CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING, VOL. 41, NO.

2, SPRING 2018 105

Effectiveness of Dynamic Voltage Restorer for

Unbalance Voltage Mitigation and Voltage
Profile Improvement in Secondary
Distribution System
Efficacité du restaurateur de tension dynamique
pour l’atténuation du déséquilibre de tension et du
profil de tension dans le système de distribution
secondaire
Patrick Taiwo Ogunboyo , Member, IEEE, Remy Tiako, and Innocent E. Davidson, Senior Member, IEEE
Abstract— To make a secondary distribution system operate at its optimal performance, the use of an advanced
power custom power device known as dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) has been proposed and researched.
Optimum performance means acceptable voltage profile, increased reliability of supply, no overloading of cables
and distribution transformers, the absence of unbalances in both voltage and current phases, and acceptable
loss. This study involves the effective mitigation of power quality disturbance in secondary distribution networks
as a result of voltage variation and voltage imbalance using a very effective power electronics-based custom
power controller known as DVR. A DVR is connected between the secondary distribution transformer and
the customer load along a feeder with a radial arrangement. An innovative new design-model of the DVR
has been proposed and developed using dq0 controller and the proportional integral controller method. Model
simulations were carried out using MATLAB/Simulink in Sim Power System tool box. The simulation results
attest to the optimal performance of the proposed DVR configuration in mitigating the power quality problems,
correcting voltage unbalance, and enhancing the voltage profile at the customer side to a statutory limit
of ±5.
Résumé— Pour que le système de distribution secondaire fonctionne de manière optimale, l’utilisation d’un
dispositif de puissance avancé, appelé restaurateur dynamique de tension (RDT), a été proposée et étudiée. Une
performance optimale signifie un profil de tension acceptable, une fiabilité accrue de l’alimentation, une absence
de surcharge des câbles et des transformateurs de distribution, l’absence de déséquilibre dans les phases de
tension et de courant et une perte acceptable. Cette étude implique l’atténuation efficace de la perturbation de
la qualité de l’alimentation dans les réseaux de distribution secondaires en raison de la variation de tension et
du déséquilibre de tension en utilisant un contrôleur de puissance personnalisé basé sur une électronique de
puissance très efficace appelé RDT. Un RDT est connecté entre le transformateur de distribution secondaire et
la charge du client le long d’un dispositif d’alimentation avec une disposition radiale. Un nouveau modèle de
conception innovant du RDT a été proposé et développé en utilisant le contrôleur dq0 et la méthode du régulateur
proportionnel intégral. Des simulations des modèles ont été effectuées à l’aide de MATLAB / Simulink avec
l’outil Sim Power System. Les résultats de simulation attestent des performances optimales de la configuration
du RDT proposée pour atténuer les problèmes de qualité de l’alimentation, corriger le déséquilibre de la tension
et améliorer le profil de tension côté client à une limite réglementaire de ±5.
Index Terms— Distribution system, dynamic voltage restorer (DVR), power quality, voltage unbalance, voltage
variation.

Manuscript received October 4, 2017; revised February 20, 2018; accepted I. I NTRODUCTION
July 17, 2018. Date of current version September 5, 2018. (Corresponding
author: Patrick Taiwo Ogunboyo.)
P. T. Ogunboyo and R. Tiako are with the Discipline of Electrical, Electronic
and Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041,
T HE electric power system serves to generate, trans-
port, and distribute electrical energy to consumers in
an efficient, economical, and reliable manner. In designing
South Africa (e-mail: ogunboyopt@gmail.com; tiako@ukzn.ac.za). and operating electric power networks or implementing major
I. E. Davidson is with the Department of Electrical Engineering,
Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa (e-mail: expansions to existing networks, a number of key issues
innocentd@dut.ac.za). regarding the technical performance of the network at both the
Associate Editor managing this paper’s review: Om Malik. transmission and distribution (T and D) levels must be ascer-
Color versions of one or more of the figures in this paper are available
online at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org. tained. These include voltage regulation, voltage fluctuations,
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/CJECE.2018.2858841 rapid voltage rise, electrical loses, distribution plant loading
0840-8688 © 2018 IEEE. Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission.
See http://www.ieee.org/publications_standards/publications/rights/index.html for more information.
106 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING, VOL. 41, NO. 2, SPRING 2018
and utilization, fault level, generation stability, harmonics,
phase balancing, system security, and supply availability.
In many countries, the electric power system is facing
major changes such as challenges in operating aging electricity
infrastructure while decommissioning outdated power plants
for the electric utility and the customer, the delivery voltage
at the end-user terminal is of utmost importance and a measure
of the quality of power supply. Maintaining the voltage and
frequency within the statutory limits (±5% voltage and ±1%
frequency) at the end user’s terminal is a major challenge for
distribution companies.
The most frequently seen power quality problem in the low-
voltage electric power distribution networks today is voltage
unbalance. Voltage unbalance is the ratio of the maximum
voltage deviation of phase voltages from the average pace-
voltage magnitude of the average phase-voltage magnitude [1].
Similarly, in [2], voltage unbalance is defined as the ratio
of the difference between the highest and the lowest phase-
voltage magnitude of the average phase-voltage magnitude,
also related to electric power quality.
The quality of electrical power, which is given to the end
users, can be assessed or estimated in terms of constant voltage
magnitude, that is, balanced phases, zero voltage variation,
constant power factor, constant frequency, zero voltage swells
or sags, and finally a complete absence of power interruptions
and ability to withstand faults and with equanimity fast. The
uses of a custom power-based electronic controller in the
electrical power distribution network to provide high-quality
electrical power to the end users have become high standing
importance of the electricity industry in the deregulated power
system world.
Different kinds of techniques have been utilized over the
years in industry to compensate voltage unbalance along elec-
tric power distribution networks such as booster transformers,
series capacitors, shunt reactors, and most recently Volt-VAR
reactive power compensation.
Various mitigation techniques have been suggested in the
past by many researchers to correct voltage variation and
improve the voltage profile in the distribution system; this
includes distribution line reconfiguration, phase rearrange-
ment, and phase balancing between specific medium voltage
feeder and the power distribution energy converter banks
with a radial arrangement system [3]–[9]. The earlier stated
techniques mostly focus on medium voltage side distribution
systems. Nevertheless, the proposed solutions did not provide a
specific outcome for the effective quality of voltage variation
and voltage profile enhancement expected by the customers
and the electricity company, notwithstanding, they offer less
effective solutions. Hence, it is not enough to obtain the
statutory voltage limits of ±5% of the nominal voltage value
on the end-user side. Therefore, there is an urgent need to sup-
port secondary distribution systems with modern techniques
of ensuring a better, effective, cheap, and dynamically fast
response for voltage variation and voltage fluctuation mitiga-
tion and voltage profile improvement along feeder length in
the radial system secondary distribution network.
In recent days, the use of manual and regulated feeder
switching controls are coupled with the many reconfigu-
ration problem solving procedures or algorithms [3], [9].
Since this is achieved in discrete ways, it cannot purpose-
fully balance the system load; hence, voltage variation and
voltage profile correction are not properly achieved, hence
insufficient.
Various devices can be employed to perform volt-
age stabilization such as static synchronous compensators
(DSTATCOM), distribution series capacitors and power factor
corrector, static Var compensator, uninterruptible power sup-
plies, and solid-state transfer switches; however, difficulty in
maintenance, high cost of facilities, and large size compared
with the dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) have been noted in
the market. Hence, the simple, effective, and cheapest device
for voltage profile correction in distribution network compared
to other custom power devices is the DVR.
Many researchers in the field of power quality show
that DVR has been effectively used to find a solution to
the power quality problems in the distribution network.
Ogunboyo et al. [10] and Omar and Rahim [11] proposed the
flexible controllers with the use of newly available power elec-
tronics components, which are developed for custom power
applications. A two-pulse voltage source converter based on
the pulsewidth modulation (PWM) control scheme has been
carried out to control electronic values in DVR and DSTAT-
COM [12]. The DVR has been effectively used to mitigate
harmonic as presented in [13]. To reduce downstream fault
current [14], the problems of the voltage dips and the swell
were addressed by Farhard et al. [15].
In recent research studies, the use of DVR for mitigation
purposes has been reported by Sundarabalan and Selvi [16].
DVR was employed to compensate both balanced and unbal-
anced voltage sag/swell in the load side for the DG sys-
tem under different types of fault conditions using the real
coded generic algorithm optimized fuzzy logic controller.
References [17] and [18] used DVR using power system
computer aided design/electro magnetic transient design and
control under different kinds of fault conditions to miti-
gate voltage harmonic, swell, and voltage sag. The results
of the abovementioned methods compensate voltage sag,
swell, and harmonics in the sensitive load voltage, and
it is nearly kept to the given reference value under all
disturbances.
This study carries out a detailed investigation on the perfor-
mance of DVR to mitigate voltage unbalance and voltage vari-
ation in a typical radial structure in the secondary distribution
system for different distribution feeder lengths for balanced
and unbalanced distribution lines using MATLAB/Simulink in
Sim power system tool box.
II. DYNAMIC VOLTAGE R ESTORER
A DVR is a solid-state custom power device, which is
connected in a series to the load voltage for the purpose
of injecting a controlled voltage to the electric distribution
network. The most vital role of a DVR is to mitigate voltage
unbalance and voltage variation, except it can likewise carry
out tasks such as compensate voltage swells and sags, fault
current limitation, harmonics elimination, and reduction of
voltage transients [19]. DVR is a voltage source converter
that injects a dynamically controlled voltage in series to
OGUNBOYO et al.: EFFECTIVENESS OF DVR FOR UNBALANCE VOLTAGE MITIGATION
Fig. 1. Schematic of DVR.
Fig. 2. DVR equivalent circuit diagram.
supply voltage via three single phase boosting transformer for
improving the load voltage.
The schematic of DVR is shown in Fig. 1. It consists of
three important parts: measuring unit, control unit, and power
unit.
A. Series Voltage Injection Transformer
The utmost function of series voltage injection transformer
is employed in secondary distribution system that is to step
up the supply voltage from the output of the ac line filter to
the desired nominal voltage level required by the customer
load and for the prompt isolation of the DVR from the power
network in the event of fault to safeguard the DVR system
from damage. For DVR to properly compensate for the miss-
ing voltage, the secondary side of the series voltage injection
transformer must be equal to the main source voltage and must
be properly matched to the power system network [11].
B. AC Filter
Essentially, filters are employed to decrease or get rid of the
switching harmonics produced by the series voltage inverter
system. This is done to keep a standard permissible harmonic
distortion level of the sinusoidal voltage waveform that is
supplied to a series voltage injection transformer.
C. DC Charging Unit
This charges the energy source after voltage fluctuation and
the variation compensation event, and it also maintains dc link
voltage at the nominal dc link voltage and provides a discharge
circuit and grounding equipment for maintenance purposes.
D. Pass Switch
A pass switch is employed primarily in a secondary distri-
bution system to safeguard the entire DVR system from fault
currents caused by faults in the secondary distribution system.
107
E. Voltage Source Inverter
VSI comprises six pulses with their ac outputs linked to the
secondary windings of the series voltage injection transformer
through ac line filter. The VSI circuit generates the injected
voltages to compensate for the voltage disturbances. The rating
of the VSI is comparatively low in voltage and high in current;
this is due to the presence of the step up series voltage injection
transformer employed in the design of DVR systems.
F. Energy Storage
This supply the necessary energy to the VSI via a dc link for
the generation of needed voltages during disturbances in the
network, and most of the DVR application, the energy source
can be an electrolytic capacitor bank.
G. Control Unit
A controller is employed for effective control of DVR
systems. DVR detects the presence of voltage disturbances
and compensates the voltage problem. The PWM provides
an effective method of controlling an inverter to generate ac
power from dc power to produce a three-phase 50-Hz sine
wave voltage on the load side. The control of compensating
device is carried out in three steps: detection of voltage dis-
turbance occasion in the system, compared with the reference
value, and the production of gate pulses to the VSI to produce
the DVR output voltages, which will mitigate poor voltage
profile and other power quality problems in the power system.
Mathematically, DVR can be represented by the following
equation:
VDVR = VLoad + Z d ILoad − Vd (1)
where VDVR is the injected voltage to the network, VLoad is
the nominal load voltage, Z d is the load impedance, and Vd
is the system voltage during disturbances.
The load current ILoad is given by the following equation:
[PLoad + j Q Load]
ILoad = . (2)
V
The active power of the DVR is given as follows:
PDVR = ILoad (VLoad cos θLoad − VS cos θ S ). (3)
The DVR apparent power is given as follows:
SDVR = ILoad VDVR (4)
 2 2
0.5
SDVR = ILOAD VLoad + VS − 2VLoad VS cos (θLoad − θ S ) .
(5)
The DVR complex power injection is put forward as shown
in the following equation:
SDVR = VDVR ILoad ∗ . (6)
The essential components of DVR are used for the following
purposes: injection transformer is series connected to the
electric distribution line. It helps to inject the appropriate
voltage to the source voltage when voltage unbalance and
voltage variation occur; voltage source inverter is used to
produce a sinusoidal voltage with the needed magnitude,
108 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING, VOL. 41, NO. 2, SPRING 2018

output sinusoidal voltage, that is the reference signal needed

from the inverter, so as to modulate the carrier signal, in order
to make the carrier signal take on its shape. A phase-locked
loop (PLL) is employed to maintain phases and frequencies
matched of output signals with the reference; this is made
possible through the use of phase shift detector and frequency
oscillator made of the feedback system in the PLL controller.
The DVR control system is shown in Fig. 3.
The following equation shows the dq0 Park’s transformation
controller employed in control of DVR:
⎡

⎤
⎡ ⎤ 2π 2π
Va cos ωt cos ωt − cos ωt +
⎢ 3  3 ⎥
⎢ Vb ⎥ 2 ⎢

⎥
Fig. 3. Proposed Simulink model of DVR controller. ⎢ ⎢
⎥ = ⎢ sin ωt sin ωt − 2π 2π ⎥
⎣ ⎦ 3⎢ sin ωt + ⎥
3 3 ⎥
⎣ ⎦
phase, and frequency; energy storage unit supplies the needed Vc 1 1 1
real power during disturbance with the help of a simple 2 2 ⎡ 2
⎤
capacitor or a battery; LC filter is used to reduce the unwanted Vd
harmonic components generated by the inverter to allowable × ⎣ V q ⎦. (7)
limit; and a bypass switch is used to separate the DVR from V0
the network in the event of excessive currents [11], [19].
The fundamental operation of DVR is to supply the needed The following equation shows the inverse dq0 Park’s trans-
voltage to the supply voltage for the purpose of mitigat- formation controller employed in converting back to three-
ing unbalanced voltage and voltage fluctuation on the load phase voltage to its original three-phase sinusoidal output
side [12], [19]. The control circuit compares the reference signals:
voltage and load voltage, and the significant change between ⎡ ⎤ ⎡ ⎤
Vd cos ωt  sin(ωt)  1 ⎡V ⎤
the signals is taken as a DVR mitigating voltage. The com- ⎢ ⎥

pensating voltage is a digital input for a PWM generator to ⎢ ⎥ 2⎢ ⎢cos ωt −

2π
ωt −
2π ⎥
⎥⎢
a
⎥
⎢ ⎥ sin 1
systematically control the voltage source inverter. The voltage ⎢Vq ⎥= ⎢ ⎢
3 
3  ⎥⎢
⎥⎣
⎥.
⎦
⎢ ⎥ 3⎣ ⎦ Vb
source inverter changes the dc stored energy to the alternating ⎣ ⎦ 2π 2π
cos ωt + sin ωt + 1 Vc
voltage, which is to be injected to the source voltage through a V0 3 3
boosting transformer. The performance of DVR compensating (8)
result relies on the quantity of stored energy in the dc storage
compartment. Mathematically, PI controller is given as follows:

III. DVR C ONTROL S TRATEGY U = K P e + K I edτ (9)
In this study, the following control scheme is proposed 
1
for improvement of DVR operation. The control system of U = KPe + edτ (10)
τ
a DVR performs a significant role, as shown in Fig. 3. It has
N  
1
a requirement of fast a response when voltage disturbances U = KP e + edτ (11)
occur. In the process of voltage disturbances, the DVR reacts τN
as fast as possible and injects an appropriate ac voltage to the where U is the PI controller, K P is the proportional gain
network. The DVR detects the voltage disturbances by sensing factor, K I is the integration gain factor, e is the error, T1 is
the load voltage and transferred it through abc/dq0 Park’s the integration time and TN is the reset time.
controller, which converts the three phase load voltage sinu- The error is calculated using the following equation:
soidal wave shape to direct current signals. This is done to
make the calculations, processes, and analysis to be carried out e(t) = RV − L V (12)
in a simplified way. The proportional integral (PI) controller
helps to continuously estimate an error value as the difference where RV is the reference voltage, L V is the load voltage,
between a reference voltages desired point and a load voltage and e(t) is the error.
measured on the system, after which inverse transformation The PI is modeled without difficulty in MATLAB/Simulink
performed to converted to three-phase voltage (abc) to its real software with Laplace operators is given by the following
state three-phase sinusoidal ac outputs using dq0/abc inverse equation:
Park’s controller before injected to PWM generator. PWM
(1 + τ s)
generator received the modulated angle δ from the secondary C=G (13)
side of the proportional integral controller. The PWM provides τs
an efficient way of controlling an inverter to produce ac power where G = K P is the proportional gain factor and G/T = K I
from the dc power. The PWM helps to obtain the standard is the integral gain factor.
OGUNBOYO et al.: EFFECTIVENESS OF DVR FOR UNBALANCE VOLTAGE MITIGATION
The modulated three-phase voltages are estimated using the
following equation:
Va = sin(ωt + δ) (14)
2π
Vb = sin ωt + δ + (15)
3
4π
Vc = sin ωt + δ + . (16)
3
The interrelationship between frequency and phase is shown
by the following equation:
dφ
ω (t) = . (17)
dt
The control circuit of the DVR can be summarized from
the control algorithm of DVR with PI controller.
1) The three-phase load voltage (abc) is converted to
dq0 frame components and is compared with the ref-
erence voltage in dq0 frame components.
2) The PI controlling system provides accurate and fast
responsive solution and correction to a control function.
The error signal generated due to the difference between
the measured load voltage profile and the reference
voltage values and the controller will be active to process
the needed voltage required for the mitigation of the
voltage disturbance detected. The error signal generated
will derive the PI controller, which regulates the system
operation depending on the actuating error signal.
3) The output from the PI controller, which is in dq0 frame,
is converted to three-phase abcvoltage by the inverse
Park’s controller; hence, it is directed to the two-level
discrete PWM generator.
4) The two level PWM generator produces the needed
pulses to fire the PWM inverter with the desire triggering
sequence. The PWM generator method is utilized on a
voltage source inverter to modulate the carrier signal
to produce a three-phase 50-Hz sine wave output ac
voltage, which is the same as the reference voltage.
5) The storage device produces a 400-V dc power to the
voltage source inverter to be converted to 220-V ac
power from the inverter.
6) The line filter is utilized at the output of the inverter for
the purpose of smoothing and for complete removal of
switching harmonics produced by the VSI circuit.
7) The PLL circuit is employed in DVR to keep the phase
and frequencies of output signals in track with the
reference signal. The phase A is 0°, while the angle of
phase B and C are shifted by 120° and 240° as shown
in (14)–(17), respectively.
The 50-Hz ac output sinusoidal voltage from the inverter is
injected to the step up series voltage boosting transformer
matched in series with the three-phase electrical secondary
distribution network.
The MATLAB/Simulink model of the secondary distribution
network for control circuit is shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 shows
the proposed block model of DVR.
109
Fig. 4. Proposed block model of DVR.
IV. R ESULTS AND D ISCUSSION
The effectiveness of the modeled DVR, as described
in Fig. 4, is demonstrated using MATLAB/Simulink Sim
Power System tool box software. In this study, voltage distur-
bance in secondary distribution network was modeled and sim-
ulated in MATLAB/Simulink platform. The performance of
DVR is studied with the PI controller and dq0-based algorithm.
The DVR dc bus voltage is chosen as 400 and 415 V as source
line voltage.
The software simulation parameters for the studied sec-
ondary distribution system are given in Table I. The
length of the secondary electric power distribution feeder
length ranges from 0.5 to 5 km, the voltage levels and
conductor type of the secondary access network consist
of 500 kVA, 415 V L−L , 220 V L−N through 11/0.415 kV,
at 0.9 pF, 80% transformer rating, based on all-aluminum
conductors standard.
In the proposed Simulink model, the pulse signal generated
by the discrete PWM generator is at 50-Hz frequency and
sample time is chosen to be 50 μs. The overall time of
simulation is 0.04 s.
Two cases were studied using MATLAB/Simulink software
in Power Sim System tool box. The software simulation
parameters are given in Table I.
Case I: A balanced three-phase load is applied at 120 kW
per-phase for distribution feeder length of 0.5–5 km. The
magnitude of phase voltages during this event is equal in the
three phases. The simulations were performed without DVR
and with DVR in the distribution system.
Case II: An unbalanced three-phase load is applied to Phase
A 150 kW, Phase B 110 kW, and Phase C 80 kW, respectively,
for distribution feeder length of 05–5 km. The magnitude of
phase voltages during this event is not equal in the three
phases. The simulations were performed without DVR and
with DVR in the distribution system.
A. Voltage Profile for an Uncompensated and a Compensated
Distribution Line
The first case presented four samples of voltage profile
waveforms out of eleven studied for this investigation; the
results of the balanced three-phase load of the radial network
110 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING, VOL. 41, NO. 2, SPRING 2018

TABLE I
S YSTEM AND DVR PARAMETERS FOR BALANCED
AND U NBALANCED D ISTRIBUTION L INES

Fig. 5. Per-unit load voltage profile at 0.5 km for (a) uncompensated balanced
distribution line and (b) compensated balanced distribution line.

in the absence of DVR in the distribution system and the

voltage waveforms are shown in Figs. 5(a)–8(a), respectively.
It was noticed that at distribution feeder length of 0.5 km,
the voltage profile reaching the electricity consumer end
is 0.95 p.u, which is within the standard allowable range
of 0.95–1.05 p.u of the nominal voltage value. On the other
hand, the voltage measured at the end of distribution feeder
lengths of 0.8–5 km is less than the standard minimum
permissible voltage range of 0.95 p.u of the nominal voltage;
hence, the voltage reaching the end users are not admissible
for customer use. The voltage profile waveforms obtained
when the DVR controller is introduced to the distribution
line network model are shown in Figs. 5(b)–8(b). It was
Fig. 6. Per-unit load voltage profile at 1 km for (a) uncompensated balanced
observed that DVR effectively improves the voltage profile of distribution line and (b) compensated balanced distribution line.
the distribution network from the beginning of the distribution
feeder lengths of 0.5–5 km to the statutory limits of 0.95 the control system designed for DVR is suitable seeing that
and 1.05 p.u of the nominal voltage value. The results when it perform the good purpose for which it is designed in the
DVR is used are shown in Table III, while that of without DVR electric power distribution system.
is presented in Table II. The curves of the load voltage profile
for both the uncompensated and compensated are shown
in Figs. 9 and 10, respectively. Moreover, it was observed B. Voltage Profile for an Uncompensated and a Compensated
that the DVR injects the required voltage to compensate the Unbalanced Distribution Line
voltage disturbances experienced in distribution network when The second case presented four samples of voltage pro-
DVR is introduced into the system. This is an indication that file waveforms out of eleven studied for this investigation,
OGUNBOYO et al.: EFFECTIVENESS OF DVR FOR UNBALANCE VOLTAGE MITIGATION
Fig. 7. Per-unit load voltage profile of 2.5 km for (a) uncompensated balanced
distribution line and (b) compensated balanced distribution line.
Fig. 8. Per-unit load voltage profile at 5 km for (a) uncompensated balanced
distribution line and (b) compensated balanced distribution line.
and a simulation of the unbalanced secondary distribution
radial network line in the absence of DVR and in the present of
DVR. Figs. 11(a)–14(a) show load voltage profile waveforms
when DVR is absent in the network model; it was observed
that at distribution feeder length of 0.5 km at a load of 150 kW
on A, 110 kW on B, and 80 kW on C, respectively. The
voltage profile reaching the distribution feeder end is within
the standard permissible voltage range of ±5% of the nominal
111
TABLE II
P ER -U NIT M EASUREMENT OF V OLTAGE P ROFILE FOR
U NCOMPENSATED BALANCED D ISTRIBUTION L INE
TABLE III
P ER -U NIT M EASUREMENT OF V OLTAGE P ROFILE FOR
C OMPENSATED BALANCED D ISTRIBUTION L INE
Fig. 9. Curve of voltage profile for uncompensated balanced distribution
line.
voltage value, and the measured values are 0.97 p.u for
phase A, 0.96 p.u for phase B, and 0.95 p.u for phase C; hence,
the voltages on the three phases are of acceptable quality for
end users, also the percentage voltage unbalanced is 1.7%,
112 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING, VOL. 41, NO. 2, SPRING 2018

Fig. 10. Curve of voltage profile for compensated balanced distribution line.

Fig. 12. Per-unit load voltage profile at 1 km for (a) uncompensated

unbalanced distribution line and (b) compensated unbalanced distribution line.

Fig. 11. Per-unit load voltage profile at 0.5 km for (a) uncompensated
unbalanced distribution line and (b) compensated unbalanced distribution line.

which is less than 2% of allowable voltage imbalances on

distribution lines. Furthermore, the voltage profile for distrib-
ution feeder lines of 0.8, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 4.5, and 5 km
are less than the minimum standard allowable value of −5%
of the nominal voltage value, and the three-phase voltages are
imbalanced, because of this, the voltages measured are not
acceptable for customer use due to the low-voltage profile
reaching the customers as stipulated by power distribution Fig. 13. Per-unit load voltage profile at 2.5 km for (a) uncompensated
acceptable standards. Similarly, the computed percentage volt- unbalanced distribution line and (b) compensated unbalanced distribution line.
age unbalance for 0.8–5 km is more than acceptable voltage
unbalance of less than 2%. Likewise, simulation is again
carried out when the compensation device is connected to admissible to all consumers load. In addition, the percentage
the unbalanced secondary distribution network feeder line. voltage unbalance is less than 2%, which is the standard
Analysis of the results shows that the compensated per-unit permissible voltage unbalance in distribution lines, the losses
load voltage profile for unbalanced distribution feeder lengths on the distribution lines are less than acceptable minimum
of 0.5, 0.8, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, and 5 km are: 1, 1, 1, voltage loss of −5%, and percentage voltage deviation are less
1, 1, 0.9999, 0.9999, 0.9998, 0.9998, 0.9997, and 0.9997 p.u, than the standard allowable limit of ±5%. The optimum per-
respectively at the feeder end. All the voltages measured are formance of the secondary distribution under investigation was
within the standard statutory voltage limit of ±5%; hence, it is achieved with the use of an effective, fast response, efficient
OGUNBOYO et al.: EFFECTIVENESS OF DVR FOR UNBALANCE VOLTAGE MITIGATION
Fig. 14. Per-unit load voltage profile at 5 km for (a) uncompensated
unbalanced distribution line and (b) compensated unbalanced distribution line.
TABLE IV
P ER -U NIT M EASUREMENT OF V OLTAGE P ROFILE FOR
U NCOMPENSATED U NBALANCED D ISTRIBUTION L INE
and cost-effective compensating device DVR, which injects
an appropriate needed voltage in series to the unbalanced
distribution system feeder line without delay in the event of
disturbances on the distribution system lines. It was observed
that the voltage profile waveforms obtained are all within the
standard permissible voltage range of 0.95 and 1.05 p.u of the
nominal voltage value. The three-phase voltages are equal in
magnitude and phase, as shown in Figs. 11(b)–14(b). It was
noticed that after compensation, the load voltage profile on
the three-phase all returns to its reference value of 1 p.u.
The magnitude of the three-phase voltages is equal in size,
the phase angle and the frequency are the same with reference
values, the losses are within the statutory limit, proper voltage
regulation, and complete absence of phase-voltage imbalances
113
TABLE V
P ER -U NIT M EASUREMENT OF V OLTAGE P ROFILE FOR
C OMPENSATED U NBALANCED D ISTRIBUTION L INE
Fig. 15. Curve of voltage profile of uncompensated unbalanced distribution
line.
Fig. 16. Curve of per-unit load voltage profile for compensated unbalanced
distribution line.
This shows that the control scheme designed for DVR is
effective and efficient since it serves the very purpose for
which it is designed. Tables IV and V show the measured load
voltage for unbalanced distribution lines for uncompensated
and compensated, respectively. Figs. 15 and 16 show the
curves of voltage profile for the uncompensated and compen-
sated unbalanced distribution lines.
Finally, Figs. 17 and 18 show the combined curves for
compensated and uncompensated balanced and unbalanced
distribution feeder lines. These show the optimal performance
114 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING, VOL. 41, NO. 2, SPRING 2018
Fig. 17. Curve of combined per-unit load voltage profile for compensated
and uncompensated balanced distribution lines.
Fig. 18. Curve of combined per-unit load voltage profile for compensated
and uncompensated unbalanced distribution lines.
of DVR in enhancing voltage profiles, mitigating of unbal-
anced voltage, mitigating voltage variation and fluctuation, and
improving the power quality to the end users in the secondary
distribution system within the statutory limit.
V. C ONCLUSION
This study designed and modeled a dynamic fast response,
effective, simple, and cost-effective DVR for voltage unbal-
anced correction and voltage profile enhancement using
MATLAB/Simulink in Sim Power System tool box. An analy-
sis of the results when the new DVR is not connected to
and tested on LV networks shows that the voltage profile,
percentage voltage deviation, and percentage voltage unbal-
ance for 0.5 km for both balanced and unbalanced distri-
bution lines are within the standard and acceptable limits;
hence, the voltages are admissible for customers use. However,
it was established that the voltage profile, percentage voltage
unbalance, voltage drop and percentage voltage deviation of
distribution lines of 0.8–5 km from the beginning to the
end of the feeder are less than the statutory voltage limits
of −5%, 2%, 5%, and ±5%, respectively; hence, voltages
are inadmissible for customers use. Other results obtained
when DVR was connected show that for distribution feeder
lengths of 0.5–5 km for balanced and unbalanced networks,
the voltage profile, voltage variation, voltage drop, and per-
centage voltage unbalance are within statutory voltage limits
of 0.95 and 1.05 p.u, − 5%, and less than 2%, respectively.
Based on this investigation, to achieve efficient, reliable, and
cost-effective techniques for improving the voltage profile,
decreasing voltage variation, and reducing voltage unbalance,
the new DVR model is recommended to enhance the optimal
performance of secondary distribution network.
The proposed DVR system offers voltage profile improve-
ment, unbalanced voltage correction, phase angle shift and
frequency shift correction, the absence of phase voltage
imbalances, and complete voltage regulation. A cost-effective
DVR will perform effectively better than other custom power
devices found in the literature if the appropriate injection trans-
former is chosen and precise direct current storage capacity is
selected for the power circuit part of the DVR system. In a
similar way, this technique can be generically extended further
to other electric power distribution networks and feeder load
setups.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to thank Eskom Power Plant
Engineering Institute, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal,
Durban, South Africa, for their support for this research work.
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Patrick Taiwo Ogunboyo (M’11) received the
HND degree in electrical and electronic engi-
neering from The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti,
Nigeria, in 2001, and the PGD and M.Eng. degrees
in electrical engineering from the Federal Uni-
versity of Technology Akure, Akure, Nigeria, in
2010 and 2014, respectively. He is currently pur-
suing the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering
with the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban,
South Africa.
He is currently a Doctoral Researcher with the
University of KwaZulu-Natal. His current research interests include power
distribution systems, renewable energy, and optimization.
115
Remy Tiako received the B.Eng. (Hons.) degree
in electrical and electronic engineering from the
Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure,
Nigeria, in 1997, the M.Sc.Eng. degree in electrical
engineering from the University of Cape Town,
Rondebosch, South Africa, in 2007, and the Ph.D.
degree in electrical engineering from Curtin Univer-
sity, Bentley, WA, Australia, in 2013.
From 1998 to 2006, he was with industries and
academic institutions in Cameroon and South Africa.
In 2007, he joined the University of Cape Town, and
in 2009, he joined Curtin University. He is currently a Lecturer of power
engineering with the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Innocent E. Davidson (M’92–SM’02) received the
B.Sc. (Hons.) and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engi-
neering from the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria,
in 1984 and 1987, respectively, the Ph.D. degree
in electrical engineering from the University of
Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa, in 1998,
and the Postgraduate Diploma degree in business
management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal
(UKZN), Durban, South Africa, in 2004.
He was an Associate Professor of electrical engi-
neering and a Research Coordinator with the Univer-
sity of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia, from 2012 to 2014. He was the Director
of the Eskom Centre of Excellence in HVDC Engineering, UKZN, from
2014 to 2016. He is currently a Full Professor of electrical engineering with
the Durban University of Technology, Durban. His current research interests
include the grid integration of renewable energy using smart technologies and
innovation for smart cities.
Dr. Davidson received the Associate Certificate in sustainable energy
management from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby,
BC, Canada, in 2011.