Distribution automation experiments with generic software

Design experiments demonstrating that low-cost, simple, effective distribution energy management systems (EMSs) may be implemented with a minimum of vendor software are described. The experiments provide a relational database solution to distribution automation and define the database procedures necessary to generate a power flow database. The description of the database for the equipment as well as the database for each application is maintained within one database. Since the database selected (PARADOX) supports a distributed network, the database does not have to reside within one large database engine (mainframe). The experiments also solve power flow equations for the distribution system as implemented with a generalized spreadsheet program. Present spreadsheet programs can solve systems of equations as well as generalized optimization problems. The user full-graphic interface is most easily implemented with a package such as AutoCAD, currently used by many electric utilities. Such an interface is easy to implement with very little training.<>