Patent ID: 8816531
Filing Date: 2014-08-26
Classification: H02J,Y02E,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling voltage and reactive power in a distribution network, the method comprising: estimating at least one present state associated with a distribution network; allocating one or more load zones in the distribution network; predicting load profiles of each zone for a predetermined time period; determining capacitor bank switching schedules for a predetermined time period based at least in part on the at least one present state and the predicted load profiles; switching capacitor banks according to the capacitor bank switching schedules; running a power flow algorithm to determine the predicted voltages over all nodes in a zone based at least in part on the predicted load profiles; determining an initial set of voltage regulator tap settings that flattens the predicted average voltage of all nodes in a zone over a given time period based at least in part on a linear relation between tap ratios and voltages; determining a final set of voltage regulator tap settings based on a dynamic programming algorithm; determining voltage regulator switching schedules based at least in part on one or more of the initial or final voltage regulator tap settings; and switching the voltage regulator tap settings according to the voltage regulator switching schedules.