Coordinated single-phase control scheme for voltage unbalance reduction in low voltage network

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Power Systems Engineering
• Control Systems

Background:

• Low voltage (LV) distribution systems often experience voltage unbalance due to uneven loads and network configurations.
• Single-phase power injections further exacerbate voltage unbalance issues in these systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a coordinated control scheme for single-phase sources to mitigate voltage unbalance in LV distribution systems.
• To ensure system-wide voltage balance and equitable power sharing among connected sources.

Main Methods:

• A multi-agent system (MAS) employing consensus-based coordination is utilized.
• Each agent estimates average global voltage and current magnitudes for individual phases.
• Reference power of single-phase sources is adjusted based on these estimations.

Main Results:

• The proposed scheme effectively reduces voltage unbalance in simulated LV networks.
• It ensures proper power sharing among multiple single-phase sources.
• Reactive power control via filter impedance minimizes local voltage unbalance.

Conclusions:

• The consensus-based MAS provides an effective solution for voltage unbalance in LV systems with single-phase sources.
• The control strategy ensures both voltage stability and efficient power distribution.
• This approach is crucial for reliable operation of modern, complex distribution networks.