DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI AGENT SYSTEM FOR 

VOLTAGE AND OUTAGE MONITORING 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geeth Gayantha Bodhinayake 

 

(108851X) 

 

 

 

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree  

Master of Science 

 

 

 

Department of Electrical Engineering 

 

University of Moratuwa 

Sri Lanka 

 

 

April 2015 



i 

 

Declaration 

I declare that this is my own work and this dissertation does not incorporate without 

acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a Degree or Diploma in any 

other University or institute of higher learning and to the best of my knowledge and 

belief it does not contain any material previously published or written by another 

person except where the acknowledgement is made in the text.   

Also, I hereby grant to University of Moratuwa the non-exclusive right to reproduce 

and distribute my thesis/dissertation, in whole or in part in print, electronic or other 

medium. I retain the right to use this content in whole or part in future works (such as 

articles or books). 

 

 
.......................................... 

G.G. Bodhinayake                                                                           Date :  

 

 

The above candidate has carried out research for the Masters Dissertation under my 

supervision.  

 

 

................................................  

Prof. Nalin Wickramarachchi Date :                                                  

  

 

 

................................................. 

Dr. Narendra De Silva                         Date :                                                   

 

 

 

............................................... 

Dr. K.T.M.U Hemapala Date:  

                   



ii 

 

Table of Contents 

Declaration i 

Table of Contents ii 

Abstract iv 

Acknowledgement v 

List of Figures vi 

List of Tables viii 

List of Abbreviations ix 

Chapter 1 1 

Introduction 1 

1.1 Introduction of Power Distribution Network of Sri Lanka 1 

1.2 Introduction to Existing Technology 1 

1.3 Problem Identification 2 

1.4 Motivation 3 

1.5 Methodology 4 

1.6 Requirement of Agent Based Monitoring System 5 

1.7 Contribution 6 

1.8 Thesis Organization 7 

Chapter 2 8 

Literature Survey 8 

2.1 Introduction 8 

2.2 Clustering for Partitioning a Power System 8 

2.3 Architecture of the MAS 9 

2.4 Tree Structured Network 10 

2.5 Probabilistic Model 11 

2.6 Existing voltage monitoring system 11 

Chapter 3 12 

Multi Agent System 12 

3.1. Features of MAS 12 

3.2. Applications of MAS 13 

3.3. The Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA) 14 

3.4. Comparison to Agent Development Toolkits 18 

3.5. Java Agent Development Environment (JADE) 19 



iii 

 

3.6. JADE Architecture 20 

3.7. Hardware Requirement for JADE implementation 24 

Chapter 4 25 

Proposed Solution 25 

4.1 Basic Outline of the Proposed Solution 25 

4.2 Proposed Clustering method for distribution network 26 

4.3 Proposed Agent Architecture 27 

4.4 Data Base Management 29 

Chapter 5 30 

System Implementation 30 

5.1 What is an Outage 30 

5.2 System Model 31 

5.3 Decoupling principle to Sub Trees 33 

5.4 Outage Hypothesis for Distribution Network in Sri Lanka 34 

5.5 Probabilistic Model for Network 38 

5.6 Redefine probability with SAIDI 43 

5.7 Agent Development 43 

5.8 Multi Agent System Main Process 48 

5.9 Data Base Management 51 

5.9 System Model Implementation 53 

Chapter 6 57 

Results and Discussion 57 

6.1 Agent Communication and Data Management 57 

6.2 Flexibility of the Multi Agents 58 

6.3 Remote Monitoring Interface 59 

6.4 Fault Meter Record Updating 62 

6.5 Power Quality Measurements 63 

6.6 Case Study 65 

Chapter 7 72 

Conclusions 72 

7.1 Conclusions 72 

7.2 Future Developments 74 

References 76 



iv 

 

Abstract 

This thesis presents a research work which is carried out to implement a multi agent system 

for voltage and outage monitoring system for Sri Lankan electricity distribution network. In 
Sri Lankan distribution network most of the new technological features can be seen in the 

different part such as automated meter reading, remote breaker operations. But distribution 

system fault identifications, voltage monitoring and network reconfiguration are carried out 
using basic technologies. 

Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system is introduced to read analogue energy meters 

remotely. Research on agent based AMR system is established with four major projects. 
Those are Agent based meter reading system, network resource planning of the agent based 

system, agent network reconfiguration and restoration project and Agent based voltage and 

outage monitoring system  

This particular research is on a development of Agent based voltage and outage monitoring 

system formulated for power distribution network using Multi Agent System. Establishment 

of agent based monitoring system is developed with the defined model in a part of the area 
network. The model is established to represent the distribution network and to collect voltage 

and interruption data to the server. Five major agents namely, Database Agent, Meter Agent, 

Breaker Agent, Area network Agent and Reporting Agent are defined.  

Voltage data collected from GPRS meter reading technique in Maharagama area is selected 

for the case study. Six different data sets are considered under the case study. There are four 

different types of voltage failures are identified as High voltage, low voltage, Branch failures 
and individual meter faults. These four scenarios are compared with conventional method 

and agent based system. 

Agent based monitoring system is continuously updated through GUI and it would visualise 

the voltage level of the network. It would enhance the functions of the control room operator. 

Transformer setting changes can be changed while monitoring   high voltage and low voltage 
areas. Distribution network augmentation can be done with monitoring system by increasing 

transformer capacity or introducing new transformer in identified areas.  

Different types of GUIs are established to maintain easy monitoring system and reporting 
system. The reporting system is included the agent based report generation for power quality 

measurement indexes. Individual index vales of each consumers and the whole area network 

index can be monitored through this system. Scalability and the flexibility of the monitoring 
system increased with defined Multi Agents.  

 



v 

 

Acknowledgement 

First, I would like to extend my gratitude to the project supervisors, Dr. Narendra De 

Silva and Dr. K.T.M.U Hemapala who guided me throughout the project where 

finally it could be completed with promising outcomes within the allocated time. 

Also I would like give my sincere thanks to Prof. Nalin Wickramarachchi who gave 

me excellent support at the establishment of this project and  also my sincere thanks 

go to all academic and non academic staff of the Department of Electrical 

Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa for facilitating me in 

very many ways on my M.Sc. studies. Also my sincere thanks go to all engineers and 

other staff members in the Lanka Electricity Company, who gave me excellent 

support to complete my research. Also my sincere thanks go to my family members 

for their dedication and support given throughout the project. Lastly, I should thank 

many individuals, friends and colleagues who have not been mentioned here 

personally, in making this research project a success. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



vi 

 

List of Figures 

Figure 1-7 :  Agent Base Distribution network ...................................................... 5 

Figure 1-7 :  System Model ................................................................................... 6 

Figure 3-1 :  Agent Management Reference Model ..............................................14 

Figure 3-2 :  Agent Lifecycle ...............................................................................15 

Figure 3-3 :  FIPA Message Structure ..................................................................16 

Figure 3-4 :  FIPA Request Interaction Protocol[31] ............................................17 

Figure 3-5 :  Contract Net Interaction Protocol[32] ..............................................18 

Figure 3-6 : Java Agent Development Environment ............................................19 

Figure 3-7 :  Jade Architecture [35] [36] ..............................................................20 

Figure 3-8 :  JADE Asynchronous messaging ......................................................21 

Figure 3-9 :  Agent Execution cycle [35] ..............................................................22 

Figure 3-10 : Behaviour Hierarchy ........................................................................22 

Figure 3-11 :  Yellow Pages Service [35] ...............................................................23 

Figure 4-1  :  Schematic Diagram of the whole data processing system. ................25 

Figure 4-2 :  Primary Station of the Distribution Network ....................................26 

Figure 4-3 :  Proposed Agent Architecture ...........................................................28 

Figure 5-1 :  11kV  distribution network of Moratuwa North Area .......................32 

Figure 5-2 :  Example of a Tree-Structured Network[12]......................................32 

Figure 5-3  :  Actual meter arrangement of the distribution network ......................33 

Figure 5-4 :  Decoupling Logic Diagram for Distribution Network ......................34 

Figure 5-5 :  Probabilistic Tree Diagram ..............................................................39 

Figure 5-6 :  Database Agent Flow Chart .............................................................44 

Figure 5-7 :  Meter Agent Flow Chart ..................................................................45 

Figure 5-8 :  Breaker Agent Flow Chart ...............................................................45 

Figure 5-9 :  Area Network Agent Flow Chart......................................................46 

Figure 5-10 :  Reporting Agent Flow Chart ............................................................47 

Figure 5-11 :  Alarm System Diagram ....................................................................47 

Figure 5-12 :  Fault Processing Diagram ................................................................48 

Figure 5-13 :  Info Protocol 1 .................................................................................49 

Figure 5-14 :  Info Protocol 2 .................................................................................49 



vii 

 

Figure 5-15 : Query  Protocol ................................................................................50 

Figure 5-16 :  Report Protocol ................................................................................50 

Figure 5-17 :  XAMPP Control Panel .....................................................................51 

Figure 5-18 :  Voltage Table ..................................................................................52 

Figure 5-19 :  Breaker Status Table ........................................................................52 

Figure 5-20 :  Meter fault data Table ......................................................................53 

Figure 5-21 :  Demonstration Board .......................................................................54 

Figure 5-22 :  Data Acquisition table for Database .................................................56 

Figure 5-23 :  Synchronize Physical model and Agent System ...............................56 

Figure 6-1 :  Meter Agent Register in Yellow pages .............................................57 

Figure 6-2 :  Agent Communication .....................................................................58 

Figure 6-3 :  New Meter Agent communication....................................................58 

Figure 6-4 :  Meter Agent Property change...........................................................59 

Figure 6-5 :  GUI for Area Network .....................................................................60 

Figure 6-6 :  GUI for Moratuwa Cluster ...............................................................60 

Figure 6-7 :  GUI for Katubedda Cluster ..............................................................61 

Figure 6-8  :  Failure Notification ..........................................................................61 

Figure 6-9 :  Meter Voltage Graph .......................................................................62 

Figure 6-10 :  Data base for Error reporting............................................................63 

Figure 6-11A:  Power quality measurement indexes.................................................64 

Figure 6-11B:  Power quality measurement indexes.................................................64 

Figure 6-12 :  Maharagama Area Network .............................................................65 

Figure 6-13  :  Graph for voltage data on 02/06/2015 ..............................................66 

Figure 6-14  :  Graph for voltage data on 03/06/2015 ..............................................66 

Figure 6-15  :  Voltage data for Case 1 ....................................................................67 

Figure 6-16  :  GUI for Dataset 1(02/06/2015 @ 00.30am) ......................................67 

Figure 6-17 :  Voltage data for Case 2 ....................................................................68 

Figure 6-18  : GUI for Dataset 6(03/06/2015 @ 18.30pm) .....................................69 

Figure 6-19  :  Voltage Values for Case 3................................................................70 

Figure 6-20  :  GUI for Dataset 4(03/06/2015 @ 00.30am) ......................................70 

Figure 6-21  :  Voltage Values for Case 4................................................................71 

Figure 6-22  :  GUI for Dataset 5(03/06/2015 @ 00.30am) ......................................71 



viii 

 

List of Tables 

Table 3-1 :  ACL Message Parameter .................................................................16 

Table 3-1 :  Agent Toolkit Comparison[33] ........................................................19 

Table 5-1 :  Hypothesis relations for One Breaker and One Meter.......................34 

Table 5-2 :  Hypothesis relations for One Breaker and Two Meters ....................35 

Table 5-3 :  Hypothesis relations for One Breaker and Three Meters ..................36 

Table 5-4 :  Hypothesis relations for One Breaker and Four Meters ....................37 

Table 5-5 :  Hypothesis relations for One Breaker and “n” Meters ......................37 

Table 5-6 :  Meter status VS Probability .............................................................39 

Table 5-7 :  Relation between Hypothesis and the probability .............................40 

Table 5-8 :  Hypothesis prediction for four meter sub tree ...................................41 

Table 5-9 :  Hypothesis comparison for Two Breakers ........................................42 

Table 6-1 :  Collected Data set arrangement ........................................................65 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



ix 

 

List of Abbreviations 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Abbreviation  

CEB 

LECO 

MAS 

AMR 

GUI 

IEEE 

USB 

SCADA 

CAIDI  

SAIDI 

SAIFI 

FIPA 

ACL 

JADE 

AMS 

DF 

MTS 

AP 

Description  

Ceylon Electricity Board 

Lanka Electricity Company  

Multi Agent System 

Automatic Meter Reading 

Graphic User Interface 

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 

Universal Serial Bus 

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition 

Customer Average Interruption Duration Index  

System Average Interruption Duration Index   

System Average Interruption Frequency Index  

Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents  

Agent Communication Language  

Java Agent Development Environment  

Agent Management System  

Directory Facilitator  

Message Transport System  

Agent Platform  



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