Autonomous regulation of grid edge devices

Abstract

Disclosed are approaches for autonomously regulating grid edge devices (GEDs). In one embodiment, an average reactive power value is determined, corresponding to reactive power generated by a GED over a time interval. An average voltage value is determined, corresponding to voltage received by the GED over the time interval. A setpoint voltage for the GED is updated based at least in part on the average reactive power value and a difference between the setpoint voltage and the average voltage value that exceeds a voltage threshold value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for autonomously regulating grid edge devices (GEDs), the method comprising:
 determining an average reactive power value corresponding to reactive power generated by a GED over a time interval;   determining an average voltage value corresponding to voltage received by the GED over the time interval; and   updating a setpoint voltage for the GED based at least in part on the average reactive power value and a difference between the setpoint voltage and the average voltage value that exceeds a voltage threshold value.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising activating the GED to inject or absorb reactive power based at least in part on the setpoint voltage that has been updated. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising dynamically setting a bandwidth of the GED based at least in part on an average number of switching operations over another time interval. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising refraining from updating the setpoint voltage for the GED in a subsequent time interval based at least in part on solar insolation activity. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein updating the setpoint voltage is in response to the average voltage value returning to a value at which the average voltage value began increasing during a period of solar insulation activity. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the GED is implemented on a secondary side of a power distribution line. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein updating the setpoint voltage further comprises limiting the setpoint voltage to a maximum setpoint voltage. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein updating the setpoint voltage further comprises limiting the setpoint voltage to a minimum setpoint voltage. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein updating the setpoint voltage further comprises updating the setpoint voltage by a reactive power response value multiplied by the difference between the setpoint voltage and the average voltage value. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the reactive power response value is randomized among a plurality of GEDs. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , further comprising multiplying the average voltage value by a bias value. 
     
     
         12 . A system for autonomously regulating grid edge devices (GEDs), comprising:
 a physical computer processor configured to at least: 
 determine an average reactive power value corresponding to reactive power generated by a GED over a time interval; 
 determine an average voltage value corresponding to voltage received by the GED over the time interval; and 
 update a setpoint voltage for the GED based at least in part on the average reactive power value and the average voltage value. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the physical computer processor is further configured to at least dynamically set a bandwidth of the GED based at least in part on an average number of switching operations over another time interval. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the physical computer processor is further configured to at least refrain from updating the setpoint voltage for the GED in a subsequent time interval based at least in part on solar insolation activity. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the setpoint voltage is updated in response to the average voltage value returning to a value at which the average voltage value began increasing during a period of solar insulation activity. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the physical computer processor is further configured to at least activate the GED to inject or absorb reactive power based at least in part on the setpoint voltage that has been updated. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-implemented method for autonomously regulating grid edge devices (GEDs), the method comprising:
 determining an average reactive power value corresponding to reactive power generated by a GED over a time interval;   determining an average real power flow at the GED over the time interval; and   refraining from updating a setpoint voltage for the GED based at least in part on an absolute value of the average real power flow over the time interval being greater than a threshold value.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein refraining from updating the setpoint voltage is further based at least in part on a time elapsed since a previous setpoint voltage change being less than a time threshold. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , further comprising enabling updating the setpoint voltage for the GED in response to determining that the absolute value of the average real power flow during a subsequent time interval is less than the threshold value. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , further comprising comparing the average reactive power value with another average reactive power value for a previous time interval.