DSPFAP: Distribution

Systems Power Flow

Analysis Package Using
Matlab Graphical User
Interface (GUI)
U. EMINOGLU,1 T. GOZEL,2 M.H. HOCAOGLU2
1

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Nigde University, Nigde, Turkey

Department of Electronics Engineering, Gebze Institute of Technology, Kocaeli 41400, Turkey

Received 17 June 2007; accepted 5 October 2007

ABSTRACT: This paper describes a software package whose purpose is to provide a tool
to be used for load flow analysis in Power System Analysis courses. The software package
which is called Distribution Systems Power Flow Analysis Package (DSPFAP) uses the graphical
user interface (GUI) capabilities of Matlab. The main advantage of the developed package is
that the load flow analysis can be achieved in both transmission and distribution levels. The
package facilitates different forward/backward sweep-based algorithms to be used for the
distribution systems and conventional Newton
Raphson, Gauss
Seidel algorithms for the
transmission system load flow analysis. In addition to that, effect of voltage dependent load
models and effects of DGs on the distribution systems load flow solution can be investigated
using the program. It is also possible to use conventional algorithms for distribution system
load flow analysis in the package. The package can freely be downloaded from the website:
http://www.gyte.edu.tr/Dosya/102/power/. 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18:
1
13, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20209

Keywords: load flow analysis; distribution systems; sweep-based algorithms; Matlab;

graphical user interface

INTRODUCTION

Correspondence to M.H. Hocaoglu (hocaoglu@gyte.edu.tr).

2009 Wiley Periodicals Inc.

The usage of computer simulations in the classroom is

gaining popularity for particularly power engineering
education [1,2]. It is appreciated that, most of the
1

EMINOGLU, GOZEL, AND HOCAOGLU

computer simulation studies require a GUI that makes

user interaction easier and more effective when
compared with classical text based approaches [3].
A successful GUI not only facilitates easy and
effective data preparation process but also allows post
processing of the results and most importantly permits
the user to see everything at once. Accordingly, there
are number of studies [1,2,4] that enable most of the
power system studies to be thought at a user friendly
environment. Although the load flow analysis, as
a major part of the power system engineering, is
properly being thought by using various programs,
these programs, generally, deal with transmission
systems and as a result the special requirements of
distribution system studies are not treated.
Load flow analysis is an important issue in power
system planning and operational studies. In the last
few decades, efficient and reliable load flow solution
techniques, such as; Gauss
Seidel, Newton
Raphson
[5,6], have been developed and widely used for power
system operation, control and planning in transmission level. Although there was no need to the load
flow analysis in distribution level, historically, development in the distribution automation such as; using
real-time application programs (SCADA systems),
and installation of Distributed Generations necessitate
the power flow analysis in the distribution level as
well. However, it has repeatedly been shown that the
conventional Newton
Raphson and Gauss
Seidel
methods may become inefficient in the analysis of
distribution systems, due to the special features of
distribution networks, that is, radial structure, high
R/X ratio and unbalanced loads, etc. These characteristic features make the distribution systems power
flow computation different and somewhat difficult to
analyze as compared to the transmission systems
when the conventional power flow algorithms are
employed [7]. As a result, a robust and efficient power
flow solution method which must be able to contain
the special features of distribution systems is required.
Recently, many researchers have paid attention to
obtain the load flow solution of distribution networks
and, accordingly, various methods are available in the
literature to carry out the analysis of balanced and
unbalanced radial distribution systems [8
20].
Methods developed for the solution of ill-conditioned
radial distribution systems may be divided into two
categories. The first type of methods [8,9] is utilized
by proper modification of existing methods such as,
Newton
Raphson and Gauss
Seidel. On the other
hand, the second group of methods [10
20] is based
on forward and/or backward sweep processes using
Kirchooffs Laws or making use of the well-known
bi-quadratic equation. Due to its low memory require-

ments, computational efficiency and robust convergence characteristic, forward/backward sweep based
algorithms have gained the most popularity for
distribution systems load flow analysis. These sweep
based algorithms generally take advantage of the
radial network topology and consist of forward and/or
backward sweep processes. The forward sweep is
mainly consists of node voltage calculation by using
Kirchooffs Laws [10
14] or making use of the wellknown bi-quadratic equation [15
20] from the
sending end to the far end of a feeder or laterals,
and the backward sweep is primarily branch current
and/or power summation from the far end to the
sending end of the feeder and laterals. In addition to
the branch current and/or power, the node voltages are
also computed at the backward sweep process in some
sweep-algorithms [14,17].
In electrical power systems, load modeling is a
difficult problem due to the fact that the electrical
loads of a system comprise residential, commercial,
industrial, and municipal loads. It should also be noted
that, variation of the loads over time and number of
uncertainties, spanning from economic parameters
to the weather conditions, significantly increase the
complexity of load modeling process. On the other
hand, aggregate load models, which represent the
load as an algebraic equation, have extensively being
used for various power system studies to understand
and analyze the system behavior under various
conditions. Traditionally, most of the conventional
load flow methods, for transmission and distribution
systems, use the constant-power load model. The
constant-power load model is highly questionable,
especially for a distribution system where most of the
buses are uncontrolled. Therefore, incorporation of
proper modeling of loads is particularly important
for the load flow analysis in distribution level.
Accordingly, a number of studies, found in the
literature, deal with the effects of static load models
on the load flow solution of the distribution systems
[5,16,17,20].
Distributed generation (DG) is defined as the
generation which is dispersed throughout a utilitys
service territory and either connected to the utilitys
distribution system or small and grid isolated. DG
technologies include Photovoltaic, Wind Turbines,
Fuel Cells, small and micro sized turbine packages
and so on. These technologies are entering a period of
rapid expansion and commercialization. During the
last decade many electric power systems around the
world have been deregulated and DG is predicted to
play an increasing role in the electric power system of
the near future. The introduction of DG sources on
distribution system can significantly impact the flow

DSPFAP

of power and voltage condition at customers and

utility equipment [21]. These impacts include;
*

Voltage support and improved power quality

Loss reduction
Transmission and distribution capacity release
Improved utility system reliability.

In fact, power system operation may be adversely

impacted by the introduction of DGs if certain
minimum standards for control, installation, and
placement are not maintained. For the proper
installation and placement, realistic load flow analysis
has to be performed. As a result, DGs can be modeled
as a PQ or PV nodes in distribution systems load flow
analysis [10,19,22]. For PQ units, the models are
identical with constant power load models, except that
the current is injected into the bus [22]. For PV units,
the connected bus is modeled as a PV node and to
keep its voltage at the desired level, reactive power
generation is calculated [10,19]. If the computed
reactive power generation is out of the reactive power
generation limits, then the reactive power generation
is set to that limit and the unit acts as a PQ node. Since
DGs are, normally, smaller in size when compared
with the conventional power sources, the constant PQ
model is, commonly, found to be sufficient for the
distribution system load flow analysis [22].
In this paper, we present an educational software
package which is called Distribution Systems Power
Flow Analysis Package (DSPFAP) and developed in
Matlaps GUI. The package allows the student to
achieve distribution system load flow analysis using
different sweep based algorithms and conventional
load flow algorithms in the Power System Analysis
courses. It can also facilitate the incorporation of
voltage dependent loads and DGs into load flow
analysis. Moreover, the package can also be used for
transmission system load flow analysis by using
conventional Newton
Raphson and Gauss
Seidel
algorithms.

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FORWARD/

BACKWARD SWEEP-BASED ALGORITHMS
Due to its low memory requirements, computational
efficiency and robust convergence characteristic,
forward/backward sweep based algorithms have
gained the most popularity for distribution systems
load flow analysis in recent years. These sweep based
power flow algorithms can be classified in two
categories which are Kirchoffs formulation and
bi-quadratic equation based algorithms.

For a distribution line model, given in Figure 1,

Kirchhoffs Voltage Law can be written in complex
form as

r
Is Z


s V
V

1-a

r V

s

Is Z

V

1-b

s and V

r stand for phase voltages at bus s and
where V


bus r, respectively.
Is , represents the line current and Z
is the line impedance. In Kirchoffs formulation based
sweep algorithms, developed in Refs. [10
14], the
forward sweep is mainly node voltage calculation
from the sending end to the far end of a feeder or
laterals using Equation (1-b) for each branch, and the
backward sweep is primarily branch current calculation from the far end to the sending end using
Kirchoffs Current Law. In addition to the branch
current, the node voltages are also computed in
backward sweep by using Equation (1-a) in some
sweep-based algorithms, that is, Ref. [14].
For the same line, given in Figure 1, the quadratic
equation can be written in terms of line sending and
receiving ends voltage magnitudes and line receiving
end power, as given in Ref. [15], as follow
Vr4 2Vr2 Pr R Qr X
Vs2 Vr2 P2r Q2r Z 2 0
2
where Vs and Vr stand for phase voltage magnitudes at
bus s and bus r. Z is the magnitude of the line
impedance. yz, ds, and dr stand for phase angle of the
line impedance and bus voltages, respectively. The
maximum real root of Equation (2) gives the line
receiving end voltage magnitude. The quadratic
equation can also be written in terms of line sending
end powers instead of receiving end powers, as given
in Ref. [16];
s
P2 Q2 Z 2
3
Vr Vs2
2Ps R Qs X s 2 s
Vs
where Ps and Qs stand for line sending end active and
reactive power, respectively. The second type of
sweep algorithms, given in Refs. [15
17], is developed by solving quadratic equation (Eq. 2) or using
Equation (3) for every branch in the forward sweep

Figure 1 A two-bus distribution network.

EMINOGLU, GOZEL, AND HOCAOGLU

process and branch power is updated in the backward

process for the load flow solution of radial distribution
networks. Moreover, there are some sweep based
algorithms [18
20] utilized by modification of the
quadratic equation (Eq. 2) in different form due to its
requirements of special solution techniques that may
be computationally expensive. Luo and Semlyen [18],
developed an algorithm for radial and/or weekly
meshed networks. Longitudinal and transversal voltage drop equations, given in Equation (4), is used for
the calculation of the node voltage magnitudes and
phase angles in the forward process and branch power
including losses is updated in the backward process.

a1

RPs XQs
Vs2

5-c

RQs
XPs
5-d
Vs2
In the study of Satyanarayana et al. [20], authors
developed an algorithm for balanced radial distribution systems. The algorithm consists of forward
voltage calculation and backward power and current
summation. In the forward process the node voltage of
each branch is computed using Equation (6) in the
network, and each branch power including power
losses updated in the backward process. Maximum
node voltage mismatch is used for the convergence
criteria in the algorithm.
b

DV 0

RPs XQs
Vs

4-a

DV 00

XPs
RQs
Vs

4-b

 
Qr
fr tan
Pr

6-a

4-c

K Vs2
2Pr R X tan fr

6-b

Vr

q
Vs
DV 0 2 DV 002

dr ds
tan
1

DV 00
Vs
DV 0

4-d

In Ref. [19], Equation (5) has been used for the

node voltage calculation in the forward process and
each branch power including power losses updated in
the backward process.

r a ReV

s
b ImV

s
ReV

5-a

s a ImV

s

r b ReV
ImV

5-b

1

s
K K 2
4R2 X 2 P2r x sec2 fr 1=2
Vr
6-c
2
The general structure and main features of the
forward/backward sweep based algorithms, implemented in this paper, are tabulated in Table 1. In
the second Column of Table 1, the algorithms which
can also be applied to the unbalanced distribution
networks are shown. In Column 3, how the node
voltages of the system are calculated is briefly
explained. In the algorithms, the branch power or

Table 1 General Features of Forward/Backward Sweep-Based Algorithms

Voltage calculation
References
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]

Unbalanced

H
H
H
H

Backward sweep

Forward
sweep

Backward
sweep

Branch
current

Branch
power

Convergence criterion

Eq.
Eq.
Eq.
Eq.
Eq.
Eq.
Eq.
Eq.
Eq.
Eq.
Eq.

Eq. (1-a)

Eq. (1-a)

H
H

H
H

H
H
H
H
H
H

Max. active and reactive power

mismatch in each node
Max. node voltage mismatch
Max. node voltage mismatch
Max. load current mismatch
Source node voltage mismatch
Total power losses mismatch
Max. node voltage mismatch
Max. node voltage mismatch
Max. node voltage mismatch
Max. node voltage mismatch
Max. node voltage mismatch

(1-b)
(1-b)
(1-b)
(1-b)
(1-b)
(2)
(3)
(2)
(4)
(5)
(6)

Unbalanced: That can also be applied to the unbalanced distribution networks.

DSPFAP

current which is calculated in backward sweep is

given in column 4. The convergence criterion of each
algorithm is given in Column 5.

NETWORK TOPOLOGY BASED

ALGORITHM FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF FORWARD/BACKWARD SWEEP BASED
ALGORITHMS TO THE RADIAL
DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
The structure of many distribution systems is like a
tree with several laterals and sub-laterals. The root
of tree is the feeding node or supplying substation.
Due to this special structure of distribution system,
a topographical method is used for identifying the
nodes beyond all branches which helps to find the
exact current and power flowing through all branches.
The method is based on the bus-injection to branchcurrent (BIBC) matrix developed in Ref. [13]. In the
load flow solution, the load current can be calculated
using their active and reactive power, and bus voltages
as;


Pi jQi
Ii
i 1; 2; . . . ; n
7
Vi
where Vi is the node voltages, and n is the bus number
of the system and the symbol, *, refers to complex
conjugate operator. A sample distribution system is
given in Figure 2 to demonstrate the calculation of
BIBC and branch current (B) matrices. After the
calculation of the load currents, branch current
equations can be written by applying Kirchoffs
Current Law to the system as follow;
B1 I2 I3
B2 I3
B3 I4

From the last equation BIBC matrix can be

obtained as

3 2
32 3
110
I2
B1
4 B2 5 4 010 54 I3 5
001
I4
B3
2

B BIBCI

9-a

9-b

The constant BIBC matrix has only non-zero

entries of 1, and can be composed by a building
algorithm given in Ref. [13]. The building algorithm
is repeated here for convenience;
Procedure (1): For a distribution system with
m-branch and n-bus, the dimension of the BIBC
matrix is mx(n
1).
Procedure (2): If a line section (Bk) is located
between Bus i and Bus j, copy the column of the ith
bus of the BIBC matrix to the column of the jth bus
and fill a 1 in the position of the kth row and the
jth bus column.
Procedure (3): Repeat Procedure (2) until all the
line sections are included in the BIBC matrix.
After the calculation of Branch Current Matrix
(B), using Equation (9-b), transferred power from
each branch can easily be computed for a distribution
system with m-branch sections, n-bus as
Pline i jQline i Vi 1B i

i 1; 2; . . . ; m
10

Thus, forward/backward sweep-based algorithm

which has only forward node voltage calculation
using Equation (1-b) or quadratic equation, given in
Equations (3)
(6), can be applied to the whole system
by using a computer algorithm running on the
conventional bus branch oriented data format such
as given in Ref. [23] which is called DF matrix in this
paper. The proposed computer algorithm is summarized step by step in the following section and in the
form of a flow chart in Figure 3.

Computer Algorithm

Figure 2

Sample radial distribution network.

Step 1: Initialize the iteration counter, that is, it 1

and the bus voltages of the system, that is,
V1 V2 V3 . . . Vn Vs and Vs is generally
chosen as 1 pu. in distribution systems.
Step 2: Compute BIBC matrix using procedures
(1
3).
Step 3: Calculate load currents using Equation (7)
and branch current matrix (B) using Equation (9-b).
Step 4: Calculate active and reactive power transferred from each branch using Equation (10) and
initialize a counter, that is, i 0.

EMINOGLU, GOZEL, AND HOCAOGLU

Where j and j1 show lines sending and receiving

ends bus number, respectively. The column of j2
and j3 of bus branch oriented data format (DF
matrix) are show branch resistance and reactance,
respectively.
Step 7: Calculate ith line receiving end bus
voltages using forward voltage formulation of the
particular load flow algorithm.
Step 8: Check the counter, if i m go to Step 9,
otherwise return to Step 5.
Step 9: If the convergence tolerance is reached go
to Step 10, otherwise set the iteration counter as
it it 1 and go to Step 3.
Step 10: Print results.

SOFTWARE DESCRIPTION
Developed package, called DSPFAP, consists of one
main window that allows user to solve load flow
problem for distribution and also for transmission
systems. All of the program routines of the package
use Matlab m-files, version 7.0. The main window,
given in Figure 4, divided into three sections called
System Data, Load Flow Algorithms, and Load Flow
Results. The System Data Section provides user to
input the system load and branch data in the form of
IEEE common data format, that is, given in Ref. [23].
These branch and load data can be typed in using the
branch data and load data textbox which are displayed
by clicking Bus and Line data button as given in
Figure 5, or can be loaded from a file using IEEE Data
Format button. The system data can also be saved as a
text file named as filename.dsf using Save button,
and then it can be loaded using Open button as given
in Figure 6. It is also possible to use static load model
like given in Equation (11) by including np and nq to
the load data matrix in the System Data Section of the
package as can be seen from Figure 5.
 np
V
P Po
11-a
Vo
Q Qo

Figure 3 Flow chart of the developed computer

algorithm.
Step 5: Set the counter as i i 1.
Step 6: Read the data from the DF matrix
(s DF(i,j), r DF(i,j1), R DF(i,j2), X DF(i,j3)).

V
Vo

nq

11-b

where np and nq stand for load exponents, Po and Qo

stand for the values of the active and reactive powers
at the nominal voltages. V and Vo stand for load bus
voltage and load nominal voltage, respectively.
Special values of the load exponents can cause
specific load types such as 0: constant power, 1:
constant current, 2: constant impedance. The exponents could also be form of fractions such as battery

DSPFAP

Figure 4 Main window of DSPFAP. Input and output data are given and seen at this

window for distribution or transmission systems.

Figure 5 Data input on the main window of DSPFAP.

EMINOGLU, GOZEL, AND HOCAOGLU

Figure 6 Data loading on the main window of

DSPFAP.
charge, industrial motors, Fluorescent Lamps [17].
Moreover, the program allows the user to incorporate
of DGs into load flow analysis as a single-phase
constant complex power generation device, like the
model given in Ref. [22]. Active and reactive power
generations data can be entered by the user in the load
data section using dedicated textbox. The system bus
number, base power and voltage, and convergence
tolerance value are given using their textbox and then
the load and branch data can be controlled by using
Control Data button. The Control Data button also

allows using only conventional load flow algorithms

by pacifying sweep algorithms when the transmission
systems are analyzed.
The Load Flow Algorithms Section of DSPFAP
consists of conventional and sweep-based algorithms
as can be seen from Figure 5. This section allow
the user to solve the load flow problem of the
radial distribution systems using different sweep based
algorithms which are developed by using Kirchhoffs
Voltage Law and quadratic equation for the voltage
calculation and to solve the load flow problem of
the transmission system using conventional Newton
Raphson and Gauss
Seidel algorithms which
are coded by using Matlab [24]. It is also possible to
apply these conventional algorithms to the radial and/or
weakly meshed distribution systems. All forward/
backward sweep algorithms has been computerized
using the topographical method, given in Network
Topology Based Algorithm for the Implementation of
Forward/Backward Sweep Based Algorithms to the
Radial Distribution Networks Section, that is, developed to compute the branch current and power as a result
of branch receiving end voltage in radial networks. The
last section of the package, called Load Flow Results,
provides the user to see the result of the load flow
solution, that is, bus voltage magnitudes and their phase
angles, load powers, line currents and transferred
powers which are displayed by clicking their related

Figure 7 Power flow results.

DSPFAP

Table 2

Voltage Magnitude of Radial Distribution Test Systems

System

Bus
No.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51

33-bus/[20]

Package
F/B sweep
[10]

Package
N.R.

PFlow
[25]

0.99433
0.98902
0.98057
0.96983
0.96654
0.96376
0.95533
0.94730
0.94448
0.94358
0.94337

0.99433
0.98902
0.98057
0.96983
0.96654
0.96376
0.95533
0.94730
0.94448
0.94357
0.94337

0.99434
0.98903
0.98057
0.96983
0.96654
0.96375
0.95532
0.94729
0.94448
0.94357
0.94336

69-bus/[20]

Package
F/B sweep
[10]

Package
N.R.

PFlow
[25]

0.99703
0.98290
0.97539
0.96796
0.94948
0.94596
0.93230
0.92596
0.92009
0.91922
0.91770
0.91153
0.90924
0.90781
0.90643
0.90438
0.90377
0.99650
0.99292
0.99222
0.99158
0.97931
0.97264
0.96931
0.94755
0.94499
0.93354
0.92533
0.92177
0.91760
0.91669
0.91641

0.99703
0.98290
0.97539
0.96796
0.94948
0.94596
0.93230
0.92596
0.92009
0.91922
0.91771
0.91153
0.90924
0.90781
0.90643
0.90438
0.90377
0.99650
0.99292
0.99222
0.99158
0.97931
0.97264
0.96931
0.94755
0.94499
0.93354
0.92532
0.92177
0.91760
0.91669
0.91641

0.99704
0.98291
0.97540
0.96797
0.94949
0.94598
0.93230
0.92598
0.92010
0.91923
0.91772
0.91153
0.90924
0.90780
0.90643
0.90437
0.90375
0.99650
0.99293
0.99223
0.99158
0.97933
0.97266
0.96931
0.94757
0.94500
0.93355
0.92533
0.92177
0.91760
0.91670
0.91642

Package
F/B sweep
[10]

Package
N.R.

0.99997
0.99994
0.99985
0.99903
0.99009
0.98080
0.97858
0.97745
0.97245
0.97134
0.96818
0.96526
0.96236
0.95949
0.95895
0.95807
0.95806
0.95760
0.95730
0.95682
0.95681
0.95674
0.95658
0.95641
0.95634
0.95633
0.99993
0.99986
0.99974
0.99972
0.99961
0.99935
0.99902
0.99895
0.99992
0.99975
0.99959
0.99955
0.99954
0.99885
0.99856
0.99852
0.99851
0.99841
0.99841
0.99980
0.99855
0.99471
0.99416
0.97855

0.99997
0.99994
0.99985
0.99903
0.99010
0.98081
0.97859
0.97746
0.97246
0.97136
0.96820
0.96527
0.96237
0.95950
0.95897
0.95809
0.95808
0.95761
0.95731
0.95683
0.95683
0.95675
0.95660
0.95643
0.95636
0.95634
0.99993
0.99986
0.99974
0.99972
0.99961
0.99935
0.99902
0.99895
0.99992
0.99975
0.99959
0.99955
0.99954
0.99885
0.99856
0.99852
0.99851
0.99842
0.99842
0.99980
0.99855
0.99471
0.99416
0.97856

PFlow
[25]

Not available due to singularity problem

12-bus

(Continued )

10

EMINOGLU, GOZEL, AND HOCAOGLU

Table 2 (Continued )
System
12-bus
Bus
No.

Package
F/B sweep
[10]

Package
N.R.

33-bus/[20]
PFlow
[25]

Package
F/B sweep
[10]

52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69

buttons as can be seen from the bus voltages of 12-bus

radial test system in Figure 7. In the package, the Close
button provides to close system data or load flow result
on the main window and the New button allows to load
or type in load and branch data of different power
system after the load flow analysis of any system.

TEST EXAMPLES
Several distribution and transmission networks are
used to test the reliability of the developed power flow
analysis package (DSPFAP). From the analyses, it is
concluded that all results obtained by using different
sweep and conventional load flow algorithms which
are used in the package are in close agreement. The
maximum difference between the bus voltages
computed by using different algorithms is lower than
0.00003 pu. for the value of 10
4 which is used for the
convergence tolerance. The node voltage magnitudes
of the radial distribution test systems obtained by
using the forward/backward sweep algorithm, developed in Ref. [10], and Newton
Raphson algorithm
are given in Table 2 with the result of a standard power
flow program, PFLOW [25], designed by using
Newtons Method and sparse matrix techniques. The
power flow result of the 12-bus distribution test
system can also be seen in Figure 7. From the results,

Package
N.R.

69-bus/[20]
PFlow
[25]

Package
F/B sweep
[10]

Package
N.R.

0.97854
0.97466
0.97141
0.96694
0.96257
0.94010
0.92904
0.92476
0.91974
0.91234
0.91205
0.91166
0.90976
0.90919
0.97129
0.97128
0.96785
0.96785

0.97855
0.97467
0.97143
0.96696
0.96259
0.94012
0.92906
0.92478
0.91976
0.91236
0.91207
0.91169
0.90979
0.90921
0.97130
0.97130
0.96787
0.96787

PFlow
[25]

it can be concluded that the load flow solution of

the test systems are quite accurate and the developed
power flow analysis package is robust and reliable for
the load flow problem in radial distribution systems.
Moreover, it is also concluded that the standard power
flow program (PFLOW) face to convergence problem
when it is applied to the large radial distribution
networks, that is, 69-bus radial test system.
DG modeling is evaluated by adding DGs at
different buses on radial distribution test systems and
the load flow result of 12-bus and 33-bus test systems
with DGs are given in Table 3. System power losses
with and without DGs are also given in Table 3. From
the table, it is clearly seen that the package concurs
with standard power flow program (PFLOW) when
DGs are incorporated into the load flow analysis. The
conventional Newton
Raphson and the sweep algorithm of the package are converged in almost the same
voltages when compared with the result of standard
power flow program (PFLOW). Absolute difference
between voltage magnitudes is lower than 0.00003 pu.
It is also seen that, as expected, incorporation of DGs
into distribution systems causes to decrease of the
system active and reactive power losses, and increase
of the system voltage level when compared with
the load flow result of the distribution test systems
given in Table 2. Results show that the package is
also robust and reliable for load flow analysis of

DSPFAP

Table 3

11

Voltage Magnitude and Total Losses of Radial Distribution Test Systems With DGs
System
12-bus system with DGs located at bus-6 and
bus-12, PDG %10 of total active power,
QDG %7 of total reactive power

Bus No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
Power losses with
DGs
Power losses
without DGs

33-bus system with DGs located at bus-5 and

bus-18, PDG %10 of total active power,
QDG %7 of total reactive power

Package F/B
sweep [18]

Package
N.R.

PFlow
[25]

Package F/B
sweep [18]

Package
N.R.

PFlow
[25]

1.00000
0.99542
0.99129
0.98493
0.97733
0.97512
0.97286
0.96650
0.96111
0.95962
0.95941
0.95975

1.00000
0.99542
0.99129
0.98493
0.97733
0.97512
0.97286
0.96650
0.96111
0.95962
0.95941
0.95975

1.00000
0.99542
0.99129
0.98493
0.97733
0.97512
0.97286
0.96650
0.96111
0.95962
0.95941
0.95975

1.00000
0.99761
0.98658
0.98137
0.97633
0.96098
0.95869
0.95096
0.94816
0.94583
0.94555
0.94514
0.94402
0.94390
0.94453
0.94561
0.94862
0.95043
0.99708
0.99350
0.99280
0.99216
0.98301
0.97637
0.97305
0.95908
0.95655
0.94525
0.93713
0.93362
0.92951
0.92861
0.92833

1.00000
0.99761
0.98659
0.98137
0.97634
0.96099
0.95870
0.95098
0.94817
0.94585
0.94556
0.94515
0.94403
0.94391
0.94455
0.94563
0.94864
0.95044
0.99708
0.99350
0.99280
0.99216
0.98301
0.97637
0.97306
0.95909
0.95656
0.94527
0.93715
0.93364
0.92954
0.92863
0.92835
Ploss 133.48 kW
Qloss 91.88 kWAr
Ploss 210.78 kW
Qloss 142.86 kWAr

1.00000
0.99761
0.98659
0.98137
0.97634
0.96099
0.95870
0.95098
0.94817
0.94585
0.94556
0.94515
0.94403
0.94391
0.94455
0.94563
0.94864
0.95044
0.99708
0.99350
0.99280
0.99216
0.98301
0.97637
0.97306
0.95909
0.95656
0.94527
0.93715
0.93364
0.92954
0.92863
0.92835

Ploss 11.9918 kW
Qloss 4.7019 kWAr
Ploss 20.6919 kW
Qloss 8.0578 kWAr

distribution systems with DGs. Similarly, the package

was also validated on different transmission systems
by using conventional Newton
Raphson and Gauss

Seidel algorithm and found to be reliable.

CONCLUSIONS
In this paper, a software package called DSPFAP
for distribution and transmission systems load flow

analysis in Power System Courses at the graduate

and undergraduate levels is presented. It is designed in
Matlaps GUI environment and tested on different
transmission and radial distribution systems. From the
test examples, it is observed that the load flow solution
of the systems is quite accurate. The package allows
students to rapidly gain experience and knowledge
in transmission and distribution system load flow
analysis and load flow algorithms especially forward/

12

EMINOGLU, GOZEL, AND HOCAOGLU

backward sweep-based algorithms which are developed for the load flow solution of radial distribution
systems. It also provides a platform to test the
capability of the conventional Newton
Raphson and
Gauss
Seidel algorithms for the load flow solution
of transmission and radial distribution systems. In
addition, it gives an ability to use of the exponents of
static loads and DG in the solution of power flow
problems. The package is available at: http://www.
gyte.edu.tr/Dosya/102/power/, and can freely be
downloaded.

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DSPFAP

13

BIOGRAPHIES
Ulas Eminoglu was born in Kars in Turkey,
on November 25, 1978. He received the BSc
degree in Electrical-Electronics Engineering
from Inonu University in 2000 and MSc
degree in Electrical-Electronics Engineering
from Nigde University in 2003. He joined
Gebze Institute of Technology in 2003 as
research assistant and has studied distribution
systems load flow analyses and power
electronics. He has completed his PhD in 2007 at Gebze Institute
of Technology and is currently working for Nigde University,
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering as an
Assistant Professor.
Tuba Gozel was born in Konya in Turkey.
She received the BSc degree in ElectricalElectronics Engineering from Selcuk University in 1994 and MSc degree in ElectricalElectronics Engineering from Gebze Institute
of Technology in 2002. She has worked as
research assistant and has continued to PhD
program at the same institute.

M. Hakan Hocaoglu was born in Hatay in

Turkey. He received the BSc and MSc
degrees from Marmara University, Turkey.
He obtained the PhD degree in 1999 from
Cardiff School of Engineering, UK. From
1988 to 1993, he worked at Gazinatep
University, Turkey as a Lecturer. Since
1999, he has been with the Electronics
Engineering Department of Gebze Institute
of Technology, Turkey as an Assistant Professor. He is a member
of IET.