Load Estimation in Balanced Radial Distribution System with Reduced Measurements

Abstract

This article presents a technique for real-time load estimation in a balanced radial power distribution system in which the number of measurements required is significantly less than the number of load quantities to be estimated. As the number of measurements is lower than the number of quantities to be estimated, the weighted least square method of estimation cannot be used, and therefore, an artificial neural network-based methodology is used for estimating the loads. From extensive performance evaluation studies on different distribution systems, it was found that with the meters currently available in the market, an estimation error of approximately 1% can be obtained with the proposed methodology.

Keywords:

• load estimation
• power distribution system
• functional link network

Acknowledgments

The authors deeply and gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance received from Ministry of Power (MOP), Government of India, through the Research Scheme on Power (RSOP) program of Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Bangalore, India, for carrying out this research work.