Maximum capacity of distributed generators connected to a distribution system with a step voltage regulator, as determined with an electric power density model.

In a distribution system containing a step voltage regulator (SVR), the maximum capacity of distributed generators (DGs) is calculated for DGs completely dispersed on a distribution line. The maximum capacity of the DGs is calculated under the constraint of an upper or lower voltage regulation value and an allowable current value by using voltage and current profiles expressed analytically in terms of our proposed power density model. As the voltage control method for the SVRs, we consider the conventional SVR, whose transformation ratio is fixed to 1 if it detects reverse power flow, and a reverse power flow SVR which operates appropriately even if it detects reverse power flow. Calculation of the maximum capacity of DGs with respect to the power factor of the DGs indicates which parameters, including the power factor of the DGs, the distribution of the DGs, and the load, influence the maximum DG capacity. Calculation of the maximum capacity of DGs versus the system length indicates that the constraints can be subdivided into two modes in the conventional SVR and four modes in the reverse power flow SVR. The maximum DG capacity in the system with a reverse power flow SVR is larger than that in a system with the conventional SVR. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 165(4): 41–51, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (<URL>www.interscience.wiley.com</URL>). DOI 10.1002/eej.20591 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]