Comparative Evaluation of Methods for Attributing Responsibilities Due To Voltage Unbalance

This paper presents the results of a comparative analysis among three methods for attributing responsibilities of voltage unbalance in the electrical network, namely, the IEC, three-phase power flow, and conforming and nonconforming currents methods. To do this, computational and experimental simulations are carried out based on employing a system comprised of a perfectly transposed transmission line and two loads that are not always balanced. The cases selected for this study also permit the identification of the main advantages and disadvantages of each method under evaluation. This work is characterized as a topic of great interest to the regulatory agencies responsible for establishing regulations, and for utilities and consumers. It is relevant because by using the methods investigated in this paper, the identification of the sources, which generates unbalance, the division of responsibilities, and the application of penalties due to limit transgression will be possible.