Integrated Volt-VAr Optimization with Distributed Energy Sources to Minimize Substation Energy in Distribution System

Abstract

Volt-VAr optimization (VVO) is the tool which improves the efficiency of the distribution system by coordinating the voltage and reactive power. Due to voltage-dependence of loads, both real and reactive power will be affected by variation in voltage. Consequently, rather than minimizing active energy of the system, the focus of this article to reduce the daily apparent energy of the substation using VVO. In this, on load tap changers (OLTC), and voltage regulators (VRs) are used for voltage optimization, whereas capacitor banks (CBs) inject reactive power (VAr) into the system provided operational and system constraints satisfied. This study focuses on minimization of substation apparent energy (kVAh) by the optimal scheduling of OLTC, VRs, and CBs. The photo-voltaic (PV) and wind turbine (WT) generators are also assumed to be connected in the distribution system. Moreover, this study is extended to consider the effect of harmonics in the load current for associated loads. All the simulations are performed on modified IEEE 33-bus and IEEE 123-bus radial distribution systems. More savings in terms of substation kVAh are accomplished when DGs are connected into the system. Reductions up to 20% in substation kVAh and 37% in energy losses have been achieved.

Keywords:

• Volt/VAr optimization
• conservation voltage reduction
• energy savings
• substation energy
• total harmonic distortion
• voltage control
• load models
• Volt-VAr control

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Saran Satsangi

Saran Satsangi received the B.Sc.Engg. degree in electrical engineering and the M.Tech. degree in engineering systems from Faculty of Engineering, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra, India in 2009 and 2014, respectively. Currently, he is a Ph.D. scholar in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India. He is a student member of IEEE. His research interests are distribution system analysis, load modeling, voltage and reactive power control in the distribution system, and smart grid technologies

Ganesh Balu Kumbhar

Ganesh Balu Kumbhar received the B.E. degree in electrical engineering from Government College of Engineering, Karad, India, in 1999, the M.Tech. degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India, in 2002, and the Ph.D. degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India, in 2007. He was a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the Center for Energy System Research, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN, USA. He was also with Eaton Technologies Pvt. Ltd., (Eaton Corporation), Pune, India; Tata Consultancy Services, Mumbai, India; and Crompton Greaves, Ltd., Mumbai, India in the areas of design and analysis of power system equipment. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India. His research interests include distribution system analysis, distributed generation planning and analysis, smart grid technologies and applications, power and distribution transformers, modeling and simulation, design and analysis.