Voltage control of electric power distribution systems with a high penetration of micro and mini distributed generation

Author(s)

Caio Oriente Pereira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação
• Defense date: 2017-06-19

Examining board members

Walmir de Freitas Filho; Eduardo Nobuhiro Asada; Marcos Julio Rider Flores

• Advisor: Fernanda Caseño Trindade Arioli; Walmir de Freitas Filho

Abstract

Operation and design of electric power distribution systems have been undergoing significant changes. The main phenomenon responsible for these changes is the increase of distributed generation, especially solar photovoltaic micro and mini generation. Certainly, the power flow injected by these generators into the grid affects different power quality issues. The most relevant and characteristic one is the increase of steady-state voltage profile, which may impact the performance of traditional voltage control systems, composed of voltage regulators and capacitor banks (fixed or switched). These systems were primarily conceived to operate under unidirectional active power flow, from substation to load centers. Therefore, in a scenario with high penetration of micro and mini generation, where reverse power flow may occur, it is crucial to determine the impacts of distributed generation on the performance of traditional voltage control systems. In such context, this M.Sc. dissertation evaluates the performance of different configurations of traditional voltage control system in a real circuit, composed of four feeders, with micro and mini solar photovoltaic generation. To this purpose, Performance Indicators are proposed to quantify the cost involved in each control configuration in terms of voltage violations and equipment degradation. Computer simulations results show that the impact of distributed micro generation is localized in low voltage networks and allow establishing recommendations to tune the parameters of voltage control system in order to improve its performance. Definitely, simple modifications in these parameters can produce high performance gains under such challenging circumstances (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/00778-7 - Voltage control of electric power distribution systems with a high penetration of micro and mini distributed generation
• Grantee: Caio Oriente Pereira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master