R&D Focus Areas
Over the last 35+ years, DSTAR has completed numerous research and development projects related to a range of distribution design, operation, and system application issues. You can click here for program-by-program summaries of project objectives and deliverables, or you can can browse through the descriptions of the deliverables organized by R&D focus area below.
DER Impact
- Distributed Generation - Impact on Distribution Systems (P8-8)
- Impact of Photovoltaic Generation on Distribution Systems (P13-9)
- Impact and Practical Limits of PV Penetration on Distribution Feeders (Hosting Capacity) (P15-6)
- Evaluation of Power Control Devices for Distribution Systems (P16-6)
Economic Analysis
- Transformer Owning Costs Software (TOCS) (P5-5, 6-4a, b, 10-4)
- System Owning Cost Comparison Software (SOCCS) (P8-7, 11-0)
- Economic Overhead Conductor Software (EOCS) (P7-1, 9-5, 11-0)
- Transformer Loading And Economic Evaluation (P7-1, 7-3, 10-4, 11-9)
- Transformer DOE Standards Evaluation (P11-9)
- LED Street Lighting Analysis and Tool (P15-7)
- Distribution Data eHandbook (P9-1, 10-2, 10-9, 10-14, 11-3, 12-3, 16-5)
Engineering Analysis Software
- Cold-Load Pickup Software (CPLUS) (P5-4)
- Graphic Secondary Voltage Imbalance Calculator Software (GSVIC) (P6-5)
- Engineering Toolbox (P7-1)
- Transformer Owning Costs Software (TOCS) (P5-5, 6-4a, 6-4b, 10-4)
- Overhead Calculation Suite Software (OCS) (P7-1, 10-1, 11-0)
- Transformer Loading Analyzer (TLA) (P7-1, 10-1, 11-0)
- Voltage Drop and Flicker Analysis Software Tool (V-Drop) (P7-1, 8-4, 10-1, 11-0)
- Transformer Scrap/Repair Decision Software (TSRDS) (P7-3, 11-0)
- System Owning Cost Comparison Software (SOCCS) (P8-7, 11-0)
- Economic Overhead Conductor Software (EOCS) (P7-1, 9-5, 11-0)
- CFO Calculation and Arrester Application Guidelines (CFOCAST) (P10-10, 11-0)
- Harmonic Load Calculator (P11-8)
- Commercial Load Estimation Tool (P13-2)
- SEDS Lighting Tool (SEDS Light) (P13-8)
- Window 7 Software Updates (P13-11)
- Guy Tension Analyzer (GTA) (P7-1, 9-3, 9-4, 10-1, 11-0, 13-11)
- Cable Pulling Assistant (CPA) (P7-1, 9-2, 10-1, 10-5, 11-0, 13-11, 14-5)
- Cable Electrical Parameters Software (CEPS) (P6-6, 7-4, 8-2, 10-6, 14-10)
- Engineering Mobile Apps (P15-4)
- Secondary Electrical Design Software (SEDS) (P7-2, 9-6, 10-15, 11-4, 12-2, 13-4, 16-4)
- Distribution Data eHandbook (P9-1, 10-2, 10-9, 10-14, 11-3, 12-3, 16-5)
Engineering Guidelines
- Ferroresonance Guidelines (P2-4, 4-1a, 4-1b, 4-1c)
- Distribution Transformer Harmonic Derating Guidelines (P4-3)
- Minimizing the Impact of Secondary-Side Surges on Distribution Transformers (P4-5)
- Wye-Delta Overhead Bank Overvoltages (P5-2)
- Transformer Loading And Economic Evaluation (P7-1, 7-3, 10-4, 11-9)
- Transformer Seasonal Loading Analysis Guidelines (P8-10)
- Transient Currents in Capacitor Fuses (P8-3)
- CFO Calculation and Arrester Application Guidelines (CFOCAST)(P10-10, 11-0)
- Wildlife Control and Protection Manual (P10-3)
- Completely Self-Protected Transformer Evaluation (P10-7)
- Improving Utility Energy Efficiency (P12-4)
- Current-Limiting Fuse Application Guidelines (P12-7)
- Capacitor Control Guidelines (P12-8)
- Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) Evaluation (P13-7)
- Surge Protection of Electronically-Controlled Devices Installed in Distribution Systems (P14-4)
- Motor Problem Resolution and Avoidance Guide (P14-8)
- Impact and Practical Limits of PV Penetration on Distribution Feeders (Hosting Capacity) (P15-6)
- LED Street Lighting Analysis and Tool (P15-7)
- Distribution Data eHandbook (P9-1, 10-2, 10-9, 10-14, 11-3, 12-3, 16-5)
- Analysis of Distribution Capacitor Switching Transients (P16-7)
- Distribution Series Capacitor Application Considerations and Recommendations (P16-8)
Equipment Testing/Evaluation
- Underground System Overvoltage Protection (P1-1, 1-2, 1-3)
- Impulse-Duty Aging of Underground Cables (P2-1)
- Semi-Conductive Jacketed Cable Investigation (P2-2)
- Switching Surges in Underground Distribution (P2-3)
- Ferroresonance Guidelines (P2-4, 4-1a, 4-1b, 4-1c)
- Padmount Transformer Fault Current Withstand (P3-4)
- Distribution Transformer Harmonic Derating Guidelines (P4-3)
- Minimizing the Impact of Secondary-Side Surges on Distribution Transformers (P4-5)
- Wye-Delta Overhead Bank Overvoltages (P5-2)
- Investigations of Elbow and Insulated Cap Flashover (P5-1, 6-1)
- Underground Cable Ampacity Testing (P7-5, 7-7)
- Transient Currents in Capacitor Fuses (P8-3)
- Elbow and Overhead Arrester Design Evaluation (P10-17)
- Solid-Blade Switch Testing (P11-12)
- Surge Protection of Electronically-Controlled Devices Installed in Distribution Systems (P14-4)
- LED Street Lighting Analysis and Tool (P15-7)
- Impulse Testing of Electronic Controllers (P15-8)
- Evaluation of Power Control Devices for Distribution Systems (P16-6)
Industry Perspectives/White Papers
- Distributed Generation - Impact on Distribution Systems (P8-8)
- Technology Whitepapers - Broadband Powerline Carrier for Utlity Applications (P10-11)
- Technology Whitepapers - Sub-Cycle Electronic Switching (P10-11)
- Technology Whitepapers - Transformer Impedance Considerations (P10-11)
- Anchor Corrosion Detection and Mitigation (P11-1)
- Voltage Flicker Issues Related to Large Electric Loads (P11-2)
- Best Practices for Storm Response (P11-7)
- Transformer DOE Standards Evaluation (P11-9)
- Changing Nature of Loads and the Impact on Utilities (P12-6)
- Survey of Practices for Equipment Inspection, Maintenance and Thermal Imaging (P13-3)
- Centralized vs. Distributed Feeder Automation and Impacts On Distribution Performance (P13-6)
- Impact of Photovoltaic Generation on Distribution Systems (P13-9)
- Best Practices for Integration of Utility Applications (P14-6)
- Survey of Best Practices for Copper Theft Deterrence (P14-7)
- Guide to Best Practices for Improving Distribution Reliability (P14-9)
- LED Street Lighting Analysis and Tool (P15-7)
- Distribution Series Capacitor Application Considerations and Recommendations (P16-8)
Operational Efficiency
- Transformer Owning Costs Software (TOCS) (P5-5, 6-4a, 6-4b, 10-4)
- Transformer Loading And Economic Evaluation (P10-4, 7-1, 7-3)
- Transformer DOE Standards Evaluation (P11-9)
- Improving Utility Energy Efficiency (P12-4)
- Capacitor Control Guidelines (P12-8)
- Impact and Practical Limits of PV Penetration on Distribution Feeders (Hosting Capacity) (P15-6)
- LED Street Lighting Analysis and Tool (P15-7)
- Secondary Electrical Design Software (SEDS) (P7-2, 9-6, 10-15, 11-4, 12-2, 13-4, 16-4)
Power Quality
- Distribution Transformer Harmonic Derating Guidelines (P4-3)
- Voltage Drop and Flicker Analysis Software Tool (P7-1, 8-4)
- Voltage Flicker Issues Related to Large Electric Loads (P11-2)
- Harmonic Load Calculator (P11-8)
- Harmonic Load Issues, Impact, and Mitigation (P13-5)
- Motor Problem Resolution and Avoidance Guide (P14-8)
- LED Street Lighting Analysis and Tool (P15-7)
- Secondary Electrical Design Software (SEDS) (P7-2, 9-6, 10-15, 11-4, 12-2, 13-4, 16-4)
- Best Practices to Mitigate Temporary Faults on OH Distribution (P16-3)
- Distribution Data eHandbook (P9-1, 10-2, 10-9, 10-14, 11-3, 12-3, 16-5)
- Analysis of Distribution Capacitor Switching Transients (P16-7)
- Distribution Series Capacitor Application Considerations and Recommendations (P16-8)
Smart Grid and DA
- Centralized vs. Distributed Feeder Automation and Impacts On Distribution Performance (P13-6)
- Smart Grid Impact on Distribution Reliability (P13-10)
- Best Practices for Integration of Utility Applications (P14-6)
- Guide to Best Practices for Improving Distribution Reliability (P14-9)
- Evaluation of Power Control Devices for Distribution Systems (P16-6)
System Protection
- Underground System Overvoltage Protection (P1-1, 1-2, 2-3)
- Wye-Delta Overhead Bank Overvoltages (P5-2)
- Padmount Transformer Fault Current Withstand (P3-4)
- Investigations of Elbow and Insulated Cap Flashover (P5-1, 6-1)
- Transient Currents in Capacitor Fuses (P8-3)
- Wildlife Control and Protection Manual (P10-3)
- CFO Calculation and Arrester Application Guidelines (CFOCAST)(P10-10, 11-0)
- Completely Self-Protected Transformer Evaluation (P10-7)
- Current-Limiting Fuse Application Guidelines (P12-7)
- Surge Protection of Electronically-Controlled Devices Installed in Distribution Systems (P14-4)
- Impulse Testing of Electronic Controllers (P15-8)
- Best Practices to Mitigate Temporary Faults on OH Distribution (P16-3)
- Distribution Data eHandbook (P9-1, 10-2, 10-9, 10-14, 11-3, 12-3, 16-5)
- Analysis of Distribution Capacitor Switching Transients (P16-7)
System Reliability
- Guy Tension Analyzer (GTA) (P7-1, 9-3, 9-4, 10-1, 11-0, 13-11)
- Cable Pulling Assistant (CPA) (P7-1, 9-2, 10-1, 10-5, 11-0, 13-11, 14-5)
- CFO Calculation and Arrester Application Guidelines (CFOCAST)(P10-10, 11-0)
- Wildlife Control and Protection Manual (P10-3)
- Anchor Corrosion Detection and Mitigation (P11-1)
- Solid-Blade Switch Testing (P11-12)
- Best Practices for Storm Response (P11-7)
- Impact of Non-Wood Poles on Distribution Reliability (P12-5)
- Smart Grid Impact on Distribution Reliability (P13-10)
- Guide to Best Practices for Improving Distribution Reliability (P14-9)
- Surge Protection of Electronically-Controlled Devices Installed in Distribution Systems (P14-4)
- Impulse Testing of Electronic Controllers (P15-8)
- Best Practices to Mitigate Temporary Faults on OH Distribution (P16-3)
- Distribution Data eHandbook (P9-1, 10-2, 10-9, 10-14, 11-3, 12-3, 16-5)