Abstract
Grid operators are now considering using distributed energy resources (DERs) to provide distribution voltage regulation rather than installing costly voltage regulation hardware. DER devices include multiple adjustable reactive power control functions, so grid operators have the difficult decision of selecting the best operating mode and settings for the DER. In this work, we develop a novel state estimation-based particle swarm optimization (PSO) for distribution voltage regulation using DER-reactive power setpoints and establish a methodology to validate and compare it against alternative DER control technologies (volt–VAR (VV), extremum seeking control (ESC)) in increasingly higher fidelity environments. Distribution system real-time simulations with virtualized and power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL)-interfaced DER equipment were run to evaluate the implementations and select the best voltage regulation technique. Each method improved the distribution system voltage profile; VV did not reach the global optimum but the PSO and ESC methods optimized the reactive power contributions of multiple DER devices to approach the optimal solution.
Highlights
Installed variable distributed renewable energy is continuing to grow, with much of this growth being related to distribution systems [1]
The results in this paper provided sufficient confidence in the control techniques that they were executed on a live feeder in Grafton, MA—the results of the field demo are included in [26]
(PHIL)simulations simulations were were conducted conducted with power hardware-in-the-loop withboth boththe thePNM
Summary
Installed variable distributed renewable energy is continuing to grow, with much of this growth being related to distribution systems [1]. Utilities could assume unidirectional power flow and regulation of grid voltage within ANSI Standard C84.1 [2] limits. The penetration of distributed energy resources (DER) presents challenges for distribution circuit voltage regulation [3]. Because fluctuating DER current injection on the feeder from renewable energy resources leads to voltage perturbations [4]. Transformers, capacitor banks, and other voltage regulation equipment—often designed or placed prior to the addition of the DER systems. Many distribution system operators (DSOs) are concerned about increasing DER deployments, and often create screening criteria to limit the deployments [5,6,7], because they cannot guarantee power quality in high DER penetration scenarios [8].
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