Power plant solar inverter control algorithm design for the Volt/VAr/demand control of a distribution network

Volt/VAr/Demand control of consumer points in active distribution networks is a multidirectional function affected by the transmission, production, and network operations. Load tap changers and voltage regulators are the most common network elements for decreasing main fluctuations. However, the voltage changes performed by these network devices also affect the active and reactive consumptions at the subscriber side. The effect of solar power plants on the network is examined within the simulation study implemented on a realistic network model of Burdur TS, and an alternative method for voltage/reactive power control has been proposed. An experimental study is carried out in Burdur Kozluca feeder using the realistic output parameters of inverter devices of seven different Solar Energy Power Plants, and the new control algorithm is designed using these realistic data. This control process is materialized with a control unit used as a remote interface under the favor of a central decision structure worked upon a real-time Volt/VAr algorithm. Designed algorithm yields the power plants can receive inductive power from the distribution network with a demand of 10%, in which case the voltage was reduced from 1,146 p.u. to 1.001 p.u. Since existing solar power plants in the grid were used for Volt/VAr regulation, the requirement for an additional reactor, capacitor, OLTC installation on the feeder line was eliminated. Therefore, more functional control of the distribution network with the solar power plants may be obtained thanks to the designed control algorithm.