Comparison of point‐of‐load versus mid‐feeder compensation in LV distribution networks with high penetration of solar photovoltaic generation and electric vehicle charging stations. Issue 2 (5th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Akhtar, Zohaib; Opatovsky, Martin; Chaudhuri, Balarko; Hui, Shu Yuen Ron
• Is Part Of: IET smart grid. Volume 2:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 283
• Page End: 292
• Publication Date: 2019-04-05
• Subjects: distribution networks -- battery powered vehicles -- power electronics -- power distribution control -- voltage control -- power grids -- distributed power generation -- electric vehicles -- photovoltaic power systems; under‐voltage problems -- remote sections -- low‐voltage distribution feeders -- voltage problem -- power electronic compensators -- PECs -- input voltage control -- electric springs -- noncritical loads -- voltages -- output voltage control mode -- controllable series voltage -- mid‐feeder compensation -- MFC -- point‐of‐load compensation -- PV power output -- EV charging -- voltage control capability -- required compensator capacity -- network losses -- PV throughput -- point‐of‐load versus -- distribution networks -- high penetration -- solar photovoltaic generation -- distributed generation -- roof‐top photovoltaic panels -- electric vehicle charging; B8120J Distribution networks -- B8250 Solar power stations and photovoltaic power systems -- B8520 Transportation -- C3110B Voltage control -- C3340H Control of electric power systems -- B8120K Distributed power generation; Smart power grids -- Periodicals; Computer science -- Periodicals; Energy industries -- Periodicals; Broadcasting -- Periodicals; 333.79110285
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-stg.2018.0193
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2515-2947

Abstract

Abstract : Increasing use of distributed generation (DG), mainly roof‐top photovoltaic (PV) panels and electric vehicle (EV) charging would cause over‐ and under‐voltage problems generally at the remote sections of the low‐voltage (LV) distribution feeders. As these voltage problems are sustained for a few hours, power electronic compensators (PECs) with input voltage control, i.e. electric springs cannot be used due to the unavailability of non‐critical loads that can be subjected to non‐rated voltages for a long duration of time. However, PECs in output voltage control mode could be used to inject a controllable series voltage either somewhere on the feeder (mid‐feeder compensation, MFC) or between the feeder and each customer (point‐of‐load compensation, PoLC) both of which are effective in tackling the voltage problem without disrupting PV power output and EV charging. In this study, a comparison between the MFC and PoLC option is presented in terms of their voltage control capability, required compensator capacity, network losses, PV throughput, and demand response capability. The criteria for selection of the optimal location of these compensators are also discussed. Stochastic demand profile for different types of residential customers in the UK and a typical European LV network is used for the case study.