The Optimization application continuously monitors the distribution system looking for opportunities to optimize network performance to meet pre-configured objectives.

Optimizations are evaluated for the primary distribution feeders and substation LTC transformers. The optimizations will consider the tap positions, regulation settings and or operating bandwidths of:

The analysis is performed on the group of devices from the Substation LTC and all downstream distribution feeders. The intent being that often the most benefit can be derived from setting the regulation targets at the LTC.

The optimization strategies available are:

Loss Minimization: Will attempt to reduce technical losses on the feeder through both power factor correction and voltage adjustments.

Power Factor Correction: Will attempt to adjust reactive power flow such that the feeder head Power Factor is as close to unity as possible. Will only operate reactive devices: Capacitors and Reactors.

Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR): Will attempt to reduce voltage along the feeder whilst avoiding low voltage violations. The objective being to minimize real power consumption especially in constant impedances and constant current loads.

Overload Relief: Will attempt to reduce voltage or flow violations along the feeder by dispatch real or reactive power from DERs.

The optimization application can run in both real-time and in study mode:

In real-time the application is configured to determine how frequently to run on each optimization group and whether to produce automatic on manual plans. As these plans are intended to achieve immediate benefits from optimization, they will only consider devices that can be controlled via SCADA.

In study mode the application can make optimization recommendations on any network status the operator cares to investigate. Additionally the operator can choose to include manually switched devices in the analysis.