Unbalanced Load Flow

ETAP Workshop Notes © 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc.

 Real Unbalanced Power
Systems
• Distribution System
– 3-phase, 2-phase, and single-phase network
components
– Unbalanced loads
• Transmission System
– Untransposed long transmission line
– Abnormal operation with one phase out of service
– Unbalanced loads (e.g., electrical railway traction
motors)

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 2
 Harmful Effects of System
Unbalance
• Overheating of generators

• Nuisance tripping of protective relays

• Increased real power losses

• Transformer failure

• Radio communication interference

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 3
 Unbalance Factors/Indexes
• System unbalance is considered by power
quality standards as a disturbance
• Voltage/Current unbalance factors
• Ratio of zero/negative sequence to positive
sequence
• Voltage/Current unbalance indexes
• Ratio of average values to maximum
deviation of average values

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 4
 Unbalanced Load Flow
Analysis
• Current Injection (CI) method
• The most robust algorithm ever developed
• Converge in less iterations than other
methods, especially for heavily loaded
systems
• Sparse matrix technique
• Unique modeling concepts

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 5
 Sequence Models of
3-Phase Machines

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 6
 Unique Concepts of
3-Phase Machines
• Swing Machine
– The specified magnitude and the phase angle of the
positive sequence voltage only at the swing machine
terminal
• PV Machine
– The specified total output of 3-phase real powers and
the magnitude of the positive sequence voltage
• PQ Machine
– The specified total outputs of 3-phase real and reactive
powers
© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 7
 Concepts of Load
Connections
• Single-Phase Loads
• Connected in the phase connection types of
AB, BC, CA, AN, BN or CN
• Three-Phase Loads
• Connected in Delta, Wye or Wye-G
• The constant individual powers in Wye are
not allowed due to multiple solutions

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 8
 Modeling Capabilities
• A mixture of 3-phase, 2-phase and single-
phase network components
• 3-phase machines with internal impedance
being considered
• Built-in calculator for overhead line
impedances
• Mutual coupling among overhead lines
• Transformers combined with load tap
changers (LTC) and phase shifters
© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 9
 Modeling Capabilities
• 2-winding and 3-winding transformers of
various winding connections
• Lumped loads consisting of constant power,
constant impedance and constant current
components
• Generator exciters with AVR or Mvar / PF
controllers
• Robust library of of commonly used
overhead transmission lines and cables
© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 10
 Study Case
• Same pretense as Balanced Load Flow with
more detailed modeling, calculations, and
results

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 11
 Output Results
• State-of-the-art graphic display of
results
• Graphical display of marginal and
critical under/over voltages

• Alert View displays

limit violations

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 12
 Reporting
• Customized output reports using Crystal Reports®
• Individual phase and sequence voltage, current,
and power

• Voltage drops, losses,

power flows, power
factor, voltage/current
unbalance factors, etc.

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 13
 Example 1

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis
 Example 2
IEEE Four Node Test Feeder
• Characteristics of the Feeder
1. Two line segments with a 3-phase
transformer bank connected between the two
segments
2. Data is specified for balanced and
unbalanced loading at the most remote node
3. Transformer is specified for different
connection testing

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 15
© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 16
 Example 3
IEEE 13 Node Test Feeder
• Characteristics of the Feeder
1. Short and relatively highly loaded for a 4.16
kV feeder
2. Overhead lines with variety of phasing
3. Shunt capacitor banks
4. In-line transformer
5. Unbalanced loading

© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 17
© 1996-2009 Operation Technology, Inc. – Workshop Notes: Unbalanced Load Flow Analysis Slide 18