Voltage regulation on Micro grid

Introduction

The distribution networks are passive networks

Where the flow of both real and reactive power is
always from the higher to lower voltage levels.

However, with significant penetration of

Distributed Energy Resources (DER), the power
flows may become reversed
since the distribution network is no longer a passive
circuit supplying loads but an active system with power
flows and voltages determined by the generation as
well as load.

Introduction Contd.

Hence, there are dramatic changes in the

nature of distribution networks with DERs,
i.e., microgrid.
Integration of different types of distributed
energy resources (DERs) in distribution
network has significant effects on voltage
profile
For both customers and Distribution Network
Service Providers (DNSPs).

Introduction Contd.
This impact may manifest itself positively
or negatively,
Depending on the voltage variation and the
amount of DERs that can be connected to the
distribution networks.

This chapter presents a way to estimate

the voltage variation and the amount of the
DERs in a microgrid.

Introduction Contd.

To do this, a voltage rise formula is

derived with some approximation
The validation of this formula is checked by
comparing with the existing power systems
simulation software.

Using the voltage variation formula, the

worst case scenario of microgrid is used
To estimate the amount of voltage variation
and maximum permissible DERs.

Introduction Contd.
The relationship between voltage level,
voltage rise, and connection cost of DERs
in a microgrid is also described in this
chapter.
Finally, based on the worst case scenario
of microgrid; some recommendations are
given to counteract the voltage rise effect.

Voltage regulation in Conventional

Distribution Network
Most of the distribution networks are
modelled as passive networks with radial
configuration
The flow of power both real (P) and
reactive (Q), is always from the higher to
lower voltage levels.
Since the reactance to resistance ratio (X/R),
for transmission network is 10 and that of for
distribution network is 0.5, therefore the
value of resistances in the distribution
networks are high.

Contd.
These high resistances lead to the voltage
drop along the line from the primary
substation to the point of connection of the
customer.
The amount of voltage drop can be
calculated from the analysis of two-bus
distribution system as shown in Figure.

Contd.

DS and OLTC stand for the Distribution

Systems and On-Load Tap Changer
respectively, VS is the sending end
voltage, VR is the receiving end voltage,

Contd.

P and Q are the real and reactive power

flowing through the distribution network to
the customer,
i.e., these are supplied from distribution
substation (DS), and PL and QL are the real
and reactive power of the load.

The voltage at the sending end can be

written as
where, I( I= | I |) is the phasor representation
of the current flowing through the line.

Contd.
The power supplied from the distribution
system can be written as

Therefore, the current flowing through the

line can be written as

Contd.
By using the value of I, the sending end
voltage can be expressed as

Contd.
Since the angle between the sending end
voltage and the receiving end voltage is
very small,
The voltage drop is approximately equal to
the real part of the drop and if the sending
end bus is considered as reference bus, the
angle of this voltage is 0, i.e., Vs =|Vs |= Vs

Therefore, the above equation can be

approximated as
Eq.1

Contd.
If the sending end voltage of the system
as shown in Figure is considered as the
base voltage, then VS can be assumed as
unity.
Therefore, equation can be written as
follows:
Eq.2

Contd.
The amount of voltage variation in a large
distribution network as shown Fig. can be
determined by using the same formula as
shown by equation 1
In Fig.an n-bus system is considered.
The voltage drop between ith and jth bus
can be written as
Eq.3

Contd.
where, Vij is the variation of voltage
between ith and jth bus,
Rij is the resistance between ith and jth
bus,
Xij is the reactance between ith and jth bus,
Vi is the voltage at ith bus, and
Pij and Qij are the active and reactive
power flowing from ith to jth bus.

Contd.
The voltage level at each connection point
of the load is very important for the quality
of the supply.
Since there are no internationally agreed
rules that define the allowed steady-state
voltage range, the maximum permitted
voltage variation on each bus-bar is
defined by some technical regulations or
specific contracts.

Contd.
The variation of voltage on a small as well
as large conventional distribution network
using our proposed formula is compared
next with the existing software simulation
results in the following sections through
some case studies.

Voltage Variation on Micro grid

When DERs are connected to the
distribution system,
The power flow and the voltage profiles are
affected as well as the system is no longer
passive but active.

In order to export power, a generator is

likely to operate at a higher voltage as
compared to the other nodes
Where it is supplying power.

Contd.
This can be explained by using equation 2
In this case, the receiving end voltage (VR)
will be
Eq.4

as the direction of the power flow is

reversed.
Thus, the voltage at the point ofconnection
of the generator will rise above the
sending end voltage which can be clarified
through Fig.

Contd.
In Fig., a DER is connected where the
voltage (VGEN) is assumed to be 11 kV PG
and QG are the generated active and
reactive power, respectively, by the DER,
PL and QL are the active and reactive
power of the load respectively and QC is
reactive power of the shunt compensator.

Contd.

This DER with load and compensator is

connected to the distribution system (DS)
via overhead distribution line with
impedance R+jX and through OLTC.
The voltage rise along the distribution
network as shown in Fig. 10.3 can be
written as follows:
Eq.5

Contd.
where, P = (PG PL), Q = (QC QL QG).
If VGEN is expressed in terms of per unit,
then equation 4 can be written as
Eq.6

DERs always export active power (PG) and

may export or import reactive power (QG),
whereas the load consumes both active (-PL)
and reactive (-QL) power and the
compensators may export or absorb only
reactive power (QC).

Contd.

Recently, small synchronous generators

through combined heat power (CHP)
generation scheme, small wind turbine, and
photovoltaic (PV) are widely used as
distributed generators.
In CHP generation scheme, the synchronous
generator exports real power even when the
electrical load of the systems falls below the
output of the generator but it may absorb or
export reactive power depending on the
setting of the excitation system of the
generator.

Contd.
The wind turbine also exports real power
but it absorbs reactive power as its
induction generator requires a source of
reactive power to operate.
The photovoltaic (PV) systems are used to
export real power at a set power factor but
may introduce harmonic currents.

Contd.
Therefore, the power flows through the
circuits may be in either direction
depending on the relative magnitudes of
the real and reactive network loads
compared to the generator outputs and
any losses in the network.

Contd.
There is some fluctuation in power output
of distributed generators based on primary
sources such as wind generators,
photovoltaic, and certain CHP units.
These variations in the power generation
cause voltage variation in the voltage
supplied to the customers.
The variation of wind speed and the tower
shadow of the fixed speed wind turbines
produce power pulsations.

Contd.
Moving clouds cause the power
generation of photovoltaic systems to
fluctuate.
The operation of CHP mostly depends on
the customers' heat demand.
The variations in the customers heat
demand from time to time lead the
variation in the power generation of CHP
units.

Worst Case Voltage regulation

DERs are connected to the distribution
system due to the technological
innovations and change in economic and
regulatory environment as well as to meet
the increased load demand.
From equation 6, we can write,
Eq.9

Contd.
For large distribution network, the above
equation can be written as

Contd.
From equation 9, it is clear that the level of
generation that can be connected to the
distribution system depends on the
following factors:
voltage at the primary DS
voltage level of the receiving end
size of the conductors as well the distance
from primary DS
load demand on the system
other generation on the system

Contd.
When a generator is to be connected to
the distribution system, the DNSPs should
consider the worst case operating
scenarios to easily demonstrate the
relationship between voltage rise and
DERs connected to the DS and also they
should ensure that their network and
customer will not be adversely affected.
Generally, these worst case scenarios are:
minimum load maximum generation
maximum load minimum generation

Contd.
The amount of voltage rise on a microgrid
can easily be described through worst
case scenario.
This can be done by using the simple
algebraic equation 6.
In this chapter, we have considered the
case- maximum generation and minimum
load as the estimation of voltage variation
is the main target.

Contd.
Now, if we consider the worst case
scenario as minimum load and maximum
generation, then we can write:

Again, if we assume that the microgrid is

operating at unity power factor, then QG
and QC will be zero.
In this condition equation 6 can be written
as:

Contd.
For large system, the worst case voltage
variation is
Eq.10
From eq.10, it is seen that if the voltage
(VS) is more, then the voltage rise will be
less.
Therefore, to keep the voltage variation
within the permissible limits, VS is an
important factor.

Contd.
From equation 10, it is clear that the
voltage rise depends on the resistance of
the distribution line and the power supplied
by DERs within the microgrid.
If the resistance of the distribution line is
constant, then we can write
Eq.12

For large systems we can write

Contd.
Therefore, after penetrating maximum
amount of DERs into microgrid, the line
resistances are critical parameter for
voltage rise within the system.
Now, if we consider the same case when
the microgrid is operating at a power factor
other than unity power factor, then we can
write

For large systems

Eq.13

Contd.
From the above equation it is seen that the
reactive power also contributes on the
voltage variation of microgrid.
Now, consider the following two cases to
investigate the worst case voltage
variation on microgrid.

Case 1: When DERs export

reactive power
When DERs in microgrid export power,
i.e., (QG max) is positive, equation (13)
can be written as
Eq.14

Contd.
The worst case voltage variation will be
less if the second term of equation (14) is
negative
which is possible if and only if the
compensator imports reactive power and the
amount of imported reactive power should be
equal to or greater than the maximum reactive
power supplied DERs.

Case 2: When DERs import

reactive power
DERs import reactive power means that
QG max is negative.
In this case equation 13 can written as
Eq.15

Here, the second term will be negative for

any amount of reactive power imported by
compensators.

Contd.
Again, there is a possibility of being
second term negative when the
compensator exports reactive power less
than the imported reactive power of DERs.
Therefore, from the analysis it is clear that
worst case voltage variation mainly
depends on the three factors:
voltage of distribution substation,
resistances of the distribution line, and
the amount of the reactive power within the
systems.

Mitigation of Voltage Variation Based on

Worst Case Scenario

The large penetration of DERs into microgrid

causes an excessive voltage rise.
Traditionally, DS is equipped with over
voltage protection relay to protect it during
the over voltage.
The over voltage protection scheme may
permanently disconnect the distributed
generators or even it may disconnect the DS
from the main grid
which may cause serious economical damage
for the customers as well as DNSPs.

Mitigation methods of
Voltage Regulation
Regulating Primary DS Voltage (VS)
Reducing Line Resistance
Using Reactive Power Control

Regulating Primary DS Voltage (VS)

In conventional passive distribution
network,
it is common practice for DNSPs to maintain
the primary DS above the nominal voltage to
ensure that the system voltages remain within
the specified 6% voltage limit as the voltage
drops like Figure.

Contd.
But when DERs are connected, the
scenarios change like Figure.

Contd.
From the worst case scenario of microgrid
Eq.16
it is seen that
From equation, it is seen that by regulating
the sending end voltage, i.e., primary DS
voltage, we can change the voltage drop.
This can easily be done by using OLTC
connected to the system in a microgrid
which is shown in Figure.

Contd.
In Figure, the primary voltage can be
regulated by using automatic voltage
controller (AVC).

Contd.
The controller senses the voltage variation
between the two buses.
If the voltage variation is within the
permissible limits then the controller does
not work but if the voltage variation
exceeds the permissible limits the
controller automatically regulates the
voltage and therefore, reduces the voltage
variation.

Contd.
The operating principle of AVC can easily
be understood from Figure.

Reducing Line Resistance

From equation 12, it is seen that the worst

case voltage variation
which consider maximum DERs penetration,
is directly proportional to the resistance of the
line.

Therefore, if the resistance of the line is

reduced, the voltage rise on microgrid will
also be reduced.

Contd.
The resistance of a line can be reduced by
increasing the conductor size.
But it is very difficult to change the entire
existing network infrastructure to reduce
the line resistance.
Therefore, it can be proposed that before
constructing a new DS, the DNSPs should
consider the reduced value of line
resistance to make provisions for large
DERs.

Using Reactive Power Control

The two cases discussed clearly indicates
the voltage variation mitigation problem by
using reactive power control based on the
worst case scenario of microgrid.
The Reactive Power control algorithm is
shown in Figure.

Reactive Power Control

Contd.
Using the control algorithm as shown in
Figure, the voltage variation on microgrid
can easily be mitigated and can be
implemented in any microgrid.

Voltage Level and Connection Cost

From the analysis of worst case voltage
variation it is seen that the voltage level of
DERs connection points is very important
As it has a great impact on the overall
profitability of microgrid projects.

The general voltage levels referred to the

prices as shown in Table

Contd.
Low Voltage (LV) nominally 240/415 V
High Voltage (HV) nominally 5, 6.6, 11 or
22 kV
Sub-transmission (ST) nominally33 kV or
above
Network access charge (NAC) in Table
means that this is a fixed charge (/day)
applied to each energised connection
point at which Energy Australias
energy/demand is measured or recorded.

Contd.
it is seen that the higher voltage level, the
higher the NAC.
Due to this reason, DNSPs main target is
to connect DERs into the low voltage
levels.
Since the higher connection point of DERs
has lower impact on the performance local
networks in terms of steady state voltage
profile and power quality.

Contd.
Therefore, the network operators prefer
connecting DERs to higher voltage levels.
These two conflicting objectives need to
be balanced appropriately, and may
require an in-depth technical and
economic analysis of the alternative
connection designs and still now it is an
open question in the field of this subject
area.

Conclusion

The voltage variation in a small as well as

large microgrid is estimated through a
simple formula.
The simple formula derived in this paper
can be used in practice.
The validation of voltage variation formula
is checked through some case studies
on the existing two-bus distribution system
and IEEE 34 node test feeder.

Contd.
Finally, the worst case scenario of
microgrid is considered to estimate the
amount of voltage variation and the
maximum capacity of DERs that can be
connected to microgrid without affecting
the customers adversely.
The approaches, presented in this chapter
are useful for future planning of the
distribution network as well as for the
voltage control of microgrid.