Characterization and Modeling of LV Cables Considering External Parameters for Distribution Networks

Ferréol Binot, Trung Dung Le and Marc Petit
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Ferréol Binot: Université Paris-Saclay, CentraleSupélec, CNRS, Laboratoire de Génie Electrique et Electronique de Paris, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Trung Dung Le: Université Paris-Saclay, CentraleSupélec, CNRS, Laboratoire de Génie Electrique et Electronique de Paris, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Marc Petit: Université Paris-Saclay, CentraleSupélec, CNRS, Laboratoire de Génie Electrique et Electronique de Paris, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-29

Abstract: In response to the climate emergency, new uses are plugged to low voltage (LV) electrical networks. The development of self-consumption complicates the LV grid operation, and force distribution system operators (DSOs) to better model and characterize their networks. DSOs mainly use a three-conductor model (3 CM) to compute power flows, and consider error margins of 2% for voltage profiles to reflect their model inaccuracy. The characteristics of the future LV grids call into question these margins, and the models used. In this paper, a four-conductor model (4 CM), and an additional model named 4 CMext, that considers external parameters (i.e., cable temperature, ground electrical resistivity, and value/number of the earthing resistances) are proposed. The best model for cable characterization and voltage profile calculation is chosen; the 4 CMext is more adapted for the characterization, and corresponds with the finite element model, with an error margin of 4%, experimental measurements of 15%, and French cable manufacturer data of 0.5%. For the voltage profile, the 4 CMext provides a more detailed view of the critical cases that could lead to a violation of the limits of the EN 50160 standard than 3 CM and 4 CM. Violations of high or low voltages are underestimated by two to six times by the 3 CM and 4 CM. Not considering external parameters can lead to a voltage profile error of above 3%. In this paper, we recommend that DSOs use the 4 CMext to represent LV networks, which would allow LV networks to be used closer to their physical limits, and avoid or postpone network reinforcements.

Keywords: distribution networks; low voltage cables; three-conductor model; four-conductor model; external parameters; temperature; ground resistivity; earthing resistances (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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