Transmission and Distribution Co-Simulation and Applications

As the penetration of flexible loads and distributed energy resources (DERs) increases in distribution networks, demand dispatch schemes need to consider the effects of large-scale load control on distribution grid reliability. Thus, we need demand dispatch schemes that actively ensure that distribution grid operational constraints are network-admissible and still deliver valuable market services. In this context, this work develops and evaluates the performance of a new network-admissible version of the device-driven demand dispatch scheme called Packetized Energy Management (PEM). Specifically, this work develops and investigates the live grid constraint-based coordinator and metrics for performance evaluation. The effects of grid measurements for a practical-sized, 2,522-bus, unbalanced distribution test feeder with a 3000 flexible kW-scale loads operating under the network-admissible PEM scheme is discussed. The results demonstrate the value of live grid measurements in managing distribution grid operational constraints while PEM can effectively deliver frequency regulation services. Increased penetration of flexible loads and DERs on distribution system (DS) will lead to increased interaction of transmission and distribution (T&D) system operators to ensure reliable operation of the interconnected power grids, as well as the control actions at LV/MV grid in aggregation will have significant impact on the transmission systems (TS). Thus, a need arises to study the coupling of the transmission and distribution (T&D) systems. Therefore, this work develops a co-simulation platform based on decoupled approach to study integrated T&D systems collectively. Additionally, the results of a decoupled method applied for solving T&D power flow co-simulation is benchmarked against the collaborator developed unified solution which proves the accuracy of the decoupled approach. The existing approaches in the literature to study steady-state interaction of TS-DS have several sh