Smart Grid Topologies Paving the Way for an Urban Resilient Continuity Management

The generation and supply of electricity is currently about to undergo a fundamental transition that includes extensive development of smart grids. Smart grids are huge and complex networks consisting of a vast number of devices and entities which are connected with each other. This opens new variations of disruption scenarios which can increase the vulnerability of a power distribution network. However, the network topology of a smart grid has significant effects on urban resilience particularly referring to the adequate provision of infrastructures. Thus, topology massively codetermines the degree of urban resilience, i.e. different topologies enable different strategies of power distribution. Therefore, this article introduces a concept of criticality adapted to a power system relying on an advanced metering infrastructure. The authors propose a two-stage operationalization of this concept that refers to the design phase of a smart grid and its operation mode, targeting at an urban resilient power flow during power shortage.

The Role of Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in Power Distribution Network Interruption Reduction

Responsibility and reliability are very important for electricity subscribers. Due to their extent, these networks face a variety of challenges, and most of them are recurring but can be prevented if the root causes are identified. One of the methods to identify the root of network problems is to use the RCA method in the analysis of blackouts. RCA is an approach that systematically investigates adverse events and, by gathering evidence and documentation, finds its root causes and offers solutions to address them. Finally, it monitors the implementation of solutions and evaluates their effectiveness. In this chapter, while introducing some of the challenges of medium voltage power supply networks, the root of the problems are extracted, and corrective solutions are presented in three sample problematic feeders. After extracting the solutions, they are divided into two categories: the first category is the solutions specific to the sample feeder, and the second category is the solutions that can be generalized to other parts of the power supply network.

Review on the Techniques Used for Enhancing Performance of UPQC Structures

In a power transmitting network, a Unified Power Quality Conditioner is used to operate both shunt— connected and series-connected compensation simultaneously. Destabilize, disturbance, and sometimes even dc elements can all be found in a power distribution network. As a result, a UPQC (Unified Power Quality Conditioner) outperforms a Unified Power Flow Conditioner (UPFC) in many of these areas to offer shunt-connected or series-connected compensation. The main objective of this paper is to provide the overview, different designs given by many researchers to improve the performance of the UPQC.