Future Distribution Networks: A Review

Zahid Javid, Ilhan Kocar (), William Holderbaum and Ulas Karaagac
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Zahid Javid: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Ilhan Kocar: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
William Holderbaum: School of Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Chester Street, Manchester M15 GD, UK
Ulas Karaagac: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-45

Abstract: This manuscript presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in electrical distribution networks, with a specific focus on the incorporation of direct current (DC) applications. The research aims to comprehensively address the current and future aspects of DC, spanning from the distribution level to the utilization level. The renewed interest in DC power systems has led to the investigation of several transitional challenges in recent years. A significant portion of these efforts has been dedicated to determining the feasibility of applying DC to specific use cases. Additionally, the literature has explored design considerations such as system architecture and voltage levels, the integration of DC into existing distribution networks, load flow (LF) computations, and the distinct safety concerns associated with DC power systems. In this paper, the various research endeavors are categorized, evaluated, and scrutinized to assess the current state of the transition from a purely alternating current (AC) distribution system to a solely DC or hybrid AC/DC distribution system. A bibliometric analysis is conducted, constructing a network of co-occurrence based on author-provided keywords, which reveals the primary research foci in this domain. The barriers hindering the widespread adoption of DC distribution systems and potential solutions are also discussed. Moreover, this article synthesizes ongoing efforts to address these obstacles and delineates future research directions by emphasizing the existing knowledge gaps.

Keywords: bibliometric analysis; DC distribution networks; DC standards; DC voltage levels; future distribution networks; hybrid AC/DC distribution networks; human safety; network configurations (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: 2024
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