optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
(OP)
What is the practical way for optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems? Although many methods such as Genetic and PSO algorithms have been introduced in academic papers, since unfortunately the real and practical data of the distribution network does not exist, none of them can be employed. A simple and practical (even approximate!) way which does not need much data (and tough simulations) is of great interest. Any help is appreciated.






RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
Could you please explain more about your method and your rule of thumb? Unfortunately I do not understand completely what you mean.
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
Some say that it is better to locate the recloser near the substation; because as you know, 70-80 percent of the faults in electrical distribution networks are of transient (not permanent) type and so by doing this, most of the faults are cleared by the recloser in several seconds. The disadvantage of this placement is that when a permanent fault occurs, because the load of the recloser and the substation are almost the same, even if the fault is cleared by the recloser (recloser lockout), the longer part of the line is de-energized. But as mentioned before, since the nature of the most faults in distribution networks are transient, the beneficial of this method seems to be more than its drawbacks. What is your comments? Is this true? Why or why not?
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
Also, don't be afraid to deploy recloser loops if you ever need them. In some system recloser loops actually give tremendous savings. I've actually seen recloser loops used to postpone the construction of new substations and delay overhauling of existing ones- by decades if load growth is gradual.
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VGs7FdrSIE
Here are some more basic links:
http://www.tdworld.com/distribution/know-your-non-...
http://www.schneider-electric.us/documents/custome...
http://www2.schneider-electric.com/sites/corporate...
http://slideplayer.com/slide/10541318/
http://www.transmission-line.net/2012/05/power-tra...
But to boil all that down: basically the segment after the recloser can be connected to another normally open recloser bridging from another circuit. When the fault is between the substation and normally closed recloser, that particular recloser can be opened and power back fed from another circuit via the normally open recloser. The idea is that instead of loosing the whole feeder, you only loose part of it for a fault on any portion. For some utilties this concept is gaining immense popularity and paying back for itself. A few utilties in the US have been using this technology for 30 years now.
To simplify the advantage: In a radial feeder with a mid point recloser, the customers on the second half experience twice the outages. But by using a loop scheme, the customers on the second half have increased continuity of service by experiencing only half the outages. If the alternate supply feeder also has a mid section recloser that circuit can also be configured to have increased reliability by being back fed from your first circuit.
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
One place where I know this has been in use for 30 years has been Eversource Energy (formerly Connecticut Light and Power; Massachusetts Electric and New Hampshire Public Service- all which merged into the name "Eversource") It was in longest use at the CL&P branch.
https://www.eversource.com/Content/ct-c
An old article describing one advantage:
http://www.energycentral.com/c/iu/dscada-talk
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/dam/public...
http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/dam/public...
http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/dam/public...
http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/dam/public...
Compared next to today's technology these are extremely primitive and mediocre in general. They used simple timing and voltage sensing set via dipswitches to "rewire" circuits. The source recloser would open say after 45 seconds of sensing missing loss of voltage caused by a feeder lockout, and the tie recloser would then close after sensing 90 seconds of no 3 phase power. Because there was no communications, they had several flaws:
1. Line crews had to drive around re-setting the loop back to normal once the fault was repaired. This was lengthy and pains taking- and as guessed didn't always happen.
2. If the source and the tie recloser could not remain closed for any length of time (such as phase angles being to great because the alternate source is another substation) customers had to experience a second, (some times longer outage) to open the tie and then manually close the source)
3. Because this was done all by stand alone timing logic, it was a very real possibility of loosing loss of voltage coordination when stacking recloser loops on top of one another. Further, each time-current curve needing to be stacked increased the length and pickup of the curves below increasing system stress and the amount of time faults remained.
4. The tie didn't know if the loss of 3 phase power was from a fault between the substation and source re-closer or the source and tie recloser. If between the source and tie, that segment would be re-energized up to a 5th time. 6th time if the segment has critical customers and the decision was made to have two alternate sources. In other words the possibility of a downed line reaming live shot way up.
5. You simply had no clue when a recloser did lock out. People still had to call in to report power outages.
6. You were also limited to simple loops- which sometimes was enough- but there was no logic to handle feeder loading and what station/line might have more available capacity.
As a result all new controls now have SCADA and advanced logic. Each recloser can be monitored, opened, closed and adjust from a remote location. Controls can be configured to "talk" to one another peer-to-peer, which allows them to make intelligent reconfiguration decisions where needed.
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
If it is too long, then the fuse blowing may not occur because the fuse link may not melt,even in the case of a temporary fault. If it is too short, the fuse link is always saved and perhaps there is no chance for the temporary fault to be cleared. Is there any rule and criteria to determine these time intervals?
My less important questions:
Which parameters should be considered to choose a recloser and sectionaliser for buying? e.g. price, accuracy, maintenance,...
Which brands of reclosers and sectionaliser do you suggest?
Where should a sectionaliser be installed?
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
I am going to be honest: I don't know for sure. I know this is about the most arbitrary answer one can give, but I just do what "feels" right. Around here its typically 1 second open after trip, 10 seconds after trip and then 30 seconds after trip. But I have seen distribution guys do all sorts of open interval times like 30 seconds open on the first trip and then 60 seconds open. Heck I've seen 90 seconds on a first try. But, one thing that history and operating experience has taught POCOs is that in terms of customer satisfaction its best to have the first open interval as short as practicable; 1/4- 1/2 seconds has been done and tried with success to my knowledge. Reason being that roughly 2/3 of all temporary faults will clear and not re-strike when energized in this short amount of time. Yes a temporary fault is more likely to strike back up with a 1/2 second open time interval vs a 10 second open time interval -HOWEVER- for every temporary fault that could be cleared 100% of the time with a 10 second open there is a 65-70% chance a temp fault will be cleared with a 1/2 second open. A 1/2 second interruption often prevents blinking clocks and other noticeable events where a 10 cycle would become evident. Being able to eliminate 2/3 of all electronic resets on customer equipment is generally seen as good business. You would be surprised how many people do not have battery backup on their alarm clocks even though the capability is there. 1/2 second has also been known to work well for lightning strokes to my knowledge.
There is an equation you can use, see this:
https://www.sandc.com/globalassets/sac-electric/te...
The longer the open time, the longer the fuse tube has to cool But, in general you do not worry about it. You trip fast enough when you want to save the fuse, to slow down long enough to blow the fuse when you want to. Its easier to ignore the fuse heating on the slow curves and just make sure they are more then enough to melt the link "pre-heated" or not.
Now, if you mean the speed of curves that will save a fuse and those that will blow a fuse that is different.
Lots, but basically select the model and control which gets the job done now and in the foreseeable future for the lowest cost. If however you use lots of sophisticated and expensive controls, sometimes its better to use the same control for the few basic applications that pop up. In genenral its better to have one or two models that serve the needs of the whole system then have a million different makes selected on a case by case basis.
Also take fault current into account as well. Most systems have about 10,000amps max short circuit current and most reclosers are rated as such. But still check none the less. 10,000 can be exceeded and system X/R ratios can play a role to my knowledge.
Around here its Copper:
http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/public/en/...
Excellent record to my knowledge. FWIW thousands of these are on Eversource's system from personal observation. Now, whether or not there are better reclosers out there I have no idea as I don't know much past Copper. From the little I have heard avoid those "flower pot" reclosers, but that as thin for me to say as its rumors I've heard on electrical forums.
No straight forward way to answer that, it varies based on many things. But basically anywhere you don't mind the segment before the sectionalizer blinking for faults after the sectionlizer. One of the best places where I can think of sectionlizers being used is as a low cost protection against single phasing. Yes a sectionalizer will not detect on an open (broken phase) conductor, but if a phase to ground fault occurs on one or two phases, a 3 phase sectionalizer will allow for line reclosing and then disconnect all 3 phases where fuses would leave one or two phases intact. Big no-no for some customers. In a radial system perhaps toward the end- maybe 1/4 down the feeder?
This of course assumes you mean typical (classical) sectionlizers:
http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/public/en/...
And not motor operated gang switches sectionlizers ;) :P
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfOD1KGNZGw
These sectionlizers can be applied to recloser loops (as well as radial lines) which further sub-divided. Ie, say if you have 1000 customers between a source and tie recloser, these can be used in peer-to-peer sub-pairs in conjunction with the SCADA reclosers further sub-divding the feeder. Adding two on the 1000 customer segment will break things into 333 customers. Because these are not a full recloser and only a simple gang switch, cost savings could be realized.
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Of course I have been talking about the most technologically exotic distribution systems. Whether your system is this complex or a simple radial line depends on many, many factors. Cost, outage tolerance, repair time, size, weather, loads being served, trees, ect, ect ect. There is no one size fits all and systems are generally handled on a case to case basis dictated by their environment and desired performance.
For example, one of the reasons why Eversource uses SCADA and recloser loops to such a degree is because they are one of the most heavily wooded service territories on earth. Typical summer thunderstorms results in dozens of downed trees and many feeder segments affected all at once in any particular service area. If they were a mid-western utility with no tree there is a good chance most of their feeder would all still be radial. Another example: in areas where there are frequent ice storms, wind or narrow easements spacer cable is selected over bare wire.
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
In general failure of power transformers today is much less frequent then decades past. Multiple failures at once are rare. Thus as a result any particular system with multiple transformers theoretically only needs one spare.
Picture a typical 180 MVA load pocket fed by 3 different 138kv-25kv substations with 25kv overhead distribution feeders. Each substation supplies 60MVA of peak load. In a none looped system each substation will have two 60MVA transformers. Load is normally evenly split between the two transformers, so for the failure of either transformer results in the full 60MVA being placed across the remaining unit. Hence the selected MVA rating. This is the typical design and mode of operation for most US utilities. Any further increase in load will require more transformers or replacing the existing units with larger ones.
Now, picture a system with recloser loop automation on each feeder circuit. The system can be programmed so that the loss of any 60MVA transformer results in automatic "load rolling". When a transformer fails at substation #1 (for example), the source reclosers on various feeders attached to the substation with the failed transformer open, and the tie reclosers from feeders emanating from other substations close. 12 MVA of load is transferred to substation #2 (6 MVA across each of two transfomer) and another 12 MVA is transferred to substation #3. In total 24 MVA of load is removed from the 60MVA load chunk normally served by substation #1. Thus, when the feeders that were normally being supplied by the failed transformer are picked up by the remaining working unit, it will only see 36MVA of load.
Therefore we have two options:
1. Assuming no load growth will take place in our 180MVA load pocket we can select 6 25/30/36 MVA transformers instead of 6 40/50/60MVA transformers. This greatly saves cost, space and reduces fault current. In systems where larger transformers force short circuit currents to exceed 10,000amps being able to get at or below 10ka is a huge blessing and cost savings on many levels. Not having to consider reactors alone is a blessing.
2. Lets say your 180MVA load pocket was designed as a radial system, 60MVA units. In the next 5-10 years peak load is projected to increase to 250MVA but not beyond that for 25 years. In a radial system you will need larger transformers at each substation (85MVA) or an extra 60MVA at each substation. You could in theory only add a transformer on one or two of the subs instead of all 3 by redistributing the load (feeder size) so the sub that can accommodate the extra transformer sees more loading... but that means some feeders will loose more customers for any fault and still anything that involves substation expansion or renovation costs millions. However, by adding recloser loops and a simple SCADA system over those 5 years you can delay substation expansion for 30 years by investing peanuts. Peanuts that may even pay for themselves in keeping customers on when a car hits a pole or bad whether strikes. For some utilites being able to re-use existing substations alone has justified recloser loops.
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for the valuable assistance you’ve given me. You have generously shared your expertise and experience with me, and I truly appreciate the support. I sincerely appreciate the time you spent.
RE: optimal recloser placement in radial distribution systems