A new approach based on the experimental design method for the improvement of the operational efficiency in Medium Voltage distribution networks

• A planning study for the optimal operation of the MV grid is carried out.
• The optimal positioning of the network regulation devices is determined.
• The sizing of the network regulation devices takes technical and economic criteria into account.
• The determination of the optimal solution for the real-time management of the grid is very fast.
• The proposed method substantially reduces the line losses and the risk of voltage violation.

This paper presents a new approach for the improvement of the operation in Medium Voltage (MV) networks. The developed methodology is based on an innovative use of the experimental design method, the aim of which being the reduction of the total line losses while ensuring the best voltage profile possible along the feeders of the grid. Practically, it consists in the optimal positioning, sizing and real-time use of the different devices and processes that can currently be employed by the Distribution System Operators (DSOs) to operate efficiently and securely the network: the on-load tap changer (OLTC) of transformer, the reactive power compensation devices, the curtailment of distributed generation (DG) and the load-shedding. This work is divided into two complementary studies. Firstly, a planning procedure is implemented. This stage includes a screening process of the optimal positioning of the network regulation devices followed by a sizing procedure of those devices that takes technical as well as economic constraints into account. Secondly, an optimization process of the values of these parameters is implemented in order to be used in the context of a real-time management of distribution systems. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is then tested on a 28-bus radial MV network with several DG units. The simulations are carried out under various load and generation profiles over an extensive period of time and the evaluation criteria of the methodology are the costs related to the line losses and the probabilities of voltage violation.