Continuous Power Flow Analysis for Micro-Generation Integration at Low Voltage Grid

The integration of micro-generation (μG) in distribution networks faces new challenges concerning the technical as well as commercial management. The μG integration in the Low and medium voltage distribution networks has many advantages for the grid operation, such as voltage profiles improvement, power losses reduction, and branches congestion levels reduction. This paper presents a method for guiding continuation power flow simulation of integrating μG on distribution feeders. A base model is designed with variable capacitor bank, μG unit such as PV and Wind generation are integrated. A control method is used to improve the voltage level of each node as well as improving power factor of the systems. The electricity consumption of a university's substation area where commercial, residential and municipal load are presented are modeled using actual data collected from each single residential hall and commercial buildings. This model allows analyzing the power flow and voltage profile along each distribution feeders on continuing fashion for a 24- hour period at hour-by-hour formulation. By dividing the feeder into load zones based on distance from each load node to distribution feeder head, the impact of integration of different μG operation in different condition has been discussed.