Summary:
The increasing penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) has driven a push toward new algorithms and tools for distribution system operation and planning; however, there is a lack of publicly available electrical distribution test systems at the large scale-multi-feeder, multi-substation-which are required for realistically evaluating the performance and scalability of these new developments. This paper presents a Reference Network Model (RNM) aimed to plan large-scale, U.S.-style, synthetic distribution systems. Special emphasis is placed on two algorithms that allow multi-phase feeder design: (1) a method to select the most suitable number of phases for each section considering the connected customers, and (2) a method to assign phases to the users to provide near-balanced phasing while maintaining realistic levels of imbalance. The performance of the developed algorithms is verified by comparing the obtained system designs with the original IEEE 8,500-node test feeder and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) J1 feeder.
Keywords: Power distribution; System planning; Reference Network Model; Representative networks; Synthetic networks; Phase imbalance
JCR Impact Factor and WoS quartile: 4,630 - Q1 (2020); 5,000 - Q1 (2023)
DOI reference: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2020.106042
Published on paper: September 2020.
Published on-line: April 2020.
Citation:
F. Postigo Marcos, C. Mateo, T. Gómez, F. de Cuadra, P. Dueñas, T. Elgindy, B.M. Hodge, B. Palmintier, V. Krishnan, Phase-selection algorithms to minimize cost and imbalance in U.S. synthetic distribution systems. International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems. Vol. 120, pp. 106042-1 - 106042-9, September 2020. [Online: April 2020]