Intelligent distribution station

Developing and testing a smart substation

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Increased penetration by dispersed generating units and developments in power demand may be expected to steadily increase the degree of fluctuation exhibited by the power flows in low-voltage and medium-voltage distribution grids.

Project
The aim of this project is to design an intelligent 400 kVA, MV/LV distribution station (intDS) that will allow power flow fluctuations to be managed while maintaining power quality, reliability and security of supply. A full-scale prototype was assembled and extensively tested at the Flex Power Grid Lab (FPG Lab). It was then installed in a live test grid as a pilot.

Objectives
The objective of the project was to design and build a proof-of-principle intelligent distribution station. The goal of creating such a station is to enable a subordinate low- voltage grid characterized by a high degree of distributed generation penetration to be monitored and controlled. The intelligent distribution station’s functions are in the fields of peak load management, improvement of reliability, supply of reactive power, power quality enhancement and additional services.

Benefits
> Control of voltage distortion, resulting in improved power quality levels
> Demand response, resulting in a more flexible and controllable grid
> System for local control and remote monitoring, resulting in higher information levels
> Energy storage system, consisting of a battery and a bi-directional inverter
> Stepless control of the voltage level on the low-voltage bus bar
> Bi-directional communication between household appliances and the intDS using a home automation system, resulting in a more flexible and controllable grid

Key Results
> The design, specification and realization of an intelligent distribution station
> Detailed knowledge of the (validated) control schemes appropriate for a wide range of scenarios in smart low-voltage grids
> Laboratory proof of principle with field validation

DNV KEMA’s role was to perform the basic design and specification of the substation and to apply our innovative testing know-how to the proof of principle.

Project coordinator
> ECN, the Netherlands

Project partners 
> DNV KEMA, the Netherlands
> Eaton Electric, the Netherlands
> Imtech Vonk, the Netherlands
> Exendis, the Netherlands
> Alliander, the Netherlands
> Alfen, the Netherlands

Project details
> IOP EMVT Research Program
> Duration: 2006 – 2010