Reconfigurable distribution automation and control laboratory: A network reconfiguration experiment for load balancing and loss reduction in power distribution systems

Abstract

At Drexel University, a network reconfiguration experiment has been developed to provide students with hands-on experience on how to balance loads and reduce real power losses of a distribution system through network reconfiguration. The experiment has been set up within Drexel's Reconfigurable Distribution Automation and Control Laboratory (RDAC) [1][2][3]. This paper discusses the Distribution Management System (DMS) module for students to acquire data, also to operate switches for network reconfiguration, and to perform loss calculations. Examples will be provided to show experimental procedures, system studies and data analysis performed by students.