An Approach to Advanced Distribution Automation in the Context of Smart Grid

Recent technological advances, with advanced measurement and automation infrastructures, and sophisticated computational intelligence mechanisms, create opportunities, among others, to improve the operational efficiency of electrical systems and power quality indicators within the context of smart grids (SG). Distribution companies have corporate supervisory, control, monitoring, georeferencing and management systems and have invested in automation and modernization projects of their electric grids for this purpose. Thus, this paper presents an approach for the development of a DMS – Distribution Management System, for Advanced Distribution Automation (ADA) applications, which includes state estimator, Volt/VAr control, fault location, isolation, and self-restoration tools, so that an interoperability bus (BCIM) integrates the corporate systems with the operational management. The developed applications were tested for real networks, in a computational environment, and integrated with the environment of the NAPREI / USP Smart Grids laboratory. The results demonstrate the processes of integrating ADA applications into a commercial service bus, which communicates the company’s legacy systems, of testing their applications, and its challenges.