Power Flow Tracing in Power Systems with Active and Reactive Circulating Power Flows

Abstract

Active and reactive power tracing can play an important role in achieving a fair electricity market because system operating, usage, and service costs are appropriately apportioned. However, the presence of power flows around a closed circular trajectory causes the application of commonly used tracing algorithms to fail, leaving power tracing an open question. To overcome this drawback, a novel methodology for tracing the active and reactive power considering the existence of circulating power flows (CPFs) is presented in this paper. The strategy consists of identifying branches possibly involved in this kind of flow and merging the involved buses into a supernode allowing the tracing algorithm to perform normally. Furthermore, the approach properly classifies transmission lines according to their behavior to accurately trace the reactive power flow. The methodology is tested using two power systems presenting diverse operating scenarios. The results demonstrate that the proposed tracing methodology appropriately handles CPFs, representing an advantage over previously proposed approaches.

Keywords:

• power tracing
• proportional sharing principle
• circulating power flow
• supernode
• load flow
• domain

Disclosure Statement

The authors confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome. Also, we have given due consideration to the protection of intellectual property associated with this work and that there are no impediments to publication, including the timing of publication. In doing so, the authors confirm to have followed the regulations of our institutions concerning intellectual property.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Victor J. Gutierrez-Martinez

Victor J. Gutierrez-Martinez received the BEng (Hons), MSc, and PhD degrees from the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, México, in 2000, 2004, and 2011, respectively. Currently, he is a full-time associate professor at the University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. His areas of interest are the modeling and operation of transmission and distribution systems in the context of smart grids.

Claudio R. Fuerte-Esquivel

Claudio R. Fuerte-Esquivel received the BEng (Hons) degree from the Instituto Tecnológico de Morelia, Morelia, Mexico, in 1990, the MSc (summa cum laude) from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México, in 1993, and the PhD degree from the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, in 1997. Currently, he is a full-time professor at the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, where his research interests lie in the dynamic and steady-state analysis of FACTS.

Enrique A. Zamora-Cardenas

Enrique A. Zamora-Cardenas received the BEng (Hons) degree from the Universidad de Colima, Colima, México, in 2001, and the MSc and PhD degrees from the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Mexico, in 2004 and 2010, respectively. He is currently a full-time professor at the Universidad de Guanajuato, Salamanca, Mexico. His research interests lie in the dynamic and steady-state analysis of modern electric power systems.