Voltage calculations program for LV feeders with distributed generation

Abstract

Increasing penetration of distributed or dispersed generation (DG) is transforming low voltage feeders from passive to active, increasing the complexity of ensuring operating conditions comply with regulatory standards for voltage magnitude. The Herman-Beta (HB) transform meets the growing need for tools that accurately replicate passive and active feeder systems with new types of loads and DG. The robust analytic-probabilistic calculation already adopted as the standard for voltage drop calculations for passive feeders in South Africa and Kenya has been modified to calculate voltage variation in active feeders with DG. This paper extends the modified algorithms to a new C# platform, providing a stand-alone open-source program. The input interface enables efficient setting up and editing of all feeders, including multiple branches and up to 1000 nodes. The feeder performance output includes a voltage profile. Examples illustrate how the program simplifies planning and operational studies of practical distribution systems.