Dual-layer voltage and VAR control approach with active participation from distributed solar generations

Esa Aleksi Paaso, Yuan Liao, Aaron M. Cramer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Power distribution systems are desired to operate at their optimal control settings. These settings typically mean operation at low energy consumption and minimized distribution losses. Renewable energy resources can be very important for efficient operation of the distribution systems. However, when the number of renewables in the distribution system increases, the complexity of the control also increases. Intermittent renewable resources, particularly wind and solar, can cause significant fluctuations in distribution feeder voltages. This article presents a dual-layer control approach for finding the optimal feeder control settings and maintaining the feeder voltages within specified limits between the optimization intervals. The load-tap changer transformers, voltage regulator, capacitor banks, and smart inverters participate in the global control, while the smart inverters deal with the fast changing transients at the local control level. Thus, this control scheme will take full advantage of power-electronics-based smart inverters to reduce or eliminate fast transients, and also reduce the wear and tear of mechanical controllers. Evaluation studies are performed based on the IEEE 37 node radial test feeder under varying load and generation conditions. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach is promising for voltage and VAR control of distribution feeders with intermittent resources.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)854-865
Number of pages12
JournalElectric Power Components and Systems
Volume43
Issue number8-10
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 15 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Keywords

  • distributed generations
  • mathematical programming
  • power distribution
  • reactive power control
  • solar energy
  • voltage control

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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