Voltage Profiles Improvement in a Power Network with PV Energy Sources—Results of a Voltage Regulator Implementation

Abstract

The constant increase in the number of photovoltaic (PV) energy sources in distribution networks is the cause of serious voltage problems. The networks built at least a dozen years ago are not provided for the installation of a large number of micro-sources. It happens that the previously properly functioning power networks are not able to provide to consumers power with the required parameters, after installing many PV sources. The problem relates especially to the level of voltage in the networks. This phenomenon sometimes occurs on sunny days, especially in summer. This paper discusses the use of a Low-Voltage Regulator (LVR-sys) in a selected rural distribution network with PV micro-sources. Measured voltage levels in this network, before application and after application of this regulator, are presented. The application of the regulator significantly improved voltage levels in the network and enabled these levels to be maintained within the normative range.

Experimental validation of a low‐voltage regulator model—A case study of a Maltese low‐voltage feeder

“…This paper presents a LVR which does not require an OLTC to be present at the low voltage distribution transformer since it can carry out the function of the OLTC itself [22][23][24]. The advantage of this technology is that it can correct individual phases, has much faster reaction times, does not have moving parts and is very easy to retrofit on any type of transformer and feeder.…”

Planning and Operation of an Intelligent Power Electronics Series Voltage Regulator for PV-Rich Distribution Feeders

“…the average voltage value stabilizes around the nominal value of 230V for all phases, and the standard deviation is greatly reduced (1.40V), thus a significant beneficial effect on voltage stabilization in the distribution network is shown. In conclusion, the application of the voltage regulator can significantly improve voltage levels in the power distribution network and allow them to be kept within the standard range [21].…”

Power System Stability Analysis of the Sicilian Network in the 2050 OSMOSE Project Scenario

“…Academic and industrial research studies have been (and are) extensively active in proposing methods and technologies able to transform RESs and loads into sources of flexibility by modifying their control procedures and/or combining them with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs). More specifically: in [2][3][4] the authors propose control strategies to enable wind generators to provide Synthetic Inertia (SI); in [5] wind generators are made capable to provide primary droop frequency regulation; in [6,7] converter-interfaced generators are designed to provide SI; in [8][9][10] aggregates of thermal loads are controlled Energies 2022, 15, 3517 2 of 33 to provide primary and secondary frequency regulation services; in [11] a control strategy for a building air cooling system that provides secondary frequency regulation is experimentally validated; in [12] multiple BESSs are controlled to provide frequency regulation; in [13] BESSs are coupled with wind generators to provide frequency regulation services; in [14] a BESS is coupled with a large scale photovoltaic (PV) generator to provide primary frequency regulation; in [15] a decentralized control strategy is proposed to allow wind generators to provide primary voltage regulation; in [16] primary voltage regulation is realized by multiple BESSs via broadcast control at subtransmission level, while [17] generalizes this technique for any type of RES, applies it at distribution network level, upgrades it with an additional coordination level and compares it against centralized optimal reactive power control; in [18,19] voltage regulation is realized through DSR considering residential loads; in [20] voltage regulation performance form Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are validated by Hardware-in-the-Loop simulations; in [21,22] voltage regulation is realized by PV generators; in [23] a chance-constrained optimization method is proposed to provide voltage regulation by DERs; in [24] voltage regulation is provided by distributed BESSs via reinforcement learning.…”