Paper accepted for presentation at PPT 200 1

200 1 IEEE Porto Power Tech Conference

IO -13h September, Porto, Portugal

Study of the Impact of PV Generation on

Voltage Profile in LV Distribution Networks
S. Conti, Student Member, IEEE, S. Raiti, G. Tina, Member, IEEE, and U. Vagliasindi

- DG units power control (power factor, generated power

Abstract - The present paper aims at assessing the effects fluctuation, harmonic generation, etc.);
produced on the distribution system by dispersed generators - short-circuit current values;
directly connected to LV networks. In particular, the - selection of DG protections and their coordination with
introduction of photovoltaic (PV) generation systems has been
utility protection schemes;
studied, since such systems are the only having a natural
- islanding operation of DG systems.
inclination to be easily integrated into high density urban LV
distribution networks. In the proposed study some aspects of The present paper aims at assessing the effects produced
the quality of power supplied to the customers will be dealt on the distribution system by DG units directly connected to
with taking into consideration slow voltage variations. On this LV networks. In particular, the introduction of photovoltaic
regard the effect of Dispersed Generation @G) on the voltage (PV) generation systems has been studied, since such
profile of a LV distribution feeder has been examined. With
reference to different kind of load distributions along the line,
systems are the only having a natural inclination to be easily
analytical expressions have been derived to determine the limit integrated into high density urban LV distribution networks
value of the power that can be injected into the distribution and also due to Italian government actions (e.g. 10.000 PV
network without causing overvoltages. These expressions have Roof-Top Program) that assist their diffusion [4].
been developed under some simplifying hypothesis related both In the proposed study some aspects of the quality of
to the DG unit and to the distribution network. power supplied to the customers will be dealt with: in
particular, slow voltage variations are taken into
Index Terms - Dispersed Generation, Photovoltaic Power
Systems, Power Quality, Steady-State Analysis, Voltage consideration, which in normal operating conditions without
Contro1. DG, are caused only by load demand variation and,
generally, compensated by automatic voltage regulation in a
few dozens of seconds.
1. INTRODUCTION The presence of PV DG, with its characteristics of
0 far, electrical distribution networks were designed and intermittence and variability with meteorological conditions,
S operated based on a planned centralized generation and can make ineffective the traditional voltage regulation
on the assumption that the current always flows from the methods used in many countries (Italy, France, Japan,
substation to M V and LV customers, without ever going the Austria, U.K., etc), as the hypothesis these methods are
other way. Recent technical developments and deep changes based on may not hold anymore.
in electricity industry are expected to favour the spreading of In Italy, voltage regulation is performed by means of LTC
Dispersed Generation (DG); in particular, after the (Load Tap Changers) which regulate primary distribution
introduction of competitive electricity market the number of substations transformers, designed to maintain automatically
small/medium size generators (rated fiom a few kVA up to a a predetermined voltage level against varying load demand
few MVA) connected to distribution systems is rapidly by an appropriate choice of the turns ratio of secondary
increasing. distribution transformers (in accordance to ENEL DK4455
Up to know, the presence of DG has not influenced standard).
planning and operation of distribution networks, especially In [5] and [6] the behaviour of a real LV network, as well
in Italy, due to the small number of installed generation as the associated medium-high voltage network, under the
units. In future, however, the amount of power injected by influence of large-scale roof integrated PV plants have been
DG units in the distribution system is expected to grow and analysed; the performed analysis has been carried out with
it could, in some cases, become comparable with the power the assistance of powerful software for load flow
supplied by the main source. calculations and using accurate models for both the
Should this condition happen, DG could have serious considered LV network and the associated MV system. In
consequences on important technical aspects ([ I]-[3]) such particular, in [5], four scenarios (referred to as A, B, C and
as : D) have been taken into consideration with increasing levels
- quality of power supplied to customers by utilities of DG penetration from A to D; the D scenery (where the
(voltage variations, harmonic distortion, etc.); entire suitably oriented roof area is covered with PV cells)
assumes PV system efficiency equal to 15%. The results
obtained by [5] and [6] show that the presence of DG
The Authors are with the Dipartimento Elettrico, Elettronico e determines a raise of the voltage profile that in general can
Sistemistico, University of Catania, Italy.
(e-mail: sconti@dees.unict.it, sraiti@dees.unict.it, gtina@dees.unict.it,
give the distributor a security margin against undervoltages
uvaglia@dees.unict.it). at the end of the LV lines; however, consequently to high PV

0-7803-7139-9/01/$10.00 02001 IEEE

penetration levels, the voltage exceeds the permissible range
in some LV network branches according to National
Standards.
The results obtained refers to particular network
configurations, type of operation, load demand and
meteorological conditions. Such results, then, can not be
considered valid in general, since they could be too
restrictive in a network with larger acceptability margins,
sections (reported in Fig. 1).
At high values of PF (coscp 20.9), the absolute value of
the per cent error is less than 4% in all the considered cases.
This justifies the use of a dc model.
+Section=lO rnrn

which would allow the system to bear an amount of a PV

generation greater than that indicated by [6].
The approach used by [5] and [6] represent a good
preliminary analysis procedure that the distributor can use at
planning stage, before connecting DG units, in all those
cases which require an accurate evaluation of the
acceptability capacity of a specijic network.
On the other hand, such a procedure is particularly
complex and burdensome, especially for LV distribution ~7

systems, that are difficult to describe accurately; moreover, Power Factor

in some cases, it could simply be unnecessary.
Then, the aim of the present study is to examine the effect Fig. 1 Per cent voltage drop error as a function of PF at different values
(typically used in Italy) of LV three-phase cable line sections.
of PV DG on the voltage profile of a general LV distribution
feeder: with reference to different kind of load distributions Now, consider a distribution line with a load distributed
along the line, general analytical expressions have been according to a general law (see Fig. 2). Let VLv be the
derived to determine the limit value of the power that can be voltage at the beginning of the line.
injected into the line without causing overvoltages.
VLV
In Section IT some basic considerations about voltage
drop calculation in LV distribution feeders are made. Then
in Section I11 the analysis of the effect of the presence of a
single DG unit is performed and an analytical expression for
voltage calculation in any point of the line has been
developed. I z I

Section N illustrates the analysis of the voltage profile

I d
assuming linear load distribution along the line and the Fig. 2 General current distribution along a LV line.
results obtained.
Let i(z) [A/m] be the current distribution along the line as
DROP CALCULATIONIN LV DISTRIBUTION
11. VOLTAGE a fimction of the distance (z) from the source. The voltage
FEEDERS drop in the section of the line corresponding to z is given by:
Consider the expression of the difference between the
modules of the voltages at the beginning and at the end of
the line (assuming the load, I, at line end):
AV = Rkosy, + XIseny, , where y, = qv - y,, is the phase
AV, = V,,-V(z)=

L
&.r.
I:
~ I ( zL)

Define I(z, L) = [i(z) dz [A] as the total current drawn by

I
, dz
(2)

angle between voltage and current. z

Using a dc model, a relatively small error is made, which the loads in the line stretch (z, L) and, in particular,
can be easily evaluated as follows. This error referred to the ITOT=I(O,L) as the total current drawn by the load.
three-phase voltage drop along a line is given by: Applylng integration by parts, (2) can be written as:
e= AL. I . (r - (r. cosp + x . seny,)) (1)
where:
- L is the length of the line [m];
- r and 1 [Wm] are line resistance and reactance per metre, Indicating with h, (0, z) the distance from the beginning
of the line such that:
respectively.
z z
Then, the per cent error due to the use of dc model is
simply evaluated by the following expression:
h,(O,z). 1i(z)dz = [z-i(z) d z ,
0 0
r - (r . cosy, + x . seny,)
e% = 100 (1) 2

(r . cosy, + x seny,)

being I(0, z ) = [i(z) dz , we can write:
Fig. 1 shows this per cent error as a function of the power n
factor (PF) for different values of LV three-phase cable line AY =tir.
.[ z. ~ ( zL)+
, h,(o,z). I(O, z)] (2)
In the European Union the Norm EN 50160 sets the standard limits to The above procedure allows to calculate AVz replacing
U, *lo% (from 2003 on).
the distributed load with two lumped loads: I(z,L) placed at of the total load. This rise may benefit network operation: a
the considered distance, z, from the beginning of the line, general rise of the voltage along the line gives the distributor
and I(0, z) at a distance hg (0, z). a security margin for the undervoltages at the end of the LV
lines.
111. ANALYSIS
OF THE EFFECT OF THE PRESENCE OF A SINGLE Considering the derivatives of (3) e (3') we obtain the
DG UNIT following:
The case presented in this Section is concerned with the if OIzIz,,,
effect, on the voltage profile of a LV distribution line, due to
the presence of a single embedded generator which injects a
current, Igen,in the position z, (Fig. 3).
Analytical expressions, valid for any load distribution (4)
along the line, will be derived to provide the limit value of if z,,,<zlL

[i: 11
the current that can be injected into the line without causing
overvoltages. dV(z)
dz - 4 . r li(z) dz = 4 . r . I(z, L)
These expressions will be developed under the following --
simplifying hypothesis related both to the DG unit and to the (4')
distribution system: Note that the derivative of V(z) is negative for all the
1. The considered LV distribution system is radial and values of z belonging to the interval ]zgen, L], since this
supplied by a MVLV transformer equipped with an off- interval corresponds to the stretch of the line where the
line tap changer; power flux cannot change direction. Moreover the voltage
2. The voltage at the beginning of the line, VLv, is kept decreases downstream the generator with the same slope as
constant; in the case without generator.
3. Distribution substation protections allow the active On the contrary, the voltage derivative may assume a
power to flow from LV to MV busses; positive value in case the current I,, is such to determine a
4. LV lines have a constant section; power flux inversion in the stretch [z, zgen],i.e. Ige,>I(z,L).
5. Line reactance is negligible; In this condition, because of the current inversion, the rise
6 . The length of the laterals is negligible (loads directly of the voltage downstream the considered section z will lead
connected to the main feeder); to a local maximum at the generator connection point. If
7. Load is distributed along the lines;
V(z,,,) 2 VLvthe local maximum is also global.
8. Constant current model is used for representing loads;
9. Three-phase DG systems are considered; From (3), calculated for z=zgen,the condition V(zge,)2VLv
10. DG system has been modelled as an ideal current can be written as:
generator; ZgenIgen 2 ZgenI(Zgen L)+hg(O 7 9 Zgen)I(O,Zgen) (5)
11. DG unit power factor is equal to 1 (cos qgen=l). or
From (2), applying effects superposition theorem, the
I,, 2 I*gen (5')
voltage V(z) can be written as:

I
where:
V(z) = V, - &.r
K 1
j ji(z) dz dz - Igen.z if OSzlz,,, I*gen

h'b4
= I(Zgen 9 L) + h'g (0 Zgen). 1(0,zgen 3

9 Zgen) =
hg (0 7
Zgen
Zgen
9

1
, Zgen E Io, LI.
It can be concluded that if I, exceeds the current
threshold I*gen the voltage at the generator connection point
exceeds the value at the beginning of the line. The greater
the current injected by the generator, the greater the
overvoltage.
VLV When condition (5) holds, it is meaningful calculating the
maximum value of I, ,Igen(max), such that V(z,,) is equal to
the upper voltage limit, V, normally established by
; national standards. Then we have:
I

! Z
b
I
%en
I
Dividing Igen(,,) by I T ~,T
we can define:
I VI
- Vmax - VLV
+aien (7)
aBen(rnaX)
h.zlgen.L . r .I,,,
Fig. 3 A single embedded generator injects a current Ige. in the position
* Iien
age"= -- a R + g (0, Zgen) a L (8)
ITOT
These expressions show that the generator always where:
produces a rise of the voltage profile because of the decrease

zgen
Zgen
1
1.' . i(z) dz
A', (0,e;'n = h'g(0,Zgen) = 7
Zgen Zgen
/ i(z') dz'
0
To calculate the normalized current threshold agen(,,,),
with reference to (7), two terms have to be evaluated.
The first is a function of
- geometrical and electrical characteristics (L, r) of the
considered line;
- operating conditions of LV (VLv), and upper voltage
limit (Vmax);
- relative position of the generator ( z ' ~ ~ ~ ) ;
- value of the total current drawn by the load (ITOT).
It is worth noting that operating conditions somehow
affect In fact, the voltage at the beginning of the
line, VLv,depends, besides the load of the line, on both MV
distribution network voltage control and tap changer setting
of MVLV transformer. The way the voltage is regulated in
distribution systems changes from a Country to another [7].
For example, in Italy, voltage regulation is performed by
means of LTC (Load Tap Changers), which regulate primary
distribution substation transformers, and by an appropriate
choice of the turns ratio of MV/LV distribution transformers.
In this context, if the voltage control of the distribution
system ensures a voltage Vtvat the beginning of the line
lower than VLv, it is possible supposing an increase of the
current threshold agen(,,,). This increase in age,(,,)would be
equal to:
(9)
The second term in (7) is function of quantities related to
load current distribution and relative position of the
generation system (aL,aR,A',(o, z ~ 1. ~ ~ ~ )
From (7) it is possible to conclude (when the other
variables are kept constant) that:
1. The minimum value of age,(,,) happens when ITOT
assumes the maximum;
2. agen(,,,) is minimum when VLv is equal to Vmax.In
particular we have:
min{agen(max) a i e n I= (10)
and, if the DG unit is connected at the end of the line
; =O), (9) assumes the following value:
(Zgen=l; a ~ = la~
min{agen(max,)= (091) (11)
Another important parameter is represented by the
maximum value of the voltage VLv , referred to as VLv,
able to prevent the penetration level age,(provided that
from causing overvoltages. This voltage value is
given by the following expression:
VSV=Vma~+JS.(4en-gd.zgen.r.L.IT~~ (12)
This equation could be useful when the parameters of the
voltage control system (for example, the turn ratio of off-
load MVILV transformer) have to be redefined due to an
increased presence of DG units.
Iv. VOLTAGE PROFILE ANALYSIS WITH LINEAR LOAD
DISTRIBUTION
The aim of this section is to study the influence on voltage
profile of a DG unit connected to a line with a linear load
distribution by means the equations developed previously.
A general linear load distribution (Fig.4) may be
represented by the following expression:
i ( z ' ) = i o +(6-io).z' (13)
where io,62 0, 01z'11.
After some calculation a*gen assumes the following form:
)
i g e n = l - ( 2 - 3. hg * Zgen+ (1- 2. i g).Z' 2gen
1 0
(14)
where:
6
Fig. 4 A single embedded generator injects a current Igm in the position
zgenin case of linear load distribution.
It is worth noting that, in this case, aiendepends only on
h i (normalized barycentre of the whole load) and Z'gen .
Fig. 5 shows the graphics of a*gen as a function of the
~ ~ values of A'r
relative position z ' at~different
Note that a*gen decreases as Lgen increases, reaching the
minimum value at the end of the line for all the values of A'g
Moreover, if A', = 0.5 (i.e. i(z') = i o ) , a*gen
is rectilinear,
is concave if A',< 0.5,
otherwise it is not. In particular, a*gen
convex if A', > 0.5.
 1

0.9

0.8

0.7
6
ikm
5 0.6

0.5

0.4

04 I I
0.3
!
I 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.g71 Os* OS3 04 OZ5 OZ6 07 OZ8 OZ9

Fig. 7 Current acceptability limit of the LV feeder (Vmax=440V,

Fig. 5 Graphics of a*gcn
as a function of the relative position z , ~at
I ~ p 1 3 0 A ~, 0 . 4 9 2 R / k mL=O.ISkm,
, hg=0.5)
different values of

On the other hand, if we express a*,,. as a function of h, V. CONCLUSIONS

at different values of z~, we obtain linear graphics the The developed study, according to some simplifylng
increase as increase (Fig. 6). hypothesis related both to the DG plant and to the
From the performed analysis, the penetration limit, distribution networks, allows to evaluate the effects
a,,.(,,,), unchanged the other conditions, becomes lower, produced on voltage profile of a LV distribution line by a
with respect to the results obtained with a uniformly single LV grid connected PV system.
distributed load (A,= OS), if the equivalent load is placed The presence of the grid connected PV generators always
within the first half of the line; it becomes higher if the produces a rise of the voltage profile because of the decrease
equivalent load is placed in the second half of the line. of the total load. This rise may cause overvoltage and, of
The global minimum penetration limit for linear load course, this event is a hindrance to the penetration of DG
distributions (equal to the 33% of ITOT)occurs in case of units.
triangular load distribution (decreasing from upstream to On this regard, a general expression for voltage
downstream) with z~,,, =1 and VLv= VMM. calculation in a point of a distribution line where a single
generator is connected has been developed. From this
1
expression it is possible to understand how each parameter
affects the value of the power upper limit of a PV generator
0.9 that can be connected to the grid.
Then, as a particular case, a linear load distribution along
08 the line has been considered; in this case the aforesaid
expression becomes simpler as the threshold a*,,. for the
0 $7 considered PV system does not depend on how the load is
on distributed along the line, but just on its relative barycentre.
*a 0,6 Future developments of this study are:
- generalisation of our results to a LV line with a given
O S
nynber of embedded PV generation systems
- investigation on the effect of the voltage control system
0.4
of the MV distribution network on the voltage at the
beginning of the line where the PV systems are
0,3
0,3 0.35 0.4 0,45 0.5 0.55 0,6 0,65 0.7 connected
Ag - investigation on how voltage control affects the upper
limit of PV systems penetration degree.
Fig. 6 Graphics of as a function of h, at different values of z , ~

The diagram reported in Fig. 7 refers to a specific case VI. REFERENCES

whose characteristics are mentioned in the caption. It allows,
for example, to state that for a line with maximum generated
current Ig,n(max)=21TOT (260 A) and bus voltage VLv=420V,if
the limit of V, =440 V is to be respected, the PV generator
has to be connected within a distance of 84.7% of the line
length, starting from the supply bus (z,,,,(,~~) =127m).
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