Optimal voltage regulation in distribution systems with unbalanced loads and distributed generation

This paper presents a two-stage approach for solving the optimal voltage regulation problem in unbalanced radial distribution system in the presence of photovoltaic (PV) generation. The on-load tap changer (OLTC) and static VAr compensator (SVC) have been considered as the voltage control devices in this work. The formulated voltage control problem is a mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem which remains unsolved even after 8 h due to its computational burden. However, the proposed two-stage approach can solve this problem in less than 10 min. The feasibility of the proposed approach has been demonstrated on a modified IEEE 123-bus radial distribution system.

With increasing connection of distributed generations (DGs), the power flow in electric distribution network is no longer unidirectional and the network has become active distribution network. Thus, the connection of DGs in electric distribution networks has created a challenge for distribution network operators due to bidirectional power flow. One of the main technical challenges of an active distribution network is to maintain an acceptable voltage level in the system. This has initiated efforts in using various voltage control strategies to regulate the network voltage profile so that the voltage is maintained at its allowable voltage limits. A number of voltage control methods have been applied to solve voltage control problems associated with the connection of DGs in a distribution system. These voltage control strategies may be classified as decentralized or distributed and centralized or coordinated voltage control. From the literature, a number of coordinated voltage control strategies have been implemented to provide better and faster control to the system. This chapter presents an improved coordinated voltage control method in active electric distribution network by coordinating the three voltage control methods, namely, power factor control, on load tap changer control and generation curtailment control. These voltage control methods are coordinated using fuzzy logic by considering the load bus voltages and DG power as inputs and the voltage control actions as the outputs. The fuzzy logic if-then control rules which are generated to build the fuzzy logic control system are based on the simulations results as well as from the previous works. Results obtained using the fuzzy logic based coordinated voltage control has shown that the voltages are able to be kept within its permissible limits.

This paper discusses a method for obtaining optimal voltage control in a distribution system with advanced step voltage regulators (SVRs) by determining the optimal control parameters of the SVRs. As the voltage in a distribution system becomes unstable if a massive amount of solar-generated power is introduced, voltage control devices such as load ratio control transformers (LRTs) and SVRs must be used to stabilize power flow. In this paper, a modified method of voltage control based on existing techniques for determining the optimal control parameters of multiple advanced SVRs is proposed as a means of maintaining power flow stability as solar power generation facilities are introduced.

TCSC with auxiliary controls based voltage and reactive power controls on grid power system

Variable over voltage, excessive tap counts, and voltage regulator (VR) runaway condition are major operational challenges in distribution network while accommodating generation from photovoltaics (PVs). The conventional approach to achieve voltage control based on offline simulation for voltage set point calculation does not consider forecast errors. In this work, a stochastic optimal voltage control strategy is proposed while considering load and irradiance forecast errors. Stochastic operational risks such as overvoltage and VR runaway are defined through a chance constrained optimization (CCO) problem. This classical formulation to mitigate runaway is further improved by introducing a stochastic index called the Tap Tail Expectation . Operational objectives such as power losses and excessive tap count minimization are considered in the formulation. A sampling approach is proposed to solve the CCO. Along with other voltage control devices, the PV inverter voltage support features are coordinated. The simulation study is performed using a realistic distribution system model and practically measured irradiance to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique. The proposed approach is a useful operational procedure for distribution system operators. The approach can minimize feeder power losses, avoid voltage violations, and alleviate VR runaway.

Voltage control devices are employed in power distribution systems to reduce the power consumption by operating the system closer to the lower acceptable voltage limits; this technique is called conservation voltage reduction (CVR). The different modes of operation for system's legacy devices (with binary control) and new devices (e.g. smart inverters with continuous control) coupled with variable photovoltaic (PV) generation results in voltage fluctuations which makes it challenging to achieve CVR objective. This study presents a two‐timescale control of feeder's voltage control devices to achieve CVR that includes: (i) a centralised controller operating in a slower time‐scale to coordinate voltage control devices across the feeder; and (ii) local controllers operating in a faster timescale to mitigate voltage fluctuations due to PV variability. The centralised controller utilises a three‐phase optimal power flow model to obtain the decision variables for both legacy devices and smart inverters. The local controllers operate smart inverters to minimise voltage fluctuations and restore nodal voltages to their reference values by adjusting the reactive power support. The proposed approach is validated using the IEEE‐123 bus (medium‐size) and R3‐12.47‐2 (large‐size) feeders. It is demonstrated that the proposed approach is effective in achieving the CVR objective for unbalanced distribution systems.

This paper proposes a voltage and reactive power control methodology, which is motivated towards implementation in the KEPCO power system. The main voltage control devices are generators in continuous type and make sure capacitors and reactors in discrete type. Effects of control devices are evaluated by pure reactive power reserve that is exactly to guarantee generator's reactive power margin for severe conditions. The control targets are each of critical buses of local subsystems that are decided by electrical distance in the whole system. The control objectives are to keep the voltage profile and to guarantee the reactive power reserve within constraints with the limit of generator output. A robust control strategy is proposed to make the control feasible and optimal for severe contingency cases indicate that the proposed control methodology is much more effective than conventional voltage control scheme in the KEPCO system.

Voltage and Frequency control are the two fundamental control problems in power systems. Unlike frequency control, voltage control is complicated by the fact that reactive power can't travel far distances from its source of generation. Due to this distributed nature of reactive power, voltage control is usually performed in decentralized manner. Typically, voltage control problem is divided into a three-level hierarchical structure namely primary, secondary and tertiary voltage control.;The aim of this thesis is to present an optimal secondary voltage control by decomposing a large power system into small subsystems called voltage control areas (VCAs) using the fast community detection algorithm. Each VCA is self-sufficient in satisfying its reactive power demand. A load bus, called pilot point/bus, is selected in each VCA as a representative of the voltage profile of the whole area. Singular value decomposition of Fast Decoupled Load Flow (FDLF) Jacobian is used to optimally control the voltages of these pilot buses.;The presented approach is tested on two standard IEEE test power systems i.e. 9-Bus and 39-Bus systems. The computational time comparison of the fast community detection algorithm with another algorithm called original-GN algorithm is also presented. Through simulation results, it is shown that the presented optimal voltage control (Opt-VC) is a better approach compared to sensitivity based voltage control (Sen-VC).

This paper describes a high performance voltage controller for 3-phase 4 wire UPS (uninterruptible power supply) system, and proposes a new scheme of synchronous reference frame controller in order to compensate for the voltage distortions due to unbalanced and nonlinear loads. Proposed scheme in this paper is able to completely eliminate the negative sequence voltage distortion due to unbalanced loads and also reduce the harmonic voltage distortion due to non-linear loads, even if the bandwidth of voltage control loop is a very narrow. Therefore, the proposed scheme is especially appropriate for a fully digital controlled UPS or a high power UPS with limited voltage control bandwidth. In order to compensate for the effects of unbalanced loads, the synchronous reference frame controller with the positive and negative sequence computation block is proposed, and the synchronous frame controller with a bandpass filter is proposed to compensate for the selected harmonic frequency of output voltage. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme has been investigated and verified through computer simulations and experiments by a 30 kVA UPS

Reactive power and voltage control based on general quantum genetic algorithms

Penetration of equipment such as photovoltaic power generations (PV), heat pump water heaters (HP), and electric vehicles (EV) introduces voltage unbalance issues in distribution systems. Controlling PV and energy storage system (ESS) outputs or coordinated EV charging are investigated for voltage unbalance compensation. However, some issues exist, such as dependency on installed capacity and fairness among consumers. Therefore, the ideal way to mitigate unbalanced voltages is to use grid-side equipment mainly. This paper proposes a voltage unbalance compensation based on optimal tap operation scheduling of three-phase individual controlled step voltage regulators (3ϕSVR) and load ratio control transformer (LRT). In the formulation of the optimization problem, multiple voltage unbalance metrics are comprehensively included. In addition, voltage deviations, network losses, and coordinated tap operations, which are typical issues in distribution systems, are considered. In order to investigate the mutual influence among voltage unbalance and other typical issues, various optimization problems are formulated, and then they are compared by numerical simulations. The results show that the proper operation of 3ϕSVRs and LRT effectively mitigates voltage unbalance. Furthermore, the results also show that voltage unbalances and other typical issues can be improved simultaneously with appropriate formulations.

In general, severe load imbalances in small AC micro-grid systems can degrade their operational performance and their maintenance. This is because the unbalanced load in the micro-grid affects the energy flow and the voltage regulation functions of each phase. In order to solve the voltage imbalance problem, several algorithms for the 3-phase 4-leg CVCF inverter have been proposed, but the control algorithms are not enough to operate the 4-leg CVCF inverter in a stable manner. Therefore, this paper proposes a single-phase voltage and power control algorithm for the 3-phase 4-leg CVCF inverter based on a dq control in order to improve the voltage imbalance problem caused by a severely unbalanced load, where the single phase voltage control algorithm is composed of an αβ-dq and a dq-αβ transformer, a voltage and a current controller, and an off-set controller and a PWM, and the single-phase power control algorithm is also composed of an αβ-dq and a dq-αβ transformer, an active/reactive power and a current controller, and an off-set controller and a PWM. Additionally, this paper performs modeling of the single-phase voltage and the power controller for a 4-leg CVCF inverter using the Matlab/Simulink S/W. From the simulation results, it is confirmed that the transient stability of the proposed single voltage control algorithm can be improved compared to the conventional control algorithm, and voltage control can also be maintained in a stable manner under extremely unbalanced conditions. Further, it is confirmed that 3-phase currents of the proposed single-phase power control algorithm are controlled in a stable manner under extremely unbalanced conditions.

<p>The continued interest in the use of distributed generation in recent years is leading to the growth in number of distributed generators connected to distribution networks. Steady state voltage rise resulting from the connection of these generators can be a major obstacle to their connection at lower voltage levels. The present electric distribution network is designed to keep the customer voltage within tolerance limit. This may require a reduction in connectable generation capacity, under utilization of appropriate generation sites. Thus distribution network operators need a proper voltage regulation method to allow the significant integration of distributed generation systems to existing network. In this work a voltage rise problem in a typical distribution system has been studied. A method for voltage regulation of distribution system with multiple DG system by coordinated operation distributed generator, capacitor and OLTC has been developed. A sensitivity based analysis has been carried out to determine the priority for individual generators in multiple DG environment. The effectiveness of the developed method has been evaluated under various cases through simulation results.</p>

In this article, an optimal steady-state voltage control framework is developed based on a novel linear voltage-power dependence deducted from Gaussian process (GP) learning. Different from other point-based linearization techniques, this GP-based linear relationship is valid over a subspace of operating points and, thus, suitable for a system with uncertainties such as those in power injections due to renewables. The proposed optimal voltage control algorithms, therefore, perform well over a wide range of operating conditions. Both centralized and distributed optimal control schemes are introduced in this framework. The least-squares estimation is employed to provide analytical forms of the optimal control, which offer great computational benefits. Moreover, unlike many existing voltage control approaches deploying fixed voltage references, the proposed control schemes not only minimize the control efforts but also optimize the voltage reference setpoints that lead to the least voltage deviation errors with respect to such setpoints. The control algorithms are also extended to handle uncertain power injections with robust optimal solutions, which guarantee compliance with the voltage regulation standards. As for the distributed control scheme, a new network partition problem is cast, based on the concept of effective voltage control source (EVCS), as an optimization problem which is further solved using convex relaxation. Various simulations on the IEEE 33-bus and 69-bus test feeders are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed voltage control algorithms and EVCS-based network partition.

Multi-grounded neutral distribution feeders, which are typical in North America, have unbalanced loads and voltage control components. They have been designed for radial overcurrent protection, assuming only one source at the utility substation. Variable power sources on the feeder, such as distributed PV units, may interact with tap changers and switched capacitor banks on the feeder. Current injections from distributed PV can affect overcurrent device coordination, ground fault detection by utility devices, and possibly create overvoltages during ground faults. The simulation model has to be unbalanced, typically using phase coordinates rather than symmetrical components. It also has to operate in dynamic mode for short circuit calculations, typically at 1-cycle time steps, and in quasistatic mode for voltage control simulation, typically at 1-second time steps. These features are sometimes called “unbalanced RMS simulation”. The PV model needs to include an appropriate level of detail, while protecting the technology vendor's proprietary information. To achieve this goal, a Simulink transient model of the PV unit has been interfaced to an open-source unbalanced RMS simulator called OpenDSS.