DEVELOPMENT OF CO-SIMULATION PLATFORMS FOR STATIC AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF SMART DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS

The development of the future energy system in accordance with the smart grid paradigm requires a radical change in the management of the electricity distribution network, which needs to become increasingly intelligent and adaptive. Smart distribution networks (SDN) will have systems in place to control a combination of distributed energy resources, and distribution system operators will be able to manage the electricity flows using a flexible network topology. The transition towards SDN involves software, automation and control systems, to ensure that the power distribution network not only remains within its operating limits (e.g. node voltages and branch currents within the acceptable thresholds), but also that it is operated in an optimal way. The SDN operation requires the extensive use of information and communication technology (ICT) and innovative control systems in order to enable the active management of DERs and expected growing number of electric vehicles. In SDN context, therefore, the ICT is not a simple add-on of the electrical system, but its availability and efficiency are essential to the operation of the entire power distribution system. In fact, the electric system will be managed and controlled through the communication network, which must guarantee a bidirectional exchange of large amount of data creating a keen interdependence between electric system and ICT system. The theme of the joint simulation of the electrical system and the communication infrastructure is becoming increasingly important in the scientific research on power systems. For planning the evolution towards the implementation of SDN, appropriate computing tools (not yet available among commercial software) should be developed to take into account the reciprocal interdependencies among the two systems. The co-simulation is the most common method for studying SDNs as a cyber-physical system (CPS), since it permits simulating each subsystem (electrical and ICT) simultaneously, and has represented the focus of this Ph. D. work. In this thesis different simulators specifically developed for co-simulation of smart distribution network analysis have been developed. They permit analyzing the slow dynamic operation of smart distribution networks (e.g. optimal power and reactive flow management, voltage regulation) as well the fast dynamic operation (e.g. fault management and reconfiguration). Different case studies have been investigated in order to show the effectiveness of the co-simulation platform features in analyzing the behavior of the smart distribution network in terms of capabilities, performances and reliability.