Mitigation of voltage unbalance by using static load transfer switch in bipolar low voltage DC distribution system

Abstract

In this paper, a method is proposed to mitigate voltage unbalance and to reduce power loss due to neutral current in a bipolar Low-Voltage DC (LVDC) distribution system by using a static load transfer switch (SLTS). Furthermore, an algorithm to determine the proper position of loads by using the SLTS is presented; this algorithm is developed by considering the neutral current at each load point. The underlying strategy of the SLTS method is that a local substation generates switching signals by using the proposed algorithm on the basis of data measured by a DC/DC converter; thereafter, SLTSs, which are placed in the DC/DC converter, are operated to reconfigure the structure of loads. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, the conventional method for calculating the percent voltage unbalance for an AC system is modified and made applicable for a DC system. The modeling of a 1500V bipolar LVDC distribution system carried out using the ElectroMagnetic Transients Program (EMTP) is also presented herein. Finally, a simulation carried out by employing the SLTS method under various load conditions is presented; the results show a decrease in power loss and mitigation of voltage unbalance.