1
Application of DFACTS for the Improvement of
Penetration Capacity of Distributed Generation
Hui Ren1, Xiaojun Yu1, and David Watts2
 particular site-specific applications, as they have short
Abstract-- Distributed generation (DG) has brought
great attention from the power community, especially
when it is associated with renewable energy sources, as a
sustainable energy alternative. Some DG applications,
especially on high penetration levels, may have adverse
impact on the transmission/distribution losses, reliability
and power quality, especially when they are associated to
stochastic or partially controllable energy sources,
limiting the maximum allowable penetration of DG. The
increasing application and penetration of DG is affecting
power flow of the networks and Distributed FACTS
(DFACTS) devices, with their capability of power flow
control, could be a solution to this issue. In this paper,
Monte Carlo simulation is used to simulate the
commission and operation of DG in multiple locations.
Sensitivity methods are used to select the specific
installation location of DFACTS. How DFACTS help to
relax restrictions on the location and maximum
penetration capacity of DG units is analyzed. Simulation
result shows that with the application of DFACTS,
limitations of the distributed power’s position and
capacity can be effectively reduced. This is shown with
detailed wind modeling in an example.
Index Terms-- DG, DFACTS, Location, Capacity, Optimal
power flow, Reliability, Line losses
I. INTRODUCTION
T RADITIONAL power grids are based on large and
centralized power stations connected to high and extra-
high voltage networks, which in turn, supply power to
medium and then low voltage local distribution systems [1].
However, demands for more and higher quality power, along
with the increasing concern about problems related to our
environment, such global warming, are placing new
challenges to the power grid. Now the grid is more
constrained and it is expected to perform better and be
“greener”. That can be only achieved taking advantage of
new technological advances, such distributed generation
(DG). DG applications in the vicinity of the load show great
operational and power-quality advantages, in addition to
transmission losses reduction. They are very appropriate for
This work is supported in part by North China Electric Power
University (93301702), and Chilean Fondecyt project 2008-1080558.
Hui Ren and Xiaojun Yu are with the Department of electrical
engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding, 071003,
China. (email: hren@ncepubd.edu.cn).
David Watts is with the Department of Electrical Engineering,
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Vicuna Mackena 4860, Macul,
Santiago, Chile (phone: 56-2-6864281; fax: 56-2-5522563; email:
dwatts@ing.puc.cl).
period of construction and low investment [2].
When DG is fed into the power grid, it produces changes
on the power flow pattern. The natural and renewable power
generation coming from wind and sun (photovoltaic) also
falls into the DG classification, but they are more variable
and can be forecasted only to a limited extent, as they are
influenced by complex stochastic meteorological
phenomena. Those variations on generation, if not properly
accounted for, may bring different challenges, including
voltage quality problems, limiting the maximum penetration
capacity of DG units on the network and their location.
Choi [3] shows that inclusion of distributed generation in
a distribution system would reduce the system losses and
hence improves system voltage further when the network is
reconfigured. Kashem [4] and Civanlar [5] present different
techniques in determining optimal configuration of DG units
during normal operating condition. Senjyu [2] proposes an
optimal distribution control and coordination with
distributed generation and DFACTS (distribution network
Flexible AC Transmission System). In these researches, the
location and capacity of DG units are decided to be at an
optimal point and with an optimal capacity, but the
restrictions on location and capacity of DG affect their
potentials being fully taken advantage of. In this paper, a
scheme is proposed to relax the restriction on the location
and capacity of DG by the optimal configuration of
DFACTS.
II. MODELING AND SIMULATION METHODS
Some DG technologies, such as wind turbines and solar
power, are very sensitive to weather variations, therefore
their generation output is quite variable and with limited
predictability and only partially controllable. Models that
account for those features are needed to achieve a better
integration of renewable DG technologies; this work is on
that line.
A. Modeling of DG
Billinton [10] performs reliability analysis including
large-scale wind-farms to find the optimal reinforcement of
the network, while using non-sequential montecarlo
simulation and some basic wind modeling, Vallee [11]
provides some ideas for modeling wind power generation in
reliability research.
Given that in the distribution network, the output of DG
is generally much lower than 10MW [12] and the
characteristics of now typical DG technologies, it is
reasonable to use a multi-capacity probability model as
given in (1). In this model, stochastic connection and output
 2

variations are both considered to simulate the contribution of n

small DG units. This allows us to account for the fact that  PGk  PDi  U i  U j (Gij cos  ij  Bij sin  ij )  0 (4)
ki j 1
limitations on the energy input (e.g. wind availability) n
establish dynamic limits on the installed capacity we can  QGk  QDi  U i  U j (Gij sin  ij  Bij cos  ij )  0 (5)
ki j 1
take advantage of.
PG min  PGi  PG max (6)
 P(Gidg  M i1 )  S dgi  p i1
 QG min  QGi  QG max (7)
 P(Gi  M i )  S dgi  p i
dg 2 2

 (1) U i min  U i  U i max (8)

 P(Gi  M i )  S dgi  p i
dg 3 3

 P(Gidg  M i4 )  S dgi  p i4 Pij  Pij  Pij (9)

 where the first component of the objective function,
where M i, M i, M3i, M4i are four output levels of DG on
1 2

wi  a i PGi2  bi PGi  c i  ,
dg

node i, and M i1  M i2  M i3  M i4 . M i1  0.25G , is the generation cost of

i 1

M i2  0.5G , M i3  0.75G , M i1  G . G is taken to be 80KW traditional/conventional generators and DGs, and ai, bi and ci
in this paper. p1i, p2i, p3i, p4i are probabilities of the DG with are the coefficients of generators‟ cost functions. For DGs,
corresponding output. Sdgi is the connecting factor of DG to the coefficients in their cost functions (assumed to be
the system, establishing whether it is connected or not. quadratic) are taken to be a much smaller number, to account
1 p  ps for DGs priority of connection to the system. The second
S dgi  
term, wz C  U i  U j Gij cos  ij  Bij sin  ij  , represents the
(2) n n

0 p  ps
i 1 j 1

B. The sitting of DFACTS cost of line losses. Parameters w1 and w2 are weights of
This paper proposes that by adding some controllability generator operation costs and the costs of the line losses,
to the transmission capacity of some distribution lines and while C is the unit price/cost of line losses. Eq.(4) and (5)
providing reactive power support to some buses, the are active and reactive power balance at each node, while
restriction on the location and capacity of DG connected to Eq.(6) to (8) are the constraints on generation of active and
the distribution system could be relaxed. reactive power output, and voltage at all nodes. Eq.(9) is the
Monte Carlo simulation is used to try multiple locations active power flow constraint at distribution lines.
and decide the optimal sitting of DFACTS. The flow chart The KKT optimality condition is,
l r
describing this process is given in Fig.1. f ( x)    j hj ( x)    igi ( x)  0 (10)
j 1 i 1

start where  i g i ( x )  0 ,  i  0 , h(x ) are equality constraints and

g (x ) are inequality constraints.
Simulate random sitting and
stochastic operation of DG
By multiplying Eq.(10) by dx , Eq. (11) can be obtained.
l r
df ( x )    j dh j ( x )    i dg i ( x )  0 (11)
j 1 i 1
Optimal power flow
where  i in Eq (11) is the Lagrangian multiplier, meaning
that if the constrained boundary of g i (x) is increased by
Record nonzero Lagrange multipliers
of inequality constraints dg i (x) , the objective function will be increased by  i g i (x) .
Therefore,  i can be used as an economical and locational
N signal to decide the sitting of DFACTS. The more effective
Enough simulated runs?
Lagrangian multipliers from the inequality constraints
Y (bigger  i ) on objective function are the preferred candidate
Compute reliability, consider
DFACTS deciding Optimal location sites for DFACTS installations.
C. Reliability analysis of distribution system with DGs and
end DFACTs
Fig. 1. Flow chart for the optimal sitting of DFACTS. After installing DFACTS at some lines and buses, the
reliability of distribution network could be improved and at
In each simulation run, Stochastic DG‟s injection at each the same time DGs could provide maximum generation. Fig.
node is simulated and changed according to (1). System‟s 2 gives the flow chart for the reliability analysis of
active power and voltage profile is decided by an AC distribution system we perform with DGs and DFACTS,
optimal power flow algorithm. Its objective function and when the system is undergoing single or multiple failures.
constraints are given in (3)-(8).
 ng n n

Min f ( x)   w1  (ai PGi2  bi PGi  ci )  w2C  U i  U j (Gij cos  ij  Bij sin  ij )  (3)
 i 1 i 1 j 1 

s.t
 3

start III. CASE STUDY

IEEE 36-bus distribution system (bus and line data are
Decide components state randomly listed in appendix) is chosen as the test system in this paper
Node 14 and 29 are connected to make the distributed
any failure? N network operating in a more complex ring network structure.
Y Table 1 gives the optimal DFACTS‟ sitting decided by
Solve OPF, shed load when the method in Section II-B. In the Monte Carlo Simulation
necessary (with 1000 runs), the maximum Lagrangian multipliers  i
N are recorded. A group of nodes and lines, which have the
any load shed？
maximum  i for more than 50% of simulation runs, are
Y
record the load shed in the state chosen for the sitting of DFACTS.
TAB.1 OPTIMAL DFACTS‟ SITTING
reach simulatIon N
max time? Sitting of
DFACTS
DFACTS
Y
3 SVC or SVG
Compute reliability index 25 SVC or SVG
123-124 TCSC
2-123 TCSC
end
3-125 TCSC
126-127 TCSC
Fig. 2. Flow chart for the reliability analysis of the distribution system.
The line losses of the system before and after installing
The reliability computation we perform on the DFACTS on selected node and branches of the test system
distribution system is aimed to identify whether the power are shown in Fig.2. After installing DFACTS, line losses (as
supply to the end users can be ensured. Therefore, in the the percentage of the load demand by the system) are
OPF in Fig.2, the objective function is chosen to minimize slightly decreased, when DGs are connected to the system
load shed. This OPF is described by the following with stochastic sitting and variable capacities.
expressions (12)-(20). The capacity limitation of DGs connecting to the system
nd
is mainly because bigger injections could cause over voltage
min  C Pi (12)
i 1 (or lower voltage) under some operational conditions.
s.t. DFACTS, by their power flow and voltage control capability,
n could effectively solve this problem.
 PGk  ( PDi  CPi )  Ui  U j (Gij cos ij  Bij sin ij )  0 (13)
ki j 1
0.040
n
 QGk  (QDi  CQi )  Ui  U j (Gij sin ij  Bij cos ij )  0 (14) 0.039
0.038
ki j 1
0.037
PG min  PGi  PG max (15)
line losses(%)

0.036

QG min  QGi  QG max (16) 0.035

0.034
0  C Pi  PDi (17) 0.033
0.032
0  CQi  QDi (18) 0.031
0.030
 iU i min  U i   iU i max (19) 0.029

  ij Pij  Pij   ij Pij (20) 1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91

no. of runs
where C Pi is the active power load shed and C Qi is the reactive
power load shed at load node i. Eq.(17) and (18) are the load Fig. 2. Comparison of line losses for system with DGs: with DFACTS
(black); without DFACTS (grey).
shed constraints at node i. By modifying Eq.(8) to Eq.(19)
and Eq.(9) to Eq. (20), the power flow and voltage control Figure 3 shows the average voltage of each node for test
capability of DFACTS is integrated into the optimal power system with DGs. A comparison is made for the system with
flow calculation.  i and  ij are used to model DFACTS DFACTS and without DFACTS. As shown by the grey bars,
when there is no DFACTS, average voltages at each node
(assumed to be SVG or SVC and TCSC parallel to buses or
are reaching the upper limit and DGs cannot operate at their
serial connected into the transmission line ) idealized voltage
maximum output without overvoltage problems. After
or power flow control ability [13][14]. When DFACTS are
installing DFACTS at selected lines and nodes as listed in
installed in the distribution line ij or connected to any bus i,
Tab.1, even when DGs have a maximum output of 240KW,
we have  i  1.5 ,  ij  1.5 , otherwise,  i  1 and  ij  1 .
with the power flow and voltage control capability of
The EDNS (expected demand not supplied) and LOLP DFACTS, the average voltages are still within the limits.
(loss of load probability) are used as indexes to evaluate the
reliability of the distributed system.
 4

enhancing the system‟s reliability.

1.08
TAB.6 RELIABILITY INDEX
1.05
Without With DGs but
With DGs and
DGs and without
voltage (p.u.)

1.02 DFACTS
DFACTS DFACTS
0.99
EDNS 0.78% 0.13% 0.23%
LOLP 0.010 0.0085 0.0070
0.96
IV. CONCLUSION & FUTURE WORK
0.93
1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36
Distributed power technology has proven to be a
nodes
promising supplement to conventional power systems
technologies supplying everyday more demanding consumer
Fig. 3. Comparison of average voltage of system with DGs when DG‟s requirements. However, these technologies come with new
maximum capacity is increased to 240KW: with DFACTS (black); without challenges that need to be taken care of. In particular, DGs‟
DFACTS (grey).
capacity and location limitations sometime pose restrictions
Since wind power is very sensitive to wind speed on the potential usage of available renewable resources.
variation, and solar power, without considerable storage, to This paper proposes algorithms and simulation
sunshine changes, their power output are quite variable, and procedures to deal with the installation of the DFACTS in
strongly „fuel‟-limited. A higher DG outage rate is used to the distribution network, allowing better and higher
simulate this situation. The outage rates of some components penetration of DGs and the natural resources that sometimes
are listed in Tab. 2. feed them.
TAB.2 THE OUTAGE OF SYSTEM COMPONENT
We show that limitations on the position and penetration
capacity of those DGs can be effectively reduced using
High voltage Distribution DFACTs technologies. This early version of our algorithm is
side bus line
Outage rates 0.001 0.0001 already accounting for one important shortcoming of
traditional algorithms reconfiguring DGs (the assumption
Figure 4 gives a comparison of average voltages from that they are fully dispatchable). Here we account for the
different nodes of the system with 80KW DGs with and limited availability of DGs associated to renewable
without DFACTS. The only disturbances introduced are the resources and because of that the system does not fully count
changes on the sitting of DGs and their available capacity, as on them during system reconfiguration.
described by (1). As it shows in Fig.4, before installing This is ongoing research and future work includes more
DFACTS, the average voltages are reaching the lower limit, detailed modeling of each DG technology, and the nature of
and DFACTs effectively improve voltages at each node. their variability and availability, because different renewable
resources behave quite different. The algorithm for the
1.08 location can still be greatly refined by incorporating
1.05 economic variables to compare the different alternatives and
1.02 value their costs and benefits.
voltage (p.u.)

0.99
0.96
V. APPENDIX
0.93 IEEE-36 test system: distribution line data
0.9
0.87 Nodes Nodes resistance reactance
0.84 23 113 0.309 0.6743
113 114 0.0686 0.1498
1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36
114 27 0.0373 0.2997
nodes 27 26 0.1201 0.2622
26 136 0.2918 0.6368
Fig. 4. Comparison of the average voltages with DGs, the maximum 136 137 0.0515 0.1123
capacity of DG is 80KW: with DFACTS (black); without DFACTS (grey). 137 25 0.309 0.6743
25 138 0.3261 0.7117
Aiming to get a measure of system reliability, EDNS and 138 139 0.2575 0.5619
LOLP are computed for the system without DGs and 139 24 0.0515 0.1123
DFACTS, with DGs but without DFACTS, and with both 25 142 0.2231 0.478
142 143 0.1716 0.3746
DGs and DFACTS, by using the method described in section 143 28 0.1546 0.3372
II-C. 28 144 0.3948 0.8616
It can be seen from Table 6 that the reliability of the 144 145 0.0858 0.1873
145 146 0.3261 0.7117
distribution system has been improved because of operation
146 29 0.4635 1.0114
of DG. This is usually the case because DGs can supply 27 115 0.2746 0.5994
power to some important users if there are failures in the 115 116 0.206 0.4495
distribution system. After installing DFACTS, line overload 116 30 0.1201 0.2622
30 117 0.0858 0.1873
is alleviated and DGs could operate at their maximum power 117 118 0.1716 0.3746
output, ensuring the power supply to some users, therefore 118 119 0.1716 0.3746
31 120 0.2231 0.487
 5

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VII. BIOGRAPHIES
124 58.9 44.8
123 18.3 12.2 Hui Ren is an associated professor with the Department of Electrical
Engineering at North China Electric Power University since 1997, and also
125 121.3 79.4
a Ph.D. student in NCEPU. She was a visiting scholar at the University of
126 180.3 147.6
Wisconsin USA in 2006. Her areas of interest include dynamic
performance analysis of power system, cascading failures and risk analysis
and FACTS application in power system.
VI. REFERENCES Xiaojun Yu received his B. S. degree from North China Electric Power
[1] A. Berg, S. Krahl, T. Paulun, Cost-efficient Integration of Distributed University (NCEPU) in 2007. Now he is a master student in Electrical
Generation into Medium Voltage Networks by Optimized Network Engineering Department in North China Electric Power University. His
Planning, CIRED Seminar, Frankfurt, June, 2008 research area is power system operation, analysis and control.
[2] T. Senjyu, Y. Miyazato, A. Yona, N. Urasaki, and T. Funabashi,
David Watts received his Ph.D (2007) and M.S. (2003) degrees in
Optimal Distribution Voltage Control and Coordination with
electrical engineering and master degree in applied economics (2006) from
Distributed Generation, IEEE Transactions on power delivery, vol. 23,
the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, and a M.S. degree (1998) in
no. 2, pp 1236-1242, 2008.
electrical engineering from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. He is
[3] J.H. Choi, J.C.Kim, S.H.Moon, Integration of Dispersed Generations
an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at
to Automated Distribution Networks for Network Reconfiguration",
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile since 2000. His areas of interest
in IEEE Bologna PowerTech Conference, Jun 2003.
include pricing, operation and planning in power markets, and cascading
[4] M.A. Kashem, V. Ganapathy and G.B. Jasmon, Network
failures, risk analysis and FACTS applications in electric power systems.
Reconfiguration for Enhancement of Voltage Stability in Distribution
He also performs research on natural resource economics, applied game
Networks, in IEEE Gen. Trans. Distribution, vol. 147, No. 3, May
theory and market dynamics in power markets.
2000.