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The rapid increase in the installation of renewable energy sources, particularly solar photovoltaic (PV) sources associated with unbalanced features of distribution systems (DS), disturbs the classic control strategy of voltage regulation devices and causes voltage violation problems. This paper proposes an effective control strategy for voltage regulators in the DS based on the voltage sensitivity using a multi-agent system (MAS) architecture. The features of the unbalanced distribution system (UDS) with the PV and different types and configurations of voltage regulators are considered in the proposed strategy. The novelty of the proposed method lies in realizing both the control optimality of minimizing voltage violations and the flexibility to accommodate changes in the DS topology using an MAS scheme. An advantageous feature of using the MAS scheme is the robust control performance in normal operation and against system failure. Simulation studies have been conducted using IEEE 34-node and 123-node distribution test feeders considering high PV penetration and different sun profiles. The results show that the proposed voltage control strategy can optimally and effectively manage the voltage regulators in the UDS, which decrease their operation stresses and minimize the overall voltage deviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of increasing penetration of photovoltaic (PV) generation is expected in Japan in the near future; thus a new voltage control scheme is required in order to improve the operation of distribution networks. We propose a new voltage control scheme for distribution networks based on a multi-agent system. The large voltage fluctuations caused by PV generations are effectively regulated by adjusting the conventional types of tap-changing controllers. We achieved an optimal control performance by developing a new optimal control law applicable to decentralized autonomous control. The autonomy is accomplished by using a multi-agent system. The proposed method is applicable to general distribution network and highly efficient for popular radial networks under certain approximations. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is demonstrated through numerical simulations of radial 6.6-kV test system with successful results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power market will be in a highly competitive environment because of power deregulation. The electric power companies have raised business efficiency to reduce the number of employees and centralize business establishments. Furthermore, the installation of photovoltaic generation will increase because of energy policy. However, the electric power companies must maintain power supply reliability. Therefore, to reinforce reliability in distribution systems is a significant problem. In this paper, we propose the optimal placement of distribution section switches to maintain power supply reliability in such a situation, and we present simulation results obtained for the original distribution system using a genetic algorithm. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 184(2): 36-43, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.22375 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]