Benefits of Real-Time Monitoring to Distribution Systems: Dynamic Thermal Rating

With anticipated proliferation of electric vehicles and distributed generations in near future, dynamic thermal rating (DTR) as a tool for unlocking network capacities, is becoming critical for distribution network operators. DTR is gaining a great and still growing focus of attention in today´s power industries. However, potential benefits of DTR, although have been envisioned to be significant, have not yet been studied quantitatively. This paper intends to comprehensively assess the potential impacts of DTR on the performance of a realistic Finnish distribution network. For doing so, first a step-by-step procedure is devised. Then, weather data and loading information of circuits in the network are gathered by advanced metering infrastructure available in the network. Thereafter, the gathered data are fed to mathematical models provided by the IEEE Standard 738-2006 and component dynamic thermal models to give thermal rating of circuits. The ratings are then used in reliability analysis where likely system states are simulated. This paper is performed for several cases and the results are discussed.