Probabilistic load flow for radial distribution networks with photovoltaic generators

Abstract

This paper evidences that a good techniques must consider the technical constraints of the radial distribution networks, where the voltage regulation is one of the principal problems to be addressed in distributed generation photovoltaic systems. These techniques are the probabilistic load flow and the Monte Carlo simulation. Loads and distributed generation production are modelled as random variables. Results demonstrate that the proposed method can be applied for the keeping of voltages within desired limits at all load buses of a photovoltaic grid — connected system. To evaluate the performance of photovoltaic system this paper has developed a probabilistic model that takes into account the random nature of solar irradiance and load. Computer simulation reduction demonstrates a better performance of the probabilistic load flow in comparison to Monte Carlo simulation. Acceptable solutions are reached in a smaller number of iterations. Therefore, convergence is rapidly attained and computational cost is low enough than that required for Monte Carlo simulation.