Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference- AUPEC2016

DG Integration Issues in Unbalanced Multi-Phase

Distribution Networks
N. K. Roy1, H. R. Pota2 and M. A. Mahmud3
1

Department of EEE, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna 9203, Bangladesh
2
School of EIT, The University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2610, Australia
3
School of Engineering, Deakin University, VIC 3220, Australia
Email: nkroy@eee.kuet.ac.bd, h.pota@adfa.edu.au, and apel.mahmud@deakin.edu.au

AbstractThis paper analyzes positive and negative impacts

of the integration of distributed generation (DG) in unbalanced
multi-phase distribution networks. Several aspects, for example,
the static voltage stability, power loss, short-circuit and voltage
unbalance studies are conducted on an IEEE 13 node unbalanced
distribution feeder. Simulation platform used here is DIgSILENT
PowerFactory. In this paper, synchronous generators and solar
photovoltaic (PV) units are introduced as distributed generators.
It is found that, although a DG unit has a positive impact on the
voltage stability and power loss of the system, it increases the
short-circuit current at all nodes of the feeder. In certain cases, it
can impact both positively and negatively on the voltage
imbalance phenomenon of a distribution network depending on
the single-/three-phase connection of PV units to it.
KeywordsDistributed generation; Power loss; Photovoltaic;
Voltage stability; Voltage unbalance.

I. INTRODUCTION
With the increasing penetration of distributed generation
(DG) and expansion of system, power system engineers are
facing several technical problems [1],[2]. Distribution
networks exhibit a large number of complexities due to their
different load characteristics, network structures and circuit
connections [3].
Several studies show that the integration of DG improves
the efficiency and voltage profile of a system [4]-[6].
However, it is also investigated that, in some cases, the
presence of DG can deteriorate voltage stability and power
losses [7]. As modern distribution systems are operated under
greatly stressed conditions with reduced stability margins, the
voltage stability analysis of a distribution system with DG is
essential for its proper planning and control.
High capacity DG resources may change the direction and
phase angle of the fault current and cause unwanted operations
of the protection relays. To calculate the phase shifts of
transformers in sequence networks and examine the behavior
of the fault currents of distribution systems, a short-circuit
analysis algorithm is developed in [8]. As it is both
uneconomical and technically challenging to replace the
original protection system in a distribution network, an
optimal DG placement method for maximizing the penetration
level of DG in it without changing its original relay protection
scheme is given in [9].

978-1-5090-1405-7/16/$31.00 2016 IEEE

The impact of DG on an existing networks short-circuit

level is investigated in [10] which concludes that it is
increased by the systems impedance parameters. As a shortcircuit analysis is different for different networks, it must be
conducted before any DG is connected to the relevant utility
network. A voltage profile and short-circuit analysis of
distribution systems with DG is carried out in [11] considering
a balanced network. However, as the nature and connection of
loads in a distribution network makes it unbalanced, analyzing
a multi-phase unbalanced distribution network is essential.
The effects of voltage imbalances on power distribution
systems may be serious [12], [13]. A severe one can cause an
additional power loss, relay malfunction, failure of the motor,
power electronics converter and transformer, and inaccurate
measurements by many meters. The level of DG penetration
can also negatively affect the voltage unbalance phenomenon.
The objective of this paper is to determine the effects of
DG on voltage stability, power loss, short-circuit currents and
the voltage unbalance of a multi-phase unbalanced distribution
system. This paper is arranged as follows. Section II describes
the test system components; Section III presents the impact of
DG on voltage stability, power loss, short-circuit current and
the voltage unbalance phenomenon of a distribution network;
and Section IV discusses the conclusions.
II. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The IEEE 13 node test feeder is a distribution network
feeder with single-, two- and unsymmetrical three-phase
elements, as shown in Fig. 1, with its components presented in
Table I.
In this paper, voltage-dependent load models, which
consist of a combination of constant current, constant power
and constant impedance loads, are used. The distributed load
is modeled by five load elements with equal distances between
them along the distribution line [15]. The test system is
modified by connecting a synchronous generator (SG) and two
PV units at buses 633 and 634, respectively. In-built models of
the generators available in DIgSILENT PowerFactory are used
to perform simulations, with the power factor of DG units
considered unity and their actual output powers given in Table
II.

7.27 MW (Fig. 2) to 9.57 MW. As DG installed near load

centers results in reduced voltage drops, the voltage stability
margin of the system is improved.
1.1
1.0

Voltage (pu)

0.9
611
632
633
634
645
646
652
671
675
680
684
692
RG60

0.8
0.7
0.6

Fig. 1. IEEE 13-node unbalanced distribution test feeder [14].

Name

Number

Node

13

Unbalanced loads

Overhead lines &

underground cables
Capacitor bank

10

Transformer (including
substation transformer)
Switch

Voltage regulator

1 (per-phase voltage
regulator)

TABLE II.
Connecting
node
633
634
634

0.4

COMPONENTS OF 13 NODE TEST SYSTEM

Output Power (kW)

SG
PV unit 1
PV unit 2

1113.75
58.00
20.30

1.1
1.0
0.9

Type

Fig. 2. P-V curve without DG (base case).

OUTPUT POWER OF DG UNITS

Power (MW)

Voltage (pu)

TABLE I.

0.5

0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4

611
632
633
634
645
646
652
671
675
680
684
692
RG60

10

Power (MW)

III. IMPACT OF DG ON DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

The impact of the integration of DG on various factors of a
distribution network is presented below.
A. Static Voltage Stability
Generally, to analyze the static voltage stability, powervoltage (P-V) curves, which determine the maximum loading
limit of a system, are used [16]. In this paper, this curve is
produced by performing a series of unbalanced power flow
solutions using the simulation software for different load
levels. For PV analysis with DG, the sources given in Table II
are considered together. The results obtained for all nodes
without and with DG are plotted in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3,
respectively, in which, it can be seen that, in both cases, node
611 has the lowest voltage magnitude. In Fig. 3, it can be
visualized that the integration of DG units improves the
voltage stability margin by increasing the loading margin from

Fig. 3. P-V curve with DG.

B. Power Loss
Reducing the power loss is an important objective for
power system engineers to improve the overall efficiency of a
system. The real power losses and reactive power
consumptions of the system for different connections of DG
are summarized in Table III. In these scenarios, both singleand three-phase connections of PV units are considered
keeping the same SG. It can be seen that, compared with the
base case, the integration of DG reduces the power loss of the
system. However, this depends on the connection (single/three-phase) of DG to the network. If three-phase PV units
are connected to a three- phase bus, the power loss of the
system is reduced. On the other hand, if the penetration of
single-phase PV units on a three-phase bus is increased, the
real power loss is increased.

As DG interconnection results in a reduced current flow

from the substation to distribution network, power losses are
reduced. Also, it is known that a voltage imbalance always
causes additional power loss in a system [10]. As the
connection of a single-phase DG unit to a three-phase node
causes a voltage unbalance, more real power is lost. After
integrating DG, a reduction in the reactive power consumption
(I2X) is observed due to the change in the power flow pattern.
TABLE III.
Type

POWER LOSS OF TEST SYSTEM

Real power (kW)

Without DG

146.87

Reactive power
(kVar)
595.79

SG

141.00

573.77

SG+1PV [3-phase]

139.15

566.07

SG+2PV [3-phase]

138.66

563.56

SG+1PV [1-phase-a]

140.10

565.03

SG+2PV [1-phase-a]

141.02

562.97

The increase in the fault current (IF) for solar PV

penetration is calculated as follows.

% I F ,increase =

I F ,with PV I F ,without PV
I F ,without PV

100

(1)

.
The percentage increases in the fault current at different
nodes with the connection of single and double PV units at
node 634 are shown in Fig. 4 in which it can be observed that
an increasing penetration of DG increases the fault current. As
the fault current increases with the interconnection of DG in
the existing system, it is necessary to augment a systems
circuit breakers capacity for its reliable operation.
D. Voltage Unbalance Factor
The voltage unbalance factor (VUF) can be defined as
[17],

C. Fault Current
A short-circuit fault results in a very high current and it
needs to be interrupted to ensure the safety of the systems
components. As a three-phase short-circuit fault has the most
severe impact, an analysis is conducted considering this fault
at various nodes of the test system. The peak fault currents are
calculated according to the IEC60909 standard using the
simulation program.

%VUF =

VN
100
VP

(2)

1 1 1 Va
V0
V = 1 1 a a 2 V
b
P 3
2
1 a a Vc
VN

(3)

where, VP, VN, and V0 are the positive, negative and zero
sequence voltages, repectively, and Va, Vb, and Vc the line to

10

%Fault current increase

Single PV unit
Double PV unit

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
632

633

634

671

675

680

692

line voltages, a = 1120 , a = 1240 .

According to the IEEE Recommended Practice for
Monitoring Electric Power Quality [18], the steady-state limit
for voltage imbalance is 2%.

11

RG60

Node

Fig. 4. Increase in three-phase short-circuit current at different nodes.

To investigate the impact of DG on the voltage unbalance

of the system, the VUF percentages are calculated for both
single- and three-phase connections of PV units to perform a
comparative analysis. Table IV shows these percentages for
different connections of DG units. It is found that the system
has greater voltage imbalances than the statutory limits in
some nodes. Although the connection of DG reduces the
voltage imbalance of the system compared with that of the
base case, as expected, a single-phase DG unit connected at
three-phase node increases it. Also, if the number of singlephase PV units is increased, the %VUF increases. However,
this depends on the selection of phases for the single-phase
DGs connection to the network which is illustrated in the next
section.

TABLE IV.

VUF (%) AT VARIOUS NODES

Node

2.5

VUF (%)

0.97008

SG
+1PV3-ph
0.96301

SG
+1PV1-ph
1.00135

SG
+2PV3-ph
0.96055

SG
+2PV1-ph
1.01588

0.88731
1.05521

0.88019
1.04622

0.90947
1.05468

0.87772
1.04312

0.92282
1.0923

2.84999

2.28255

2.27506

2.29863

2.27246

2.30685

2.84999

2.28255

2.27506

2.29863

2.27246

2.30685

2.97791
2.84999

2.41546
2.28255

2.40791
2.27506

2.42783
2.29863

2.40529
2.27246

2.4348
2.30685

Base case

SG

632

1.56408

633
634

1.57182
1.73288

671
692
675
680

Phase a
Phase b
Phase c

2.0

%VUF

2.0

%VUF

Without Q generation capability

With Q generation capability

2.5

1.5

Statutory Limit

1.5
1.0

1.0

0.5
0.0

0.5
632

633

634

671

675

680

632

692

Node

Fig. 5. VUFs for connection of PV in different phases

Variations in the VUF for the connection of a single-phase

PV unit (unit 1) in different phases of node 634 are calculated
and presented in Fig. 5 in which it can be seen that this unit
can reduce the VUF if it is connected in the proper phase
which is phase-c in this case. Therefore, when it is necessary
to connect a single-phase PV unit to a three-phase node, it is
essential to select the appropriate phase for PV connection.
E. Reduction of Voltage Unbalance
Reactive power/voltage of DG units can be controlled
using their local controllers. Figure 6 shows the different
modes of operation, that is, with and without reactive power
(Q) generation capability of the generators controller. Here,
the reference currents of the controllers are obtained based on
the desired active and reactive powers and measurements of
terminal voltage [19]. In this analysis, all the considered DG
units are connected to the network. The simulation results
indicate that DG units with their Q generation capabilities
reduce the VUF significantly compared with that of their
operation without Q generation capability. Therefore,
operating DG units with their Q generation capability has a
positive impact on the VUF of the system.

633

634

671

675

680

692

Node
Fig. 6. VUFs with and without Q generation capability of local controllers of
DG units

IV. CONCLUSION
In this paper, various issues concerning distribution networks
with DG are investigated. Based on the results obtained from
the analyses, the following conclusions are drawn.

The integration of DG reduces the power loss of the

system. However, the connection of a single-phase
rather than three-phase DG unit to a three-phase node
increases the real power loss.
The static voltage stability margin of the system can
be increased by increasing the penetration of DG.
The fault current of the system is increased at all
nodes due to the integration of DG. Also, as the PV
penetration level increases, the short-circuit current
of the system increases.
The integration of DG impacts the voltage imbalance
phenomenon of the system. If a three-phase DG is
connected at node 634 of the test feeder, it improves
the VUF compared with that of the base case.
However, a single-phase connection of DG can
increase or decrease the VUF of the system

depending on the selection of the phase in which it is

connected.
The effectiveness of DG units heavily relies on their
local control structure. A DG unit with its Q
generation capability reduces %VUF of the system.

Finally, it can be concluded that there is a significant

protection concern associated with the voltage imbalance
and rise in the fault current due to the integration of DG.
To investigate the impact of DG on a systems stability, a
detailed dynamic analysis should be performed which is
the future aim of this work.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work is partially supported by a University
Grants Commission funded aid from the Committee for
Advanced Studies & Research of KUET, Bangladesh.
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