The effect of load modelling on phase balancing in distribution networks using search harmony algorithm

Abstract

Due to the unequal loads in phases and different customer consumption, the distribution network is unbalanced. Unbalancing in the distribution network, in addition to increasing power losses, causes unbalancing in voltages and increases operating costs. To reduce this unbalancing, various methods and algorithms have been presented. In most studies and even practical projects due to lack of information about the network loads, load models such as constant power model, constant current or constant impedance are used to model the loads. Due to the changing and nonlinear behaviours of today's loads, these models cannot show results in accordance with reality. This paper while introducing an optimal phase-balancing method, discusses the effect of load modelling on phase balancing studies. In this process the re-phasing method for balancing the network and the harmony search algorithm for optimizing the phase displacement process have been used. The simulation was carried out on an unbalanced distribution network of 25 buses. The results show well the effect of this comprehensive modelling on phase balancing studies. It also shows that in the re-phasing method for balancing the network and in the absence of a real load model, the use of which model offers the closest answer to optimal solutions.