PEPCO

PHI Distribution System, Optimization of Automatic Sectionalization and Restoration System: The distribution system optimization pilot project (“project”) provided a demonstration of the capability of GRIDiant’s grid optimization engine, GRIDfast, to add intelligence and functionality to an 8-feeder Automated Sectionalization and Restoration (ASR) system that was provided by PHI for project purposes (“project system”) using the methodology that is described in this report. The objective of the project was to explore GRIDfast’s ability, in immediate post-fault conditions prescribed by PHI, to identify specific measures with which PHI could optimize rapid restoration of service where the ASR was not able to do so. GRIDfast was required to demonstrate how PHI could improve the reliability indexes (SAIDI and SAIFI) for the subject system by (1) evaluating and quantifying bus-level stresses before and after a fault, (2) determining optimized system controls, and (3) identifying GRIDiant shedding of specific loads using load curtailment to meet PHI-prescribed system performance and service objectives.

Additional specific objectives of the project were as follows:

• Establish a baseline for GRIDfast’s performance against existing PHI ASR system performance using the project system and agreed-upon project fault scenarios

  
  

• Develop an approach to constructing an electrical model of the project system using PHI’s existing data sources, GRIDfast’s model building functionality, and other resources as required for use in applying GRIDfast project system optimization and analysis

  
  

• Using GRIDfast Load Migration and Load Curtailment tools as applied to the project system model, determine and improve the performance of an “optimized region” (8 PHI distribution feeders) of the project distribution network under (1) prescribed project fault scenarios, and (2) diverse sectionalizing and restoration schemes

  
  

• Assist PHI stakeholders to explore, test, and demonstrate certain applications and benefits of GRIDfast in PHI’s Blueprint for the Future initiative

  
  

GRIDfast achieved safe post-fault load migration and restoration of the maximum amounts of specified load where the existing ASR system alone was able to respond only by denying re-closure under projected overload on the reconnected feeders. The study results demonstrated that GRIDfast can be used as an important tool in supporting key objectives in PHI’s Blueprint for the Future when GRIDfast application methodologies are developed and applied to the distribution system model development. The added intelligence offered by the project approach and methodology complements the existing ASR system by providing the following benefits:

• Increased system reliability and system reliability indexes (SAIDI/SAIFI)

  
  

• Capacity to serve more load under high-load and other fault conditions, including fault scenarios significantly more complex than those examined in the project

  
  

• Objective-based Resource Sensitivity Index and asset-ranking functionality to allow optimized distribution system management of fault response, overloads, P and Q losses, load reduction (curtailment) dispatch, and generation (P and Q) deployment and dispatch, among other applications

  
  

• Operation of complex circuits by automatically determining, tracking, and applying ASR logic (i.e., “no rule based programming”) when an ASR-comparable solution is required