Voltage/VAr control: optimization and knowledge oriented approach-a contribution to advanced EMS

The key points in the development of a cooperative project between a university (Instituto Superior Tecnico) and the national power system utility of Portugal, EDP, are presented. The project is concerned with reactive management/voltage control and follows an approach for integration into the problem-solving environment of a modern newly installed energy control center, knowledge-oriented assistance to decision making, and coordination of numerical modules for optimization. A structured set of complementary tasks is presented as indispensable to the success of an online product in this area. The evaluation of the characteristics and choice of different tools for the different cooperative modules, algorithmic and knowledge-based, their integration and interaction with the existing system, performance and consistency compatible with real-time requirements, and man-machine interface are some of the problems considered