A DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION LABORATORY FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE-EDUCATION

This paper outlines a five-year work of developing a distribution auto mation laboratory for undergraduate and graduate education at the Elec trical Engineering Department of National Taiwan University. A scaled- down three phase distribution system model with a data acquisition sys tem connected to a personal computer is built to facilitate physical e xperiments and real-time measurements. Remote control of the switches in the distribution system is made possible through the function of 82 55 output ports and solid-state relays. Digital simulation programs ar e also written in order for the students to understand the basic conce pts before they actually perform experiments. Three important applicat ions in distribution automation, fault location identification, feeder reconfiguration, and feeder reactive power/voltage control using capa citor switching, are described.