on the calculation of total line impedance from
the measurement location (substation) to the fault location.
MILE, the FL system designed and developed by
Hydro-Quebec, is based on VDFL technique, and uses voltage and
current waveforms from distributed power-quality measurements
along the feeder (see Figure 3). So far, seven distribution feeders
have been monitored with an automated specialized software
package MILE (Maintenance Intelligente de Lignes Electriques or
Figure 3: Monitoring device (a) indoor; (b) outdoor.
The average absolute error of MILE system is less than 200m.
This error value refects not only the accuracy of the numerical
assessment but also errors in the feeder characteristics database
and inaccuracies in the actual distance evaluation.
6. ADA applications and data acquisition requirements
To be able to accomplish their duties, these ADA systems
require information, such as voltage and current measurement
values. collected from the network itself.
.VVC/CATVAR
Voltage and current RMS values measured at the
substation and voltage RMS values measured at the end of
the feeder (5 minutes average values in general and 1 minute
or 30 seconds average values in particular).
.Fault Location/MILE
Waveforms of voltage and current recorded at
different locations along the feeder when interruptions and
sags occur.
The accuracy of the data acquisition process is an important
factor, critically affecting the efciency and reliability of these two
systems.
6.1 Data acquisition required by the Volt & V AR
Control System
The CATVAR system requires voltage level measurements
from substation bus bar or feeder departure and from the end of
the 3-phase main feeder. A substation transformer supplies 3 to 4
4 2010 China Interational Conference on Electricity Distribution
feeders. When one of the voltage levels monitoring devices at the
end of these feeders is malfunctioning the voltage adjustment at
LTC (Load Tap Changer) by CATVAR system is disabled. To
avoid this kind of problems, CATVAR will be equipped with an
integrated management system based on state estimators.
Enhanced state estimators require more information about the
power fow and more voltage and current monitoring points.
Figure 4 shows a theoretical distribution of voltage and
current monitoring points providing information required for a
dynamic modeling of the load.
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Figure 4: Data acquisition required by CATVAR (VVC) System
The voltage level reduction at the substation equipped with
the CATVAR system reaches 2 to 4 % of the reference set point.
The dynamic adjustment of the set point of the LTC of the
transformer feeding the feeders, and implicitly the efciency of
the VVC system, is critically dependent on the accuracy of the
voltage measurements at the end of the feeders.
Data available from customer regular meters, which are
t e
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Figure 5: Waveforms Diagram; Data required by MILE (FL)
System
The VDFL algorithm synchronizes the voltage waveforms
recorded by devices located at three different sites and uses the
corresponding voltage drops to calculate the fault location (see
Figure 6).
average RS values over 15 minute periods is not enough Figure 6: Wavefors used by MILE (FL) system to locate the
sensitive for this application. This is the reason for what the fault.
monitoring devices used for the CATVAR prototype system were Results from a study on fault location accuracy, depending on
versatile intelligent three-phase meters (ION8600). the sampling rate of waveform acquisition, is illustrated in Figure
7. Accuracies corresponding to different sampling rate acquisitions
6.2 Data acquisition required by the "Fault Location"
System
To locate the fault, MILE system uses sets of waveforms (see
Figure 5) recorded by several monitoring devices distributed along
the feeder, such as versatile intelligent three-phase meters
(ION7700 and ION8600).
are compared to that corresponding to a waveform acquisition at
128 samples/cycle. According to the diagram shown in the Figure
7, waveforms recorded by PQ monitoring devices with sampling
rates: 32 samples/cycle allow reasonable accurate fault locations.
It can be concluded that data from certain equipment
controllers used in ADA applications can be used for fault location
with acceptable accuracy.
2010 China International Conference on Electricity Distribution 5
VDFL - Accuracy Against Sampling Rate
Reduction
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Figure 7: VDFL accuracy depending on waveform sampling rate
7. The impact of ADA applications on PQ in smart grids
It is proven that the power supply reliability in Smart Grids is
capacitor banks on three difrent feeders, shown that the
switching on transients didn't exceed 1.16 p. u. (see Figure 8) and
the switching of transients were hardly detectable.
Mvt .. w

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Figure 8: Voltage trasient due to capacitor bak switching on
increased, mainly due to fault location and feeder reconfguration
8. PQ monitoring in smart grids
systems, which reduce the system average interruption duration
index. It is expected that power quality to be improved as well. The two ADA application presented in the previous chapters
However, VVC systems, by reducing the voltage level at are very good examples for how the monitoring devices belonging
substation and by switching on and off shunt capacitor banks to them can be used as sources of data for the evaluation of the PQ
along the feeder, have an impact on power quality rather negative of the grid.
than positive. These system operations could generate additional In Smart Grids, as it is specifed in the ADA defnition,
sags and switching transients. distribution equipments are remotely monitored, coordinated and
The outcome of the pilot project conducted by operated in a real time mode from remote locations. These
Hydro-Quebec's Research Institute can be quantifed in the activities are possible due to different communication links (either
following interesting conclusions [2]: by wire or wireless), which allow information to circulate both
.The joint impact of the VVC system and voltage sags ways, fom remote system control center to equipment controllers
occurring on distribution systems can be technically characterized and vice-versa (see Figure. 9).
by two effects:
.Appearance of statistical sags (voltage reduction from
2 to 4 % due to VVC - CATVAR system voltage drop
inferior to 10 % that is a fault contribution for a total voltage
drop oflO to 14 %) .
Equipment malfunctioning or tripping (the joint
contribution brings the residual voltage level below the
critical threshold of 70 % of the reference voltage).
According to the analysis performed on data fom four
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monitoring sites, neither one of the two efects was critical.
The analysis of transients generated by operations of shunt
Figure. 9: Major distribution equipments with their controllers .
Meters and major distribution equipment controllers
6 2010 China Interational Conference on Electricity Distribution
belonging to difrent ADA systems can be used as elements of an
integrated PQ monitoring system (see Fig. 10). This symbiosis
between ADA applications and the power quality monitoring
activity is one of the advantages offered by Smart Grids [3].
Fig. 10: PQ Monitoring System integrated to Sma grid
The features available on these IEDs include:
.Metering available on three-phase basis:
Voltage, Current,
.Power, Energy,
.PF,
Frequency,
.Voltage & current harmonics + THD,
.Flicker (so far only on meters),
Symmetrical sequences,
Waveform capture.
.Communication interface and protocols:
.Multi-port (serial, infrared, Ethernet, modem),
.Multi protocol access (DNP 3.0, Modbus, etc.).
.GPS.
The trend in the industry is that the IEC 61850 - xxx standard,
covering the equipment in substations, to be extended in the future
to cover distribution equipment as well.
HQD GRID 215 and after
Figure 11: HQ Distribution Smat Grid, 2015 and afer.
Hydro-Quebec Distribution, by its road map introduces
utility's vision, 2015 and afer, on Smart Grid (see Figure 11).
According to the road map, major distribution equipment
controllers will be replaced by standardized IEDs, which will be:
.Complying with IEC 61850 - xxx,
.Plug and play devices.
9. Conclusions
The accuracy of data acquisition process IS an important
factor, critically affecting the efciency and reliability of ADA
systems and furthermore the efciency and reliability of the power
distribution system.
Remote control and surveillance of distribution equipment
along with data acquisition are important aspects of automation
process. Combining the surveillance of distribution equipment
with the power quality monitoring is a normal and inspired
decision .
Using Power Distribution Equipments Controllers and
intelligent meters as elements of an integrated PQ monitoring
system brings several advantages:
.IEDs already connected to the grid (either on MV side or
on LV side),
.Devices in a constant evolution,
Communication links for data transfer available (iEDs
remotely controlled and meters belonging to the AMI (Advanced
Metering Infrastructure).
So far, intelligent meters are more evaluated than controllers.
However, it can be seen that there is a trend in controllers
evolution to follow up the path of meters evolution.
References
[1] S. Lefebvre, G. Gaba, A.-O. Ba, D. Asber, A. Ricard, C.
Perreault, D. Chartrand, "Measuring the effciency of
voltage reduction at Hydro-Quebec distribution", Power and
Energy Society General Meeting - Conversion and Delivery
of Electrical Energy in the 21 st Century, IEEE, July 2008,
pp 1 - 7.
[2] F. Zavoda, C. Perreault, A. Lemire, "The Impact of a
Volt&Var Control System (VVC) on PQ and Customer's
Equipment", Power and Energy Society- Transmission and
Distribution, 201 0 IEEE, April 2010, pp 1-6.
20 I 0 China International Conference on Electricity Distribution
[3] F. Zavoda, M. Tremblay, "Symbiosis between ADA
Applications and PQ Monitoring in Smart Grids", PQ and
Smart Distribution Conference and Exhibition - Transporting
You into the 21 st Century Distribution System, EPRI, June
2010.
Biography
Francisc Zavoda graduated from
Bucharest Polytechnic Institute in 1979 and
got his MASc degree in Electrical
Engineering In 1995 from Ecole
Poly technique de Montreal.
He is a senior research engineer,
member of the Electrical Equipment
department of Hydro-Quebec's Research Institute. This
department is responsible for research and development on
distribution equipment maintenance, Power Quality, Smart Grid,
etc.
Afer graduating, he started working for ISPE Bucharest, a
consulting company for Romanian Power Department. In 1990, he
joined Siemens Canada Power Department, participating in the
project of a diesel power plant. He's with Hydro-Quebec's
Research Institute, as a research engineer, since 1995. Member of
the PQ team, he participated in the development of the Power
Quality Measurement Protocol and a power quality analyzer. He
was responsible as well for a susceptibility survey project, a
harmonic contribution discrimination project, a DA data
acquisition project and participated to a power quality predictive
maintenance project (PQPM) in distribution. He is presently in
charge of or participates to projects related to PQ, Smart Grid and
Advanced Distribution Automation (ADA) program.
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