Contributions to the sequence‐decoupling compensation power flow method for distribution system analysis

Abstract

Many applications of Distribution Management Systems (DMSs) are based on power flow solutions. Fast and robust power flow methods capable of accommodating systems of general topologies and the most common models of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are, therefore, becoming indispensable. In this context, this paper proposes contributions for the symmetrical component-based three-phase power flow methods for distribution system analysis. The introduction of symmetrical components in the three-phase power flow problem allows it to be decomposed into three single-phase problems, which can be solved iteratively. Such decomposition significantly expedites the power flow solution problem, simplifies implementation complexity, and makes way for parallel computing techniques. The accuracy and validity of the proposed method were tested on distribution test feeders of different sizes and topologies and the results of several case studies were compared with those obtained by the Sequence Newton-Raphson method, and by the OpenDSS. Contributions of the paper include: (i) A new formulation of the Sequence-Decoupling Compensation method in terms of real-valued matrices; (ii) a novel modelling for PV buses; (iii) a simple procedure to tackle convergence issues related to delta and ungrounded-wye connected transformers; and (iv) a modelling for wye, closed- and open-delta connected step-voltage regulators in the sequence frame of reference.