Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Intelligent power distribution terminal'

Master of Science<br>Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<br>Anil Pahwa<br>This research project builds upon previous work related to intelligent and energy efficient lighting in modern street and outdoor lighting systems. The concept of implementing modern smart grid technologies such as the proposed Street & Outdoor Lighting Intelligent Monitoring System (SOLIMS) is developed. A random sample of photocells from two municipal electric power systems is used to collect data of the actual on/off times of random photocells versus Civil Twilight (sunrise/sunset) times. A business case was developed using the data collected from the observations to support an electric utility company’s implementation of SOLIMS as an alternative to current operations. The goal of the business case is to demonstrate energy and capacity savings, reduced maintenance and operating costs, and lower carbon emissions.

Feeder reconfiguration is performed by changing the open/close status of two types of switches: normally open tie switches and normally closed sectionalizing switches. A whole feeder or part of a feeder may be served from another feeder by closing a tie switch linking the two while an appropriate sectionalizing switch must be opened to maintain the radial structure of the system. Feeder reconfiguration is mainly aiming to reduce the system overall power losses and improve voltage profile. In this dissertation, several approaches have been proposed to reconfigure the radial distribution networks including the potential impact of integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into the grid. These approaches provide a Fast-Genetic Algorithm “FGA” in which the size and convergence speed is improved compared to the conventional genetic algorithm. The size of the population matrix is also smaller because of the simple way of constructing the meshed network. Additionally, FGA deals with integer variable instead of a binary one, which makes FGA a unique method. The number of the mesh/loop is based on the number of tie switches in a particular network. The validity of the proposed FGA is investigated by comparing the obtained results with the one obtained from the most recent approaches. The second the approach is the implementation of the Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm. DE is a population-based method using three operators including crossover, mutation, and selection. It differs from GA in that genetic algorithms rely on crossover while DE relies on mutation. Mutation is based on the differences between randomly sampled pairs of solutions in the population. DE has three advantages: the ability to find the global optimal result regardless of the initial values, fast convergence, and requirement of a few control parameters. DE is a well-known and straightforward population-based probabilistic approach for comprehensive optimization. In distribution systems, if a utility company has the right to control the location and size of distributed generations, then the location and size of DGs may be determined based on some optimization methods. This research provides a promising approach to finding the optimal size and location of the planned DER units using the proposed DE algorithm. DGs location is obtained using the sensitivity of power losses with respect to real power injection at each bus. Then the most sensitive bus is selected for installing the DG unit. Because the integration of the DG adds positive real power injections, the optimal location is the one with the most negative sensitivity in order to get the largest power loss reduction. Finally, after the location is specified, the proposed Differential Evolution Algorithm (DEA) is used to obtain the optimal size of the DG unit. Only the feasible solutions that satisfy all the constraints are considered. The objective of installing DG units to the distribution network is to reduce the system losses and enhance the network voltage profile. Nowadays, these renewable DGs are required to equip with reactive power devices (such as static VAR compensators, capacitor banks, etc.), to provide reactive power as well as to control the voltage at their terminal bus. DGs have various technical benefits such as voltage profile improvement, relief in feeder loading, power loss minimization, stability improvement, and voltage deviation mitigation. The distributed generation may not achieve its full potential of benefits if placed at any random location in the system. It is necessary to investigate and determine the optimum location and size of the DG. Most distribution networks are radial in nature with limited short-circuit capacity. Therefore, there is a limit to which power can be injected into the distribution network without compromising the power quality and the system stability. This research is aiming to investigate this by applying DG technologies to the grid and keeping the system voltage within a defined boundary [0.95 - 1.05 p.u]. The requirements specified in IEEE Standard 1547 are considered. This research considers four objectives related to minimization of the system power loss, minimization of the deviations of the nodes voltage, minimization of branch current constraint violation, and minimization of feeder’s currents imbalance. The research formulates the problem as a multi-objective problem. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is demonstrated on different revised IEEE test systems including 16 and 33-bus radial distribution system.

Power grid is an interconnected system of supplying electricity from the supplier to the consumer, consisting of electricity generating plant, high voltage transmission lines- to carry electricity from the generating plant to the load center, and distribution lines- to carry electricity from load centers to individual consumers. A lot of research is being pursued to develop technologies for improving the next generation of power grid called the Smart Power Grid. The Smart Power Grid will have sophisticated communication infrastructure to improve the efficiency of electricity generation using renewable energy sources like the sun, water, etc and also to inform consumers of their electricity usage pattern. Also, the electricity market is now divided into three sections- generation, transmission and distribution. Private companies are competing with each other to provide electricity at the most competitive market price. We have developed two algorithms to help generating companies achieve their goal of meeting the hourly electricity need of the consumers and to do so at a minimum total cost.

The thesis addresses electronic power distribution systems for the residential applications. Presented are both, renewable energy ac-nanogrid system along with the vehicle-to-grid technology implementation, and envisioned structure and operation of dc-nanogrid addressing all system components chosen as an inherent part of the future electrical architecture. The large-scale model is built and tested in the laboratory environment covering a few operational modes of the ac-nanogrid, while later in the thesis is shown how dc bus signaling technique could be contemplated for the energy management of the renewable energy sources and their maximal utilization. Thesis however puts more focus on the dc-nanogrid system to explore its benefits and advantages for the electrical systems of the future homes that can easily impact not only residential, but also microgrid, grid and intergrid levels. Thus, presented is low frequency terminal behavioral modeling of the system components in dc-nanogrid motivated by the fact that system engineers working on the system-level design rarely have access to all the information required to model converters and system components, other than specification and data given in the datasheets. Using terminal behavioral modeling, converters are measured on-line and their low frequency dynamics is identified by the means of the four transfer functions characteristically used in two port network models. This approach could significantly improve system-level design and simulations. In addition to previously mentioned, thesis addresses terminal behavioral modeling of dc-dc converters with non-linear static behavior showing hybrid behavioral models based on the Hammerstein approach.<br>Master of Science

This thesis describes the development of a software system which was implemented by the South East Queensland Electricity Board Australia (SEQEB). The software uses temperature probes and mathematical modelling to continuously determine maximum current carrying capacity of underground feeders. It identifies other plant capable of modelling (such as Transformers) and develops a higher level software architecture for which models may be integrated and with which automated overload verification and plant protection may be achieved. The usefulness of this software is that it permits higher currents than usual to be conveyed along cables and allows SEQEB to provide less cabling and still provide the same amount of power, achieving cost benefits. The new software runs over the existing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA) and because of this, the thesis carries out an appraisal of several commercial SCADA products. This thesis describes the development of the cable-modelling algorithm, the higher level software architecture and describes the design, development and commissioning of this software within South East Electricity Boards' Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System.

Une infrastructure robuste de surveillance basée sur des mesures numériques classiques est souvent utilisée pour permettre une gestion efficace du réseau de distribution électrique, néanmoins les mesures de phaseurs synchronisés, également connu comme synchrophaseurs, sont particulièrement efficaces pour améliorer la capacité de gestion et la surveillance de ces réseaux. Le synchrophaseur est un phaseur numériquement calculé à partir des échantillons de données en utilisant une source temporelle absolue pour un horodatage extrêmement précis des mesures effectuées.De ce fait, les applications des synchrophaseurs sont très nombreuses dans les réseaux électriques, en particulier dans les réseaux de transport. Ils permettent notamment de mesurer la différence angulaire entre les noeuds, l'estimation d'état linéaire, détecter l'îlotage, surveiller la stabilité oscillatoire, et détecter et identifier les défauts. Ainsi, nous pourrions être amenés à croire que pour apporter les avantages bien connus des mesures synchronisées vers les réseaux de distribution électriques, il serait seulement nécessaire de placer les Unités de Mesure de Phaseur, également connu par l'abréviation anglophone PMU, d'une manière directe dans l'environnement de la distribution électrique. Malheureusement, cette tâchen'est pas aussi évidente qu'elle n'y paraît.Les réseaux de distribution électriques et les réseaux de transport ont des caractéristiques opérationnelles différentes, donc les PMUs dédiées aux réseaux de distribution doivent avoir des caractéristiques différentes de celles consacrées aux réseaux haute tension. Les réseaux de distribution intelligents possèdent des longueurs de ligne plus courtes en produisant une ouverture angulaire plus petite entre les noeuds adjacents. En outre, le contenu harmonique élevé et la déviation en fréquence imposent aussi des défis pour l'estimation des phaseurs. Les appareils synchronisés avancés dédiés pour la surveillance du réseau de distribution doivent surmonter ces défis afin de mener la précision des mesures au-delà des exigences actuelles.Cette problématique globale est traitée et évaluée dans la présente thèse. La précision de l'estimation de phaseur est directement liée à la performance de l'algorithme utilisé pour traiter les données. Une grande robustesse contre les effets pernicieux qui peuvent dégrader la qualité des estimations est fortement souhaitée. De ce fait, trois algorithmes adaptifs en fréquence sont présentés en visant l'amélioration du processus d'estimation des mesures de phaseurs dans les réseaux de distribution actifs. Plusieurs simulations en utilisant des signaux corrompus sont réalisées pour évaluer leurs performances dans des conditions statiques et/ou dynamiques.Prenant en compte l'estimation précise des phaseurs, quatre applications potentielles sont présentées pour augmenter la perception, la compréhension et la projection des actions dans les réseaux de distribution. Des contributions sont apportées concernant le circuit équivalent de Thévenin vu par le point de couplage commun (PCC) entre la production décentralisée et les réseaux de distribution. Des contributions sont également apportées pour les équivalents dynamiques externes et l'évaluation de la chute de tension dans les réseaux moyenne-tension radiaux, ainsi que l'évaluation de la problématique des harmoniques pour l'amélioration de la méthode classique nomée PH (puissance active harmonique) pour détecter à la fois la principale source de pollution harmonique et le vrai flux de puissance harmonique sous déviation en fréquence.Le sujet des mesures de phaseurs synchronisés dans le réseaux électrique de distribution est encore peu exploré et les questionnements quant à son applicabilité sont communs, néanmoins cette thèse vise à fournir des propositions pour contribuer à l'avènement de mesures de phaseurs dans l'environnement de la distribution électrique<br>Robust metering infrastructure based on classical digital measurements has been used to enable a comprehensive power distribution network management, however synchronized phasor measurements, also known as synchrophasors, are especially welcome to improve the overall framework capabilities. Synchrophasor is a phasor digitally computed from data samples using an absolute and accuracy time source as reference. In this way, since the absolute time source has sufficient accuracy to synchronize voltage and current measurements at geographically distant locations, it is possible to extract valuable informations of the real grid operating status without full knowledge of its characteristics.Due to this fact, applications of synchronized phasor measurements in wide-area management systems (WAMSs) have been achieved. Angular separation, linear state estimation, islanding detection, oscillatory stability, and disturbance location identification are some of the several applications that have been proposed. Thus, we could be lead to believe that to bring the well-known benefits of the synchronized measurements toward electric distribution grids it is only required to place in a straightforward manner conventional Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) into the electric distribution environment. Unfortunately, this is not as simple as it seems.Electric power distribution systems and high-voltage power systems have different operational characteristics, hence PMUs or PMU-enabled IEDs dedicated to distribution systems should have different features from those devoted to the high-voltage systems. Active distribution grids with shorter line lengths produce smaller angular aperture between their adjacent busbars. In addition, high harmonic content and frequency deviation impose more challenges for estimating phasors. Generally, frequency deviation is related to high-voltage power systems, however, due to the interconnected nature of the overall power system, frequency deviation can be propagated toward the distribution grid. The integration of multiple high-rate DERs with poor control capabilities can also impose local frequency drift. Advanced synchronized devices dedicated to smart monitoring framework must overcome these challenges in order to lead the measurement accuracy beyond the levels stipulated by current standard requirements.This overall problematic is treated and evaluated in the present thesis. Phasor estimation accuracy is directly related to the algorithm's performance used for processing the incoming data. Robustness against pernicious effects that can degrade the quality of the estimates is highly desired. Due to this fact, three frequency-adaptive algorithms are presented aiming to boost the phasor estimation process in active distribution grids. Several simulations using spurious and distorted signals are performed for evaluating their performances under static and/or dynamic conditions.Taking into account accurate phasor estimates, four potential applications are presented seeking to increase situational awareness in distribution environment. Contributions are presented concerning online Thévenin's equivalent (TE) circuit seen by the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) between DERs and the grid side, dynamic external equivalents and online three-phase voltage drop assessment in primary radial distribution grids, as well as assessment of harmonic issues for improving the classical PH method (harmonic active power) to detect both the main source of harmonic pollution and true power flow direction under frequency deviation.The issue of synchronized phasor measurements in electric power distribution systems is still underexplored and suspicions about its applicability are common, however this thesis aims to provide propositions to contribute with the advent of phasor measurements in electric distribution environment

Le terme « réseau électrique intelligent » fait référence à un réseau électrique en présence d’une abondante production décentralisée et redirigeant les flux de puissance afin que soit maintenu l’équilibre entre production et consommation électrique en temps réel. Son fonctionnement est conditionné par le respect de contraintes de stabilité, sécurité et qualité de service. Il tire profit d'une observabilité améliorée, utilise les outils de contrôle/commande avancé et offre la possibilité d’une gestion avancée de la demande.Dans le contexte du projet Smart Occitania, dont l'objectif est d’évaluer la faisabilité du concept de réseau électrique intelligent en zones rurales et péri-urbaines, ces travaux de thèse proposent une stratégie fondée sur la théorie de la commande prédictive et la gestion de charges pilotables (ici, un méthaniseur et un château d'eau) afin de maintenir l'équilibre entre production et consommation électrique dans le réseau, tout en respectant des contraintes en tension prédéfinies. La stratégie de contrôle inclue des prévisions infra-journalières de plusieurs grandeurs stochastiques qui interviennent dans le système, obtenues par le biais d’une régression non paramétrique par processus Gaussien.La contribution principale de cette thèse est double : la formulation d’un problème d'optimisation pour gérer la commande tout ou rien du château d'eau sans avoir recours à la programmation non linéaire mixte en nombres entiers ou à une relaxation et l'utilisation d'intervalles de confiance fournis par le module de prévision pour réduire les dépassements de tension dus aux erreurs de prévision.Les résultats obtenus témoignent du potentiel de la commande prédictive pour la gestion de charges pilotables dans une optique de réduction de l'écart entre production et consommation, tout en respectant des contraintes en tension<br>The term ''smart grid'' refers to a modern power grid that successfully integrates prolific distributed generation with end loads and efficiently reroutes power flows to balance supply and demand in real time with respect to stability, quality, and safety constraints. It relies on improved observability and advanced control techniques, and offers the possibility of advanced demand side management.In the context of the Smart Occitania project, which aims to study the feasibility of the smart grid concept for rural and suburban power distribution grids, this work proposes a model-based predictive control strategy based on flexible asset management (herein a biogas plant and a water tower) that aims to balance power supply and demand within the power grid while maintaining voltage levels within prescribed margins. The control scheme incorporates intraday forecasts of various stochastic quantities that impact the system, procured through Gaussian process regression.The main contribution of this thesis is twofold: the predictive controller's optimisation problem is formulated in such a way that the ON/OFF of the water tower is handled without recourse to mixed-integer nonlinear programming or relaxation, and the confidence intervals provided by the forecast module are utilised to minimize voltage overshooting due to forecasting errors.The results illustrate the promise of a predictive controller relying on renewable-energy-based flexible assets to reduce the gap between power supply and demand, while upholding the power grid's voltage constraints

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Electrical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Supervisor: Prof. R. Tzoneva Co-supervisor: Prof. P. Petev 2013<br>Busbars are the most important components in the distribution networks. Faults on the busbar are uncommon, however an occurrence of a busbar fault can lead to a major loss of power. Busbars are the areas in a substation where the levels of current are high and therefore the protective relay application is very critical. In order for the protection scheme to be successful it is important to carry out the following specifications: Selectivity, Stability, Sensitivity, and Speed. To meet all of the above requirements protection must be reliable, meaning that the protection scheme must trip when called up to do so (dependability) and it must not trip when it’s not supposed to (security). The thesis focuses on the reverse blocking busbar protection scheme with aim to improve the speed of its operation and at the same time to increase operational reliability, flexibility and stability of the protection during external and internal faults by implementation of the extended functionality provided by the IEC61850 standard-based protective IEDs. The practical implementation of the scheme by the use of IEC 61850 standard communication protocol is investigated. The research analyzes in detail the reverse blocking busbar protection scheme that is used at the moment in the power systems and it develops an improved IEC 61850 based reverse blocking busbar protection scheme for a distribution network. The proposed scheme is designed for a radial type of a distribution network and is modeled and simulated in the DigSILENT software environment for various faults on the busbar and its outgoing feeders. The results from the simulations are used further for implementation of the designed protection scheme. A laboratory test bench is build using three compliant with the IEC 61850 standard ABB IEDs 670 series, CMC 356 Omicron test injection device, PC, MOXA switch, and a DC power supplier. Two ways of the reverse blocking signals between the IEDs implementation are considered: hard wired and Ethernet communication by using IEC 61850 standard GOOSE messages. Comparative experimental study of the operational trip response speed of the two implementation shows that the performance of the protection scheme for the case of Ethernet communication is better The thesis findings and deliverables will be used for postgraduate studies of other students, research, short courses, and solution of industrial problems. Keywords: Busbar, Power system, reverse busbar blocking scheme; IEC61850; Distribution, Protection relays, IEDs, GOOSE message, laboratory test bench

In the new global and local scenario, the advent of intelligent distribution networks or Smart Grids allows real-time collection of data on the operating status of the electricity grid. Based on this availability of data, it is feasible and convenient to predict consumption in the short term, from a few hours to a week. The hypothesis of the study is that the method used to present time variables to a prediction system of electricity consumption affects the results.

Continued increase in system load leading to a reduction in operating margins, as well as the tendency to move towards a deregulated grid with renewable energy sources has increased the vulnerability of the grid to blackouts. Advanced intelligent techniques are therefore required to design new monitoring schemes that enable smart grid operation in a secure and robust manner. As the grid is highly interconnected, monitoring of transmission and distribution systems is increasingly relying on digital communication. Conventional security assessment techniques are slow, hampering real-time decision making. Hence, there is a need to develop fast and accurate security monitoring techniques. Intelligent techniques that are capable of processing large amounts of captured data are finding increasing scope as essential enablers for the smart grid. The research work presented in this thesis has evolved from the need for enhanced monitoring in transmission and distribution grids. The potential of intelligent techniques for enhanced system monitoring has been demonstrated for disturbed scenarios in an integrated power system. In transmission grids, one of the challenging problems is network partitioning, also known as network area-decomposition. In this thesis, an approach based on relative electrical distance (RED) has been devised to construct zonal dynamic equivalents such that the dynamic characteristics of the original system are retained in the equivalent system within the desired accuracy. Identification of coherent generators is another key aspect in power system dynamics. In this thesis, a support vector clustering-based coherency identification technique is proposed for large interconnected multi-machine power systems. The clustering technique is based on coherency measure which is formulated using the generator rotor measurements. These rotor measurements can be obtained with the help of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs). In distribution grids, accurate and fast fault identification of faults is a key challenge. Hence, an automated fault diagnosis technique based on multi class support vector machines (SVMs) has been developed in this thesis. The proposed fault location scheme is capable of accurately identify the fault type, location of faulted line section and the fault impedance in the distributed generation (DG) systems. The proposed approach is based on the three phase voltage and current measurements available at all the sources i.e. substation and at the connection points of DGs. An approach for voltage instability monitoring in 3-phase distribution systems has also been proposed in this thesis. The conventional single phase L-index measure has been extended to a 3-phase system to incorporate information pertaining to unbalance in the distribution system. All the approaches proposed in this thesis have been validated using standard IEEE test systems and also on practical Indian systems.

Continued increase in system load leading to a reduction in operating margins, as well as the tendency to move towards a deregulated grid with renewable energy sources has increased the vulnerability of the grid to blackouts. Advanced intelligent techniques are therefore required to design new monitoring schemes that enable smart grid operation in a secure and robust manner. As the grid is highly interconnected, monitoring of transmission and distribution systems is increasingly relying on digital communication. Conventional security assessment techniques are slow, hampering real-time decision making. Hence, there is a need to develop fast and accurate security monitoring techniques. Intelligent techniques that are capable of processing large amounts of captured data are finding increasing scope as essential enablers for the smart grid. The research work presented in this thesis has evolved from the need for enhanced monitoring in transmission and distribution grids. The potential of intelligent techniques for enhanced system monitoring has been demonstrated for disturbed scenarios in an integrated power system. In transmission grids, one of the challenging problems is network partitioning, also known as network area-decomposition. In this thesis, an approach based on relative electrical distance (RED) has been devised to construct zonal dynamic equivalents such that the dynamic characteristics of the original system are retained in the equivalent system within the desired accuracy. Identification of coherent generators is another key aspect in power system dynamics. In this thesis, a support vector clustering-based coherency identification technique is proposed for large interconnected multi-machine power systems. The clustering technique is based on coherency measure which is formulated using the generator rotor measurements. These rotor measurements can be obtained with the help of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs). In distribution grids, accurate and fast fault identification of faults is a key challenge. Hence, an automated fault diagnosis technique based on multi class support vector machines (SVMs) has been developed in this thesis. The proposed fault location scheme is capable of accurately identify the fault type, location of faulted line section and the fault impedance in the distributed generation (DG) systems. The proposed approach is based on the three phase voltage and current measurements available at all the sources i.e. substation and at the connection points of DGs. An approach for voltage instability monitoring in 3-phase distribution systems has also been proposed in this thesis. The conventional single phase L-index measure has been extended to a 3-phase system to incorporate information pertaining to unbalance in the distribution system. All the approaches proposed in this thesis have been validated using standard IEEE test systems and also on practical Indian systems.

碩士<br>中原大學<br>電機工程研究所<br>97<br>In recent years, due to the rapid developments of the hi-tech industry as well as much more usages of the precise production equipments and test instruments, the high power quality (PQ) is demanded nowadays. Hence, monitoring of power quality is an important task for utility companies and their customers. Generally, power quality problems include voltage swell, voltage sag, power harmonic, three-phase imbalance, frequency variation, voltage flicker and switching transient. Actually, the accurate location and time of PQ problem are useful for responsibility authority and accident correction. Therefore, identifying and locating the locations of accident sources have attracted more attention of utility engineers and scholars. This thesis presents a new method for placement of power quality measurement facilities. The power harmonics and capacitors switching transient are used as disturbance sources. The proposed method first uses harmonic voltages and wavelet coefficients as the features, then uses the fuzzy clustering and K-means’s clustering using Genetic Algorithm (GA) to discuss the appropriate locations when the number of measurement instruments is fixed. Finally, an 18-bus power system is used for testing. Simulation results obtained by using Matlab/Simulink show that the proposed approach is effective and relatively accurate in comparison with existing approaches.

碩士<br>國立成功大學<br>電機工程學系<br>103<br>This thesis endeavors to apply the bio-inspired intelligent techniques to optimize the multi-objective power dispatch and enhance the distribution system operation. With the aid of both enhanced dolphin echolocation algorithm and hybrid bird-mating approach, not only the appropriate decision of reactive power dispatch can be attained to reduce the power losses, minimize the voltage deviation, increase the voltage stability, but also mitigate the voltage unbalance caused by the grid-connected PV systems so as to ensure a satisfactory supplying-power. To evaluate the effectiveness of these proposed methods, they were evaluated through IEEE sample systems and practical ones with comparisons to other methods. Test results gained from this thesis have confirmed the feasibility of the proposed methods, thereby serving as beneficial references for electric power engineers and paving a road towards a power grid of high-quality.

The most important requirement of power system operations is sustained availability and quality supply of electric power. In Electrical Power Distribution System (EPDS), non-linear loads are the main cause of power quality (PQ) degradation. The PQ problems generated by these non-linear loads are complex and diversified in nature. The power system which is not capable to handle non-linear loads faces the problem of voltage unbalance, sag, swell, momentary or temporary interruption and ultimately complete outage of EPDS. The PQ problems have motivated power system engineers to design and develop new methodologies and techniques to enhance EPDS performance. To do so, they are required to analyse the PQ data of the system under consideration. Since, the density of the monitoring nodes in EPDS is quite high, the aggregate analysis is computationally involved. In addition, the cost involved with the PQ shortcomings is significantly high (for domestic consumers and rises exponentially for industrial consumers), hence it also becomes mandatory to project /predict the undesired PQ disturbance in EPDS. This will provides power system engineers to formulate intelligent strategy for efficient power system operations. This objective of the research is to identify and exploit the hidden correlation in PQ data with minimal computational cost and further use this knowledge to classify any PQ disturbance that may occur. ... Further this research also investigates the power distribution system behaviour considering the relationship of main PQ disturbance harmonics in conjunction with the other major PQ parameters i.e. voltage unbalance, sag, swell and frequency.

Power system operation is undergoing rapid changes due to market deregulations and interconnection of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) such as wind power and solar panels. The power flow complexities arising from interconnection of DERs into the distribution network have adverse effect on protection systems which can degrade the reliability and power quality in power systems and lead to cascading failures or blackouts. However, with the prospect of integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) infrastructures into power system operation, the ability to utilize advanced protection strategies has become realizable. Given the size and complexities in operation of the future power systems the need for distributed and resilient protection system is inevitable to address the difficulties and inaccuracies introduced in protection settings. Multi-Agent Systems (MAS), as a branch of Distributed Artificial Intelligence (DAI) are capable to deal with complex and large scale systems such as power distribution networks. Moreover, in MAS agents can be deployed in power system to engage with interdependencies between various components while pursuing global goals through supervisory function or behaviours specific to each agent types. In this research, a Multi-Agent Protection System (MAPS) consists of different agent types with certain tasks has been developed to effectively cooperate with other Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) within the protection communication network. A heuristic approach based on exchanging information between different IEDs in the system is utilized to adjust the IED settings according to fault current level in the protected zone. Additionally, to validate the outcomes of the research under real-world scenario, an experiment setup based on Power Hardware in the Loop (PHIL) methodology has been developed to verify the outcomes of the research. The simulation results are discussed to emphasise MAS as a distributed and scalable approach to deal with complexities in future power systems and specifically in relation to protection systems which is crucial for reliability and efficiency of the interconnected distribution networks.