System, device and method for regulating volt-ampere reactance in a power distribution system

A method, implemented at least in part by a computer system, for modifying the volt-ampere reactive (VARs) in a power distribution system, comprising:

• determining the VARs at a location on the power distribution system;
• based on the determined VARs, determining whether to modify the VARs;
• if it is determined to modify the VARs, identifying a plurality a capacitor banks connected to a power line;
• from the identified plurality of capacitor banks, generating a list of eligible capacitor banks that satisfy inclusion criteria;
• if the list of eligible capacitor banks includes at least one capacitor bank:
• selecting a capacitor bank from the list of eligible capacitor banks;
• and transmitting a switching command for the selected capacitor bank, wherein said generating a list of eligible capacitor banks comprises for each capacitor bank of the plurality of capacitor banks:
• determining a quantity of switches within a most recent predetermined time period;
• comparing the quantity of switches of each capacitor bank with a threshold number;
• and excluding the capacitor bank from the list of eligible capacitor banks if the quantity of switches of the capacitor bank is greater than the threshold number.

A method, implemented at least in part by a computer system, for modifying the volt-ampere reactive (VARs) in a power distribution system, comprising:

• determining the VARs at a location on the power distribution system;
• based on the determined VARs, determining whether to modify the VARs;
• if it is determined to modify the VARs, identifying a plurality a capacitor banks connected to a power line;
• from the identified plurality of capacitor banks, generating a list of eligible capacitor banks that satisfy inclusion criteria;
• if the list of eligible capacitor banks includes at least one capacitor bank:
• selecting a capacitor bank from the list of eligible capacitor banks;
• and transmitting a switching command for the selected capacitor bank, wherein said generating a list of eligible capacitor banks comprises for each capacitor bank of the plurality of capacitor banks:
• collecting a voltage at the capacitor bank;
• determining whether the voltage is beyond a threshold voltage;
• and excluding the capacitor banks from the list of eligible capacitor banks if the voltage at the capacitor bank is beyond the threshold voltage.

A method, implemented at least in part by a computer system, for modifying the volt-ampere reactive (VARs) in a power distribution system, comprising:

• determining the VARs at a location on the power distribution system;
• based on the determined VARs, determining whether to modify the VARs;
• if it is determined to modify the VARs, identifying a plurality a capacitor banks connected to a power line;
• from the identified plurality of capacitor banks, generating a list of eligible capacitor banks that satisfy inclusion criteria;
• if the list of eligible capacitor banks includes at least one capacitor bank:
• selecting a capacitor bank from the list of eligible capacitor banks;
• and transmitting a switching command for the selected capacitor bank, wherein said generating a list of eligible capacitor banks comprises for each capacitor bank of the plurality of capacitor banks:
• determining a time period having an elapsed since a most recent switching of the capacitor bank;
• comparing the time period since the most recent switching of each capacitor bank with a minimum wait period;
• and excluding the capacitor bank from the list of eligible capacitor banks if the time period since the most recent switching of the capacitor banks is less than the minimum wait period.

A method, implemented at least in part by a computer system, for modifying the volt-ampere reactive (VARs) in a power distribution system, comprising:

• determining the VARs at a location on the power distribution system;
• based on the determined VARs, determining whether to modify the VARs;
• if it is determined to modify the VARs, identifying a plurality a capacitor banks connected to a power line;
• from the identified plurality of capacitor banks, generating a list of eligible capacitor banks that satisfy inclusion criteria;
• if the list of eligible capacitor banks includes at least one capacitor bank:
• selecting a capacitor bank from the list of eligible capacitor banks;
• and transmitting a switching command for the selected capacitor bank, wherein said generating a list of eligible capacitor banks comprises excluding a capacitor bank from the list of eligible capacitor banks if the capacitor bank does not presently having a viable communication capability.

A method, implemented at least in part by a computer system, for modifying the volt-ampere reactive (VARs) in a power distribution system, comprising:

• determining the VARs at a location on the power distribution system;
• based on the determined VARs, determining whether to modify the VARs;
• if it is determined to modify the VARs, identifying a plurality a capacitor banks connected to a power line;
• from the identified plurality of capacitor banks, generating a list of eligible capacitor banks that satisfy inclusion criteria;
• if the list of eligible capacitor banks includes at least one capacitor bank:
• selecting a capacitor bank from the list of eligible capacitor banks;
• and transmitting a switching command for the selected capacitor bank, further comprising:
• determining a Bus VARs value;
• and wherein said generating a list of eligible capacitor banks comprises for each of the plurality of capacitor banks:
• determining whether a predetermined margin, that is based on a rating of the capacitor bank, exists between the Bus VARs and a Bus VARs threshold value;
• and excluding any capacitor banks from the first list if the predetermined margin does not exist between the VARs supplied to a substation bus and the Bus Var threshold value.

A computer program product stored on a tangible computer-readable medium comprising computer-program instructions executable by one or more processors of a computer system, the computer-program instructions comprising instructions for performing a method for modifying the reactive power in a power distribution system, the method comprising:

• determining a group of the capacitor banks connected to a medium voltage power line;
• receiving data of a voltage at each capacitor bank of the group of capacitor banks;
• determining whether the voltage at each capacitor bank of the group of capacitor banks is beyond a threshold voltage;
• generating a list of eligible capacitor banks from the group of capacitor banks;
• wherein said list excludes any capacitor bank at which the voltage is beyond the threshold voltage;
• selecting a capacitor bank from the list of eligible capacitor banks;
• and outputting a switching command for the selected capacitor bank.

A method, implemented at least in part by a computer system, for modifying the volt-ampere reactive (VARs) in a power distribution system that includes a plurality of power line circuits, comprising:

• determining the VARs supplied to a substation bus of the power distribution system;
• determining whether the VARs supplied to the bus are beyond a first threshold;
• if the VARs supplied to the bus are beyond the first threshold:
• selecting a first power line circuit of the plurality of power line circuits;
• identifying one or more capacitor banks associated with the first power line circuit;
• from the one or more capacitor banks associated with the first power line circuit, generating a first list of eligible capacitor banks that satisfy first inclusion criteria;
• if the first list of eligible capacitor banks includes at least one capacitor bank, selecting a first capacitor bank from the first list of eligible capacitor banks;
• and transmitting a switching command for the first capacitor bank.

A computer program product stored on a tangible computer-readable medium comprising computer-program instructions executable by one or more processors of a computer system, the computer-program instructions comprising instructions for performing a method for modifying the reactive power in a power distribution system, the method comprising:

• determining a group of the capacitor banks connected to a medium voltage power line;
• receiving data of a total harmonic distortion (THD) at each capacitor bank of the group of capacitor banks;
• determining whether the THD at each capacitor bank of the group of capacitor banks is beyond a threshold THD;
• generating a list of eligible capacitor banks from the group of capacitor banks;
• wherein said list excludes any capacitor bank at which the THD is beyond the threshold THD;
• selecting a capacitor bank from the list of eligible capacitor banks;
• and outputting a switching command for the selected capacitor bank.