Innovation in Global Power - Parsons Brinckerhoff

Distributing Power to Users
Research & Innovation
Explore the Possibilities...
PB leads a team developing
a new device that will
exploit the dynamic thermal
capability of distribution
system equipment by taking
advantage of cooling factors
such as ambient temperature
and prevailing wind.
Results to date are positive,
indicating that when it is
completed in late 2009,
this prototype controller
will facilitate increasing
connections of distributed
generation to distribution
networks.
Acronyms/Abbreviations
CIM: Common Information
Model
DG: Distributed generation
DNO: Distribution network
operator
DTR: Dynamic thermal rating
OfGEM: Office of Gas and
Electricity Markets
SOA: Service-oriented
architecture
TSE: Thermal state
estimation
1 OfGEM’s incentives are offered through
its Registered Power Zone and
Innovation Funding Initiatives program.
2 It should be noted that dynamic thermal
ratings (DTRs) are the research focus
of a number of other institutions at
present, including Electric Power
Research Institute (EPRI) in the USA
for security and increased capacity of
transmission networks; NUON, a leading
energy company in the Netherlands, for
coping with load growth and delaying
infrastructure investment; and Energy
Networks Strategy Group within the UK
as an identified short-term solution for
accommodating DG.
Using Dynamic Thermal Ratings and
Active Control to Unlock Distribution
Network Capacity
By Alex Neumann, Newcastle, UK, 44 91 226 2460, neumannA@pbworld.com
The location of the generation resource for optimal energy yield often coincides with sparse
or electrically ‘weak’ distribution network infrastructure. As a result, there are instances where
the connection of distributed generation (DG) requires network reinforcement, which is
sometimes deemed uneconomic to the generator. It is acknowledged that technical barriers
such as voltage rise, reverse power flows and fault levels, particularly in weak networks, may
inhibit the size of DG connections.
To facilitate such generation connections, OfGEM, the UK’s electricity and gas regulator, offers
incentives to distribution network operators (DNOs) to connect and manage DG via an
appropriate control scheme. 1 There is the potential to reduce the requirement for expensive
network reinforcement and new wayleaves, and to allow larger amounts of energy to be
imported from DG developments by exploiting the short- and medium-term thermal ratings
of distribution network components, particularly given the intermittency of certain types
of renewable generation and the effects that prevailing weather conditions can have on
the rating of outdoor distribution equipment.
PB Leads Consortium Developing Thermal Controller
A PB-led consortium in the UK is undertaking the research and development of a distribution
network active thermal controller that uses local meteorological input to calculate real-time
equipment ratings and to control network power flows. The group expects to achieve a deeper
understanding of power system thermal capabilities and to apply this knowledge to developing
an active controller that can safely and economically exploit the thermal ratings of plant.
The proposed controller represents a move towards increased automation of distribution
networks, so the team will also give consideration to the effect of this automation on power
system operational staff. Their aim will be to ensure an appropriate balance between those
issues requiring action by the staff and those that can be accommodated by the introduction of
further intelligence (distributed or centralised) in the network management systems of the future.
The consortium includes Durham University; Scottish Power Energy Networks; AREVA T&D,
one of the leading players in power transmission and distribution; and Imass, a leading IT
company providing custom software applications and services. 2 The consortium’s work is
part-sponsored by the UK government’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB). PB’s contribution
has been further supported through its Research & Innovation (R&I) Program.
The Thermal Controller
A service-oriented architecture (SOA)
is being implemented for the thermal
controller using Web services. SOA is
a software development technique that
groups different functionalities into
atomic services (as shown in Figure 1).
These services communicate with each
other by passing data from one service
to another, or coordinating an activity
between one or more services.
http://www.pbworld.com/news_events/publications/network/
Figure 1: Service-oriented
architecture to be adopted
for the thermal controller.
69 PB Network #68 / August 2008