Using OLTC-Fitted Distribution Transformer to Increase Residential PV Hosting Capacity: Decentralized Voltage Management Approach

Muhammed Sait Aydin, Sahban W. Alnaser and Sereen Z. Althaher
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Muhammed Sait Aydin: Faculty of Engineering, Siirt University, Siirt 56100, Turkey
Sahban W. Alnaser: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Sereen Z. Althaher: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-19

Abstract: The increasing Photovoltaic (PV) penetration in residential Low Voltage (LV) networks is likely to result in a voltage rise problem. One of the potential solutions to deal with this problem is to adopt a distribution transformer fitted with an On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC). The control of the OLTC in response to local measurements reduces the need for expensive communication channels and remote measuring devices. However, this requires developing an advanced decision-making algorithm to estimate the existence of voltage issues and define the best set point of the OLTC. This paper presents a decentralized data-driven control approach to operate the OLTC using local measurements at a distribution transformer (i.e., active power and voltage at the secondary side of the transformer). To do so, Monte Carlo simulations are utilized offline to produce a comprehensive dataset of power flows throughout the distribution transformer and customers’ voltages for different PV penetrations. By the application of the curve-fitting technique to the resulting dataset, models to estimate the maximum and the minimum customers’ voltages are defined and embedded into the control logic to manage the OLTC in real time. The application of the approach to a real UK LV feeder shows its effectiveness in improving PV hosting capacity without the need for remote monitoring elements.

Keywords: hosting capacity; low voltage distribution networks; Monte Carlo simulations; on-load tap changer; photovoltaic systems; regression; voltage control (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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