Lect 08
Lect 08
Load-flow studies are probably the most common of all power system analysis
calculations. They are used in planning studies to determine if and when specific
elements will become overloaded. Major investment decisions begin with reinforcement
strategies based on load-flow analysis. In operating studies, load-flow analysis is used
to ensure that each generator runs at the optimum operating point; demand will be met
without overloading facilities; and maintenance plans can proceed without undermining
the security of the system.
The objective of any load-flow program is to produce the following information:
• Voltage magnitude and phase angle at each bus.
• Real and reactive power flowing in each element.
• Reactive power loading on each generator.
The above objectives are achieved by supplying the load-flow program with the
following information:
• Branch list of the system connections i.e., the impedance of each element,
sending-end and receiving-end node #. Lines and transformers are represented
by their π-equivalent models.
• Voltage magnitude and phase-angle at one bus, which is the reference point for
the rest of the system.
• Real power generated and voltage magnitude at each generator bus.
• Real and reactive power demanded at each load bus.
[F(x)] = [0]
Where: [F(x)] is a vector of functions: f1 --- fn in the variables x1 --- xn.
The above expression does not equal zero until the Newton-Raphson process
has converged (i.e., all the x's have been found) and the iterations have to be
performed, starting at some initial set of values x1, x2, --- xn. In the load-flow problem
the x's are voltage magnitude and phase angle at all PQ buses and voltage phase
angles at all PV buses i.e., angles at all buses except slack and │V│ for all load buses.
The iterations are performed by linearizing the non-linear equations [F(x)] = [0]
and adjusting the values of x. This process can be visualized in the case of a single-
variable problem, which could be formed by subtracting the two equations used at the
beginning of the Gauss-Siedel section, i.e.
f(x) = eqn 1 – eqn 2 {f(x) = 0 at the solution}
The most important information obtained from the load-flow is the voltage profile
of the system. If │V│ varies greatly over the system, large reactive flows will result; this,
in turn, will lead to increased real power losses and, in extreme cases, an increased
likelihood of voltage collapse. When a particular bus has an unacceptably low voltage,
the usual practice is to install capacitor banks in order to provide reactive compensation
to the load. Load-flow studies are used to determine how much reactive compensation
should be applied at a PQ bus, to bring its voltage up to an appropriate level, i.e.:
i) Re-execute the load-flow with the bus re-designated as PV type with the required
voltage level specified.
ii) Subtract the value of Q obtained from i) from the value obtained in the old load-
flow when the bus was PQ.
iii) The result is the value of Qc needed to bring the voltage up to the specified level.
Note that if the specified voltage is not 1 pu, then the value of Qc has to be
adjusted by 1/│V│2 in order to specify Qc at rated voltage.