Smart Grid | Success Stories

Better Tools to Assess the Impact of Distributed Generation on Electricity Networks

The new release of the CYMDIST Software features several improvements and functions including new Distributed Generation (DG) models to investigate and simulate the impact of various types of DGs on the distribution network. These enhancements were implemented by CYME International T&D with the help of Natural Resources Canada that funded part of the development of the new models and functions, as well as the participating in production of case studies presenting the impact of implementing distributed generation sources of different technologies, in a typical distribution circuit.

The latest version of the CYMDIST Software allows to study quickly and clearly the impact of DG. It provides the ability to model all types of DG including all electronically coupled DG such as wind turbines (synchronous or induction), gas turbine (high speed), energy storage, photovoltaic, etc. It also features tools for islanded systems simulation (islanding capability) and the ability to reduce the network (network reduction) to better see the impact of DG.

In the CYMDIST Software, the DG models are divided in three categories depending on how they are coupled with the electrical network:

• synchronous generators that can be operated in three different modes: voltage control, fixed generation or swing
• induction generators that provide constant generation
• electronic converters. Electronic converters are used with wind turbines (synchronous or induction), gas turbine (high speed), energy storage, photovoltaic source and fuel cells

The Network Reduction function implemented in the CYMDIST Software allows reducing a large network into a much smaller equivalent network by keeping the area and equipments of interest. More importantly, this sophisticated equivalent model allows matching exactly the power flow and short-circuit results of the non-reduced network. When performing studies on a large distribution network that includes a number of DG sources, a reduced network is beneficial since it lessens the computational effort and simplifies the study, focusing only on the area of interest.
 

Complete reports for these three case studies can be found on the website:

• Case Study 1: Voltage regulation in 25kV weak system with wind and hydro generation interconnected
• Case Study 2: Voltage regulation in 4kV, 1.5MVA remote community system with diesel and wind generation
• Case Study 3: Protection coordination considerations with inverter and rotating machine based DG

For more information, please visit CYME International T&D Website .