Assessing the value of employing dynamic thermal rating on system-wide performance

The power grid is under pressure to maintain highly reliable supply under constrained expansion budgets and environmental policies. This can be achieved through realization of smart grid technologies and methodological advancements that would allow further improvement of asset utilization, economic operation and network security. This paper introduces a method for evaluating potential benefits as well as the technical limitations of employing dynamic thermal rating (DTR) on overhead lines (OHL) in a stressed network environment. The paper, initially models system-wide network performance under actual thermal ratings to investigate the benefits of DTR under specific operating scenarios as well as over static thermal rating (STR) on OHLs in a given network. Secondly, it investigates the benefit of implementing several additional long-term emergency rating-duration times for secure and adequate operation through a smarter ICT rule-setting program that improves network performance without compromising its reliability under contingent scenarios. The proposed methodology is employed on the IEEE 24-bus network test system suggesting a cost benefit model that balances the interests of both network operators and asset managers.