Voltage Inference for and Coordination of Distributed Voltage Controls in Extremely-High DER-Penetration Distribution Networks

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel voltage inference method and a coordinated control scheme for managing voltage in large-scale distribution networks with high DER penetration, supported by an open-source simulation platform.

Contribution

It introduces a DER-explicit network model, a voltage inference technique, and a coordinated reactive and real power control strategy, along with an integrated open-source simulation platform.

Findings

The methods effectively address measurement insufficiency in grid-edge areas.

The control algorithms perform well in standard and synthetic systems.

The open-source platform enables comprehensive simulation of distributed control.

Abstract

The unique problems and phenomena in the distributed voltage control of large-scale power distribution systems with extremely-high DER-penetration are targeted in this paper. First, a DER-explicit distribution network model and voltage sensitivity are derived. Based on that, a voltage inference method is implemented to fill the gap of measurement insufficiency in the grid-edge areas. Then, autonomous Q control being implemented in each local area, a $\overline{Q}$-coordinated P control is designed to coordinate the reactive and real power controls. All the algorithms have been tested in standard and synthetic systems, and have expected results. Moreover, an open-source software platform, which integrates the modeling of communication networks, DER controls, and power networks, is developed to enable the distributed control and optimization algorithms in the grid simulation of the large-scale distribution systems.