Voltage Profile and Power Loss Improvement in
Distribution System Using MVDS Considering
Economic Enticements
1,2
Firas M. F. Flaih, 1Lin Xiangning, 1Asad Waqar and 1Rasool M. Imran
1
School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei,
China.
2
General Directorate of North Distribution Electricity, Ministry of Electricity, Iraq.
E-mail: firas_flaih@hust.edu.cn
Abstract— The power demand is exponentially growing
across the globe. The standard distribution system fed from a
high capacity power transformer and with multiple loads results
in lower regulation at the tail ends. Moreover, there is an
increase in the system power losses and a decrease in voltage
profile. It affects the performance of the existing distribution
system. In this paper, the authors have proposed a medium
voltage distribution system (MVDS) to reduce the power losses
and therefore improve the voltage profile for low voltage
distribution system (LVDS). New distribution transformers
(DTRs) of small capacity have been introduced in the
distribution system along with the replacement of the existing
high capacity DTRs. This method has been applied to a 20-node
low voltage radial distribution network, where the voltage profile
and losses were unsatisfactory. The simulation has been
performed using the MATLAB environment and the results
demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in terms of
the technical and economic feasibility. It is observed that the
average voltage profile is improved by 15.6%, tail end voltage is
enhanced by 23% and losses are reduced by 84% for existing the
LVDS, which achieved economic benefits after 36 months for a
distribution company (DSCO) and resulted in a prolonged
lifetime of the equipment.
Keywords— Low Voltage Distribution System (LVDS); Medium
Voltage Distribution System (MVDS); Power Losses; Distribution
Transformer (DTR); Average Voltage.
I. INTRODUCTION
The extraordinary growing load demand in Iraq needs more
generation in parallel. This is due to increased population and
especially conversion of agricultural land to residential land.
The import of the high power electrical appliances leads
towards blackout. Furthermore, the electricity theft puts more
burden on the distribution network that more worsens the
crises. The best solution to solve this problem is the expansion
in the generation capacity, but the current government’s policy
is negating this expansion. Another solution is to reduce the
power losses which will improve the voltage profile and cut
down the overhead costs. Therefore, in the current scenario, the
energy saving scheme is better than the energy generation. An
electric power system consists of three major segments,
generation, transmission, and distribution [1]. The electricity
distribution is the final stage in the delivery of electricity to end
users [2]. Distribution system provides a link between the high
voltage transmission system and low voltage consumers, thus,
978-1-4673-8644-9/16/$31.00 2016
c IEEE
power loss in a distributed system is high because of low
voltage and high current [7]. The distribution networks are
typically of two types, radial or interconnected. The radial
network leaves the station and passes through the network area
with no normal connection to any other supply, and this is
typical with long rural lines to isolated load areas [2]. With the
increased loading and exploitation of the existing power
structure, the probability of occurrence of voltage drop is
significantly increased in the distribution system [8]. In
distribution system and in rural areas, normally the services try
to minimize the cost by reduce wire’s cross section area and
number of poles also they install three phase DTR of large
capacities on the main road close to MV lines which lead to
use of long LV lines, that the main contributing factor of line
losses subsequent voltage drop. So far several studies [2]-[6]
introduced the concept of HVDS with low rated distribution
transformers to minimize technical and non-technical power
losses and improve voltage of radial distribution system. S.A.
Sampath Kumar et al. [2] simulated HVDS system of Kovur
SS by using E-TAP Software, K. Amaresh et al. [3] introduced
the HVDS with low rated distribution transformers. Md Sarwar
et al. [4] presented HVDS to reduce the technical power loss in
distribution systems also showed the economic viability of the
method. P Ravi Babu et al. [5] discussed a method for reducing
the non-technical losses. K. Spandana and Varsha Reddy [6]
presented restructuring of LVDS to HVDS in the agricultural
field. But unfortunately, all the above-mentioned research lacks
the economic impacts. In this paper, the authors have proposed
a MVDS with economic enticements to enhance the voltage
profile and minimize power losses by restructuring the existing
LV lines with MV lines. The implementation of MVDS with
low rated distribution transformers improves the quality of
power supply. Under this system of MV line, 11 KV line is
extended up to the load as much as possible and a low rated
distribution transformer is installed there. The consumer is
supplied by a LV line (preferably insulated overhead cable) of
short length.
II. LVDS & MVDS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
A. Low Voltage Distribution System
Distribution systems in Iraq can classify as 416 V for
LVDS, 11KV for MVDS and 33KV for HVDS. The existing
distribution system employs large three-phase 11 KV line
1122
distribution feeders with three-phase lines and three-phase IV. MATHEMATICAL FORMULATION
distribution transformers transforming 11 KV into 416 V. A The power flow is a useful tool in operation, planning, and
distribution system with low voltage employs four core cable optimization of a system. Distribution systems, generally,
and long low voltage lines and multiple loads fed from a large refers to the power system network connected to loads at lower
capacity DTR leads to increasing in system losses that operating voltages [10].
effecting on voltage profile and system performance. The
technical losses should be reasonable and it mainly caused by
the power dissipated in the conductors (LV lines) and A. Power Loss of Radial Distribution Network
equipment that used for transformation (DTRs). The AC power flows are calculated by the following set of
recursive equations derived from the single-line diagram in Fig
B. Medium Voltage Distribution System 2, the voltages at nodes i and i+1 are Vi and Vi+1 respectively.
The current Ij from node i to node i+1 is given by [3] [16]:
MVDS concept is to reconfigure the existing Low voltage
network as Medium Voltage Distribution System, where the Vi −Vi +1
Ij = (1)
11KV line extended up to load as much as possible [9]. The Zj
LV power supply is fed by providing an appropriate capacity
transformer and least length of LV line with a goal to provide Z j = R j + jX j ( 2)
better power quality, reduction of losses and improve consumer
service. In the present system, large capacity DTRs are located Where Zj, Rj and Xj are the impedance, resistance, and
at one point and the connections to each load are extended reactance of branch j respectively. Load current injected at
through LV lines. This long length of LV lines is causing a low node i is given [8] [15]:
voltage condition to the most of the consumers especially at the
tail end and high technical power losses. In the MVDS PLi − jQLi
concept, a length of 0.4 KV lines is converted into 11KV lines Ij = (3)
Vi
and thereby installing the appropriate capacity DTRs, the
supply is provided to end consumer at a standard voltage level.
In this network MT line is extended and LT line is reduced and Where PLi, QLi are the real and reactive power
LT line is very small in length when compared to LVDS respectively at the node i .
system. So the line losses are reduced and there is no chance From (1), (2) and (3), the voltage magnitude of Vi+1 at node i+1
for illegal connections or hooking is possible on MT lines and is given by [3]:
the end user will get the proper, constant voltage, hear the
voltage drop is very less when compared with the existing (1/ 2 ) (1/ 2 )
system. ­ ª§ | V i |2 · º ½
° « ¨ PLi +1 . R j + QLi +1 . X j − ¸ −» °
° «© 2 ¹ » °
III. ALGORITHM °« 2 °
Vi +1 = ® ( R j + X j )( PLi +1 + QLi +1 )
2 2 2 »
¾ (4)
The algorithm flow chart for voltage and power loss ¬ ¼
° °
improvement is shown in Fig.1. ° § | Vi |2 · °
° − ¨ PLi +1 . R j + QLi +1 . X j − 2 ¸ °
¯ © ¹ ¿

Where a node i has voltage Vi and load PLi +jQLi, the

branch that is connected between node i and i+1, is having a
resistance Rj and inductive reactance Xj.

Fig. 2. Simple distribution feeder [16].

Power loss in the branch j from node i to node i+1 is given by

[3] [8] [11-14] [16]:

§ PL 2 + jQL 2 ·
PLloss (i ,i +1) = R j . ¨ i i
¸ (5)
¨ V
2
¸
© i ¹
Fig. 1. Flow chart for voltage and power loss improvement

2016 IEEE 11th Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications (ICIEA) 1123
 By summing up the losses of all branches and adding Nn

transformer load and no-load loss, total real power loss before VAvr =
¦ Vr
i =1 i
(13)
and after the restructuring can be determined as: Nn
ΔVAv = VAvr − VAv0 (14)
Nb NTr
Where Nn the number of nodes, V0Av and VrAv are the average
TPL = ¦PLloss ( i ,i +1) + ¦( PTrNLloss ( z ) + PTrLloss ( z ) )
0
(6)
voltage of Nn nodes.
i =1 z =1
Nb
r
N Tr D. Payback Cost & Payback Period
TPL = ¦ Pr r
Lloss ( i ,i +1) + ¦ ( PTrNLloss ( z ) + PTrLloss ( z ) ) (7) Payback cost is the difference between total power losses in
i =1 z =1 kilowatt hour before and after restructuring multiplied by the
price of one unit as shown:
Where PLloss (i, i+1), PrLloss (i, i+1) are line loss before and after
PbCTperiod = ΔTPLKWh .CU (15)
restructuring. PTrNLloss (z), PTrLloss (z) are load and no-load loss of
DTRs. TPL0, TPLr are total power loss before and after Where CU the cost of one unit (KWh)
restructuring. Nb number of branches. NTr, NrTr are the number
of transformers before and after restructuring respectively. The payback period is the ratio between the differences in
By subtracting total real power loss before and after total cost after and before restructuring in equation (11) to
restructuring, the difference is given by: payback cost in the equation (15), it is important to know after
how many days, months or years the restructuring cover its
ΔTPL = TPL0 − TPLr (8) expenses.
ΔCT
PbPTperiod = (16)
PbCTperiod
B. Cost Analysis for RDN
Cost analysis for radial distribution network tries to find out
the economic viability of the proposed method. The V. CASE STUDY
implementation of method requires the investment on
transformers, low voltage and high voltage poles, the total cost A case study was made by given an existing distribution
calculation before and after the restructuring is given by: system of 416V considering a 20-node practical rural
distribution system in General Directorate of North
Distribution Electricity (GDNDE), Iraq, whose single line
NTr N LVp
diagram is shown in Fig 3. The case includes 8 consumer loads
CT0 = ¦CTr ( z ) + ¦CLVp ( z ) (9) 0.4 KV, the load data of each consumer are shown in Table III.
z =1 z =1 The low voltage distribution system which would run up to the
r N HVp
NTr customer is restructured by medium voltage line 11 KV as
C = ¦CTr ( z ) +
r
T ¦C HVp ( z ) (10) shown in Fig 4. All consumers shall be served through small
z =1 z =1 capacity transformers. For the purposed network, the existing
high rate transformer 250 KVA and LT line 0.4KV feeds the
Where C0T, CrT are the total cost of the system before and after consumers restructured and converted into MV line 11 KV on
restructuring. CLVp (z), CHVp (z) the cost of low voltage and high the MV poles. The consumers served through low rate
voltage pole. NLVp, NHVp are the number of low and high voltage transformers of 30 and 50KVA, all transformers of 8 loads are
poles. CTr (z) is the cost of the transformer. considered as 3-phase balanced load. The transformer load and
By subtracting total cost after and before restructuring, the no load losses detailed are shown in Table IV. The details of
difference is given: the LVDS and MVDS are shown in Table I and Table II.

ΔCT = CTr − CT0 (11)

C. Average Voltage Concept

It is difficult to deal with many node voltages to decide
whether there has been a voltage improvement in the
distribution system or not, because sometimes improvement
happened in some nodes and did not happen to the others, even
in some cases voltage gets worse. In this paper, the authors
have proposed the concept of Average Voltage to deal with all
nodes in the system. The following equations are average
voltage before and after restructuring: Fig. 3. Single line diagram of 20 node LVDS system
Nn
¦ Vi
VAv0 = i =1 (12)
Nn

1124 2016 IEEE 11th Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications (ICIEA)
 TABLE IV. TRANSFORMERS LOAD & NO LOAD LOSSES (11/0.4)
No. KVA Tr. no load losses Tr. load losses
rating KW KW
1 30 0.10 0.60
2 50 0.13 0.87
3 63 0.15 1.04
4 80 0.18 1.25
5 100 0.20 1.50
6 125 0.24 1.80
7 160 0.28 2.20
8 200 0.34 2.60
9 250 0.40 3.05

VI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The power flow analysis is performed to evaluate the
Fig. 4. Single line diagram of 20 node MVDS system
power losses in case of existing network and the proposed
MVDS under specified load conditions. The following results
TABLE I. DETAILS OF THE LVDS
were obtained with the LVDS and MVDS proposed method.
The result of the tail end voltage profile, the average voltage
No. Particulars Remarks of 20 nodes, total power losses in KW, cost in US Dollar,
1 Number of transformers (11/0.416) 1 monthly losses, monthly payback and payback period before
2 Capacity of transformer 250 KVA
3 Nature of load on transformer under loaded
and after restructuring are given in Table V.
4 Length of the LT lines 950 m TABLE V. RESULTS OF LVDS AND MDVS SYSTEMS
5 Number of connected loads 8
6 Total connected loads 237KVA Particulars LVDS MVDS
7 Distance between two poles 50 m Tail end voltage at node 12 319.94 415.89
8 Number of LV poles 20 Tail end voltage at node 19 317.16 415.88
9 Number of LV branches 19 VAv 351.03 415.92
10 Resistance of each branch 0.028Ÿ TPL in KWh 51.39 7.95
11 Initial cost 13108 USD CT in USD 13108 22333
12 Cost of KWh 0.025 USD ǻVAv - 64.89
13 The cost of LV pole. 416 USD ǻTPL in KWh - 43.44
14 Cost 250 KVA Tr. 3333 USD ǻ CT in USD - 9225
Monthly payback losses in KWh - 10162
Monthly payback cost in USD - 254
TABLE II. DETAILS OF MVDS Payback period in months - 36.29

No. Particulars Remarks

1 No. of transformers (11/0.416) 8 The initial and final total cost was calculated (before and
2 Capacity of transformers (5*50+3*30) KVA after restructuring) as shown in Table V. Either in the MVDS
3 Nature of load on transformer under loaded or in the LVDS, the consumer operates his equipment at LT
4 Length of the MT lines 950 m voltage 416V. From Table V, it is observed that an
5 Number of connected loads 8 enhancement of LV average voltage up to a value of 15.6% or
6 Total connected loads 237KVA 64V, tail end voltage was improved by 23% or 98V and power
7 Distance between two poles 50 m losses are reduced by 84%. The initial cost for MVDS network
8 Number of MV poles 20 1.7 times higher than the existing LVDS system, but by
9 Number of MV branches 19 reducing power losses, we can get the difference of
10 The cost of 50KVA Tr. 833 USD expenditure for restructuring LVDS with MVDS within 36
11 The cost of 30KVA Tr. 500 USD months.
12 The cost of MV pole with acc. 833 USD

TABLE III. LOAD DATA

Load No. Node P in KW Q in KVAR Load in
No. KVA
Load 1 20 29.75 18.43 35
Load 2 4 25.50 15.80 30
Load 3 6 22.95 14.22 27
Load 4 7 21.25 13.17 25
Load 5 12 29.75 18.43 35
Load 6 14 17.00 10.53 20
Load 7 17 25.50 15.80 30
Load 8 19 29.75 18.43 35
Fig. 5. Voltage magnitude comparison of 20-node system between LVDS
and MVDS and Average Voltage Difference

2016 IEEE 11th Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications (ICIEA) 1125
 The above diagram shows the graph between voltage
magnitude between LVDS and MVDS. In that LVDS voltage
at the tail end voltage at node 12 and node 19 are 320V and
317V respectively, but in MVDS tail end voltages is 415V. So
there is much more difference in the system when compared to
LVDS to MVDS. Tail end voltages will increase up to 23%
around.
Fig. 6. Economic diagram for implementing MVDS
The economic enticement to reduce power losses in LVDS
by implementing MVDS is shown in Fig 6. After about 36
months the distribution company (DSCO) will get the benefit
from the proposed method.
VII. CONCLUSION
The MVDS concept for minimizing power loss and
enhancing system voltage has been discussed in this work. The
MVDS system is implemented for 20-node and 8 loads on the
existing LVDS which reduces the line losses. Technical losses
in the distribution network are reduced by replacing 416 V
lines by 11 KV lines. The initial expenses of MVDS were high,
but overall expenditure will be refunded within the payback
period, for the existing distribution system the PbP was 36
months only, after this period the DSCO get the benefit from
implementing MVDS. Based on the case study results, the
proposed method, enhances the voltage profile by 15.6%, tail
end voltage by 23%, power losses by 84% and consequently
enhances the system performance. Since losses are reduced
considerably and there is a huge difference in losses between
LVDS and MVDS. The power can be supplied to additional
loads without any further expenditure in generation sector.
Moreover, applying this method can reduce fuel cost, which
also contributes to reducing CO2 emissions. This method can
also be applied to other distribution systems to get the same
benefits.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors gratefully acknowledge the staff of the School
of Electrical & Electronics Engineering / Huazhong University
of Science & Technology and all people who assisted in this
work. The authors also wish to thank General Directorate of
North Distribution Electricity /Ministry of Electricity / Iraq for
their support.
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