OpenDSS Training Material

Part 1/5 - Distribution Modelling

Dr Luis(Nando) Ochoa
Lecturer in Smart Distribution Networks
luis_ochoa@ieee.org
February 2013

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

Acknowledgement

Many slides in this presentation have used and/or adapted

content produced by Roger Dugan (EPRI, USA) who has
kindly granted the corresponding permission.
Main repository of slides >> ftp://ftp.epri.com/

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

What is traditionally modelled?

Impacts of new loads or load growth?
Voltage drops?
Capacity assessment (lines, transformers)?
Fault levels? Protection coordination?
Power losses?

Balanced, radial distribution networks

Network expansion? Reinforcement? Reconfiguration? Reactive
power compensation?

... largely from the planning perspective rather than operational.

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

The Context
FUTURE (Smart Grid)

Conventional
Generation

Conv. Generation
++ RES

Security
Aging
Assets

Transmission

Transmission
++ HVDC

EHV Distribution

HV Distribution

LV Distribution

Unresponsive
Demand, no Storage

Technology
Markets
Climate
Change

DG

EHV Distribution

DG

HV Distribution

DG

LV Distribution

100 MW

MW

People
MW

EV

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

EHP

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

Active, Responsive Demand and Storage

TODAY

Distributed Generation Today

Main Types of Distributed Generation (MW) according to the
2011 Seven Year Statement from National Grid

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

Photovoltaic Systems in the UK

(Feed-In Tariff) PV installed

capacity has exceeded 1GW

~70% is domestic
~25% is commercial

Typical domestic installations

1.5-3.5kWp per house
Housing associations

Eng Recommendation G83

16A per phase
1 3.68 kW
3 11.04 kW
Power factor 0.95 ind/cap
Source: Ofgem FIT Update, Sep 2012

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

The Challenges
LV Distribution Networks (400V)
Voltage rise/drops due to PV panels/EVs
Thermal limits: Are the wires fit for purpose?
More unbalances? etc.

HV Distribution Networks (6.6, 11kV)

Voltage rise due to wind power (rural networks)
Increase in short circuit level (urban underground)
Power quality, Islanding and Protection
Increased energy losses? Variability?

EHV Distribution Networks (33, 132kV)

Thermal limits
Stability and reserve requirements

Observability
Controllability
Voltage
Management
...
Thermal,
Fault Mgmt
Integration of
Solutions

Variability?
2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

(Smart Grid) Modelling Challenges

Smart Grid means different things to different people

Low Carbon Technologies (Distributed Energy Resources)

Generation, Storage, Demand Response

Communications and control

Typically not represented in distribution network analysis

Monitoring
Protection
Energy Efficiency
... assuming all non-Smart Grid aspects can be modelled (which
are already significant challenges in some cases).
2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

Modelling Challenges
Low carbon technologies

2.5

Renewable generation (variable)

2.0

Power Output (kW)

Demand response
Energy storage

1.5

1.0

0.5

1381

1321

1261

1201

1141

1081

961

1021

901

841

781

661

721

601

541

481

421

361

301

241

181

121

61

0.0

Minute

Wind Profile

Demand Profile

p.u. Voltage

1.10

(p.u.)

0.8

Voltage Profile w/ DG
High Voltages

1.05

0.6
1.00

0.4
0.95

0.2
0

12

Time (Hour)

16

20

24
0.90
0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

Distance from Substation (km)

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

Modelling Challenges
Communications and control
Smart meters deployed throughout the system
High-speed communications for metering and controls
Effective Distribution State Estimation
Distribution Network

Measurement (SCADA)

DG-201

DG-206

DG-209

0.8
0.6
0.4

No

Nom

DG Set
Points

constraints
Violations
Yes

Off Nom

11

16

21

26

31

36

41

Time (minutes)

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

46

51

56

Distribution NMS

New Set Points

(SCADA)

Set point (p.u)

1.0

61
NMS Optimisation Engine:
Optimal Set Points for active elements
(OLTCs, DG)

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

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Modelling Challenges
Improved energy efficiency
End-use efficiency
Delivery efficiency
At the planning stage
Operationally, e.g., active volt-var regulation
350
Total Losses

300

Losses, kW

250
200
150
100

Load Losses

50
No-Load Losses
0
5200

5250

5300

5350

Hour (1 Week)

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

11

Modelling Needs Today

Impacts of low carbon technologies
Voltage rise/drop
(Dynamic) capacity assessment (lines, transformers)
Energy losses
Demand response

Unbalanced, meshed distribution networks

Automatic restoration, Coordinated control of network
elements and participants

... integrating operational aspects into planning.

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

12

State of the Art in Modelling Capabilities

Full three-phase analysis
Some can do more than 3 phases (OpenDSS)

Primarily peak demand capacity problem

Static power flow
A few perform sequential time (i.e., time-series) simulations

Tools designed for single processors

Mostly satisfactory for now

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

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State of the Art in Modelling Capabilities

Several tools perform some form of meshed network analysis
Weakly-meshed or highly-meshed

Many tools exploit radial nature of typical MV feeders for

computational efficiencies

Increased demand for full network capabilities

Harmonic analysis is an optional feature

Frequency-domain tools are dominant in distribution planning

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

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State of the Art in Modelling Capabilities

Dynamics analysis is not common in distribution planning
Planning and operations tools are generally separate modules
LV system is often ignored
But this is changing

Modelling of end-use loads is generally with time-invariant ZIP

models

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

15

Needs Envisioned by EPRI

Time-series simulation
Meshed network solution capability
Better modelling of Smart Grid controllers
Advanced load and generation modelling
High phase order modelling (>3 phases)
Integrated harmonics
User-defined (scriptable) behaviour
Dynamics for distributed generation studies

...

Large systems, communication modelling, etc.

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

16

EPRIs Vision
Distribution planning and distribution management systems

(DMS) with access to real-time loading and control data will

converge into a unified set of analysis tools.

Real-time analysis and planning analysis will merge into

common tools.

Distribution system analysis tools will continue to play an

important role, although they might appear in a much different

form than today.

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

17

OpenDSS Training Material

Part 1/5 - Distribution Modelling
Dr Luis(Nando) Ochoa
Lecturer in Smart Distribution Networks
luis_ochoa@ieee.org
February 2013

2013 L. Ochoa - The University of Manchester

OpenDSS Training Material 1/5 February 2013

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