A NOVEL APPROACH FOR SOLVING DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS

P.Ravi babu*
ravi.dsm@gmail.com

C.P.Rakesh**
rakesh_102002@yahoo.com

G.Srikanth***
srikanth02_g@yahoo.com

M.Naveen kumar
naveen0724@gmail.com

D.Prabhuvardhan reddy
prabhu4123@yahoo.com

*Professor, Ace Engg College, Hyd

** Asst.Professor, Ace Engg College, Hyd
*** Asst.Professor, CVR College of Engg, Hyd

AbstractThe aim of the paper is to present a novel

method for solving radial electrical distribution
networks. The proposed method involves only the
evaluation of simple algebraic voltage expressions
without any trigonometric functions. Thus,
computationally, the proposed method is very efficient
and requires less computer memory storage as all
data is stored in vector form. In this paper, the
proposed method is tested in IEEE 12-bus system and
IEEE 33-bus system. The main objective of the
proposed work is to solve a distribution network
through novel approach.

I. Introduction

upply of electric power to consumers is

ensured by an efficient distribution system.
However, in India about 80% of consumer
interruptions can be attributed to distribution
system and distribution losses vary upto 70% of
the overall system losses. Systems are becoming
large and are being stretched too far leading to
higher system losses, poor voltage regulations,
equipment breakdown and supply interruptions.
The modern power distribution network is
constantly being faced with an ever growing load
demand [1]. Distribution networks serving an
industrial area experience distinct change from a
low to a high load level everyday. Numerous
problems have to be attended to in monitoring
the operation of such a system which includes
various switching operations for shifting loads in
addition most modern networks have to operate
taking into consideration the minimization of
losses so as to achieve high efficiency.
The operation and planning studies of a
distribution system require a steady state
condition of the system for various load
demands. The steady state condition of a system
can be obtained from the load flow solution [2].
Power flow analysis is a very important and
basic tool in the field of power system
engineering. Some applications, especially in the
field of power system engineering, such as
optimization of power system and distribution
automation, need repeated fast power flow
solutions. In these applications, it is imperative
that the power flow analysis is carried out as
efficiently as possible. With the invention and
wide spread use of digital computers in the
1950s many algorithms for solving the power
flow problem have been developed, such as
indirect Gauss-Seidel (bus admittance matrix),
direct Gauss-Seidel (bus impedance matrix),
Newton-Raphson and its decoupled versions.

However, these algorithms have been

designed for transmission systems, and therefore
their application to distribution systems usually
does not provide good results, and very often the
solution diverges [3]. Methods like the NewtonRaphson method and Gauss-Seidel method do not
exploit the radial structure of the distribution
systems and require the solution of a set of
equations whose size is of the order of the number
of buses [4, 5, and 6]. This then results in long
computation time. Hence, it can be seen that the
use of conventional power flow methods is not
efficient for distribution systems.

II. Assumptions
1.

It is assumed that the three phase radial

distribution networks are balanced and
represented by their equivalent single-line
representations
Half the line charging susceptance of
distribution lines is negligible and these
distribution lines are represented as short
lines.

2.

III. Solution Methodology

Consider a distribution system consisting
of a radial main feeder only. The one line diagram
of such a feeder comprising n nodes and n-1
branches is shown in Fig.1.
From Fig.2, following equations can be
written
I (1 ) =

V (1 ) (1 ) V ( 2 ) ( 2 )

.......( 3 . 1 )

R (1 ) + jX (1 )
P ( 2 ) jQ ( 2 ) = V * ( 2 ) I (1 )

.......( 3 . 2 )

From equations 1 and 2 we have

2

V ( 2 ) = [{( P ( 2 ) R (1) + Q ( 2 ) X (1) 0 . 5 V (1) ) 2

2

( R (1) + X (1))( P ( 2 ) + Q ( 2 ))}

1/ 2
2

( P ( 2 ) R (1) + Q ( 2 ) X (1) 0 . 5 V (1) )] 1 / 2 ....( 3 . 3 )

Eqn.3 can be written in generalized form

2

V (i + 1) = [{( P (i + 1) R(i ) + Q (i + 1) X (i ) 0.5V (i ) ) 2

( R 2 (i ) + X 2 (i ))( P 2 (i + 1) + Q 2 (i + 1))}1/ 2
2

( P(i + 1) R (i ) + Q (i + 1) X (i ) 0.5V (i ) )]1 / 2 ....(3.4)

Substation

V (1)

V (2)

V (3)

(1)

I (1)

(2)

R (1) +jX (1)

I (2)

NB

R (2) +jX (2)

PL (2) +jQL(2)

PL (3) +jQL(3)

PL (NB) +jQL(NB)

Fig 1: Radial Main Feeder

1 |V (1)|
Substation

(1)

(1)

I (1)

(2)

2 |V (2)|

R (1) +jX(1)

Fig 2: Electrical Equivalent of Fig.3.1

978-1-4244-4859-3/09/$25.00 2009

P (2) +jQ (2)

Eqn. 3.4 is a recursive relation of voltage

magnitude.From Fig. 3.1, the total real and
reactive power load fed through node 2 are given
by
NB

P (2 ) =

Q (2 ) =

PL

(i) +

QL

(i) +

NB

i= 2

LP

(i)

i= 2

NB

i= 2

NB

LQ

(i)

....(

3 .5 )

i= 2

The real and reactive power losses in

branch 1 are
LP ( 1 ) =

R (1 ) * [ P 2 ( 2 ) + Q
| V ( 2 ) |2

LQ ( 1 ) =

X (1 ) * [ P 2 ( 2 ) + Q
| V ( 2 ) |2

( 2 )]

( 2 )]

.....(

3 .6 )

Eqn. 3.5 can be written in generalized form as

P (i + 1) = PL ( j ) + LP ( j )
NB

NB 1

j = i +1

j = i +1

NB

NB 1

j = i +1

j = i +1

Q (i + 1) =

for i = 1, 2 ,...., NB 2

QL ( j ) + LQ ( j )

for i = 1, 2 ,...., NB 2

... ..( 3.7 )

and for the last node

P( NB) = PL( NB) Q( NB) = QL( NB)

.....(3.8)

Eqn. 3.6 can also be written in generalized form

as
LP (i ) =

R ( i ) * [ P 2 (i + 1) + Q 2 (i + 1)]
| V (i + 1) |2

LQ (i ) =

X (i ) * [ P 2 (i + 1) + Q 2 (i + 1)]
| V (i + 1) |2

....( 3 .9 )

Initially, if LP (i + 1) and LQ (i + 1) are set to

zero for all i, then the initial estimates of
P (i + 1) and Q (i + 1) will be
NB

P ( i + 1) =

PL ( j )

i = 1 , 2 ,...., NB 1

for

j = i +1

Q ( i + 1) =

NB

QL ( j )

j = i +1

for

i = 1 , 2 ,...., NB 1

Read
S/S voltage magnitude
|V (1)|
line parameters and
load data

IS
i = NB

Yes

?
Initialize
LP (i) =0.0
LQ (i) =0.0
for i=1, 2 NB-1

Compute
LP (i) & LQ (i) for
i=1, 2 NB-1
by using eqn.9

No
Compute
DP (i) = LP (i) PLOSS (i)
DQ (i) =LQ (i) QLOSS (i)

IS
i = NB

IV. Algorithm for Load Flow Calculation

Step 1: Read line and load data of radial
distribution system
Step 2: Initialize LP (i) and LQ (i) to zero. Assume
node voltages 1 p.u, set convergence criterion
|Vmax| .
Step 3: Start iteration count IT=1
Step 4: Calculate effective load at each node
starting from the last node.
Step 5: Initialize real power loss, reactive power
loss vectors to zero.
Step 6: Find effective losses at each node.
Step 7: Calculate load at each node including loss.
Step 8: Calculate the node voltages, real and
reactive power loss of each branch using
eqns.
4 and 9.
Step 9: Calculate the largest absolute value of
change in voltage |Vmax| , in each iteration. If
|Vmax| , go to step 11 else go to step10.
Step 10: Increment iteration number IT ++ go to
step 6.
Step 11: Calculate P (i+1) and Q (i+1) using
eqn.10.
Step 12: Print voltages at each node, P (i+1), Q
(i+1) and number of iterations.
Step 13: Stop.

V. Application
To check the validity of the proposed method, the
algorithm was implemented. Several tests were
carried out to verify its accuracy and convergence
behaviour. Two sample radial lines, a 12-Bus
1

(A)

No

P (i+1) = PL (NB)
Q (i+1) =QL (NB)

Is
Max (|DP (i)|)
& (|DQ (i)|)<
?

No

Write voltage
magnitude feeder
looses etc

IT= IT +1
Solve eqn. 4
For |V (i+1)|

12

24
25

Stop

26

27 28 29 30 31 32

22
0

18
19

To (A)

To (D)

11

System shown in fig.4 and a 33-Bus System shown

in fig.5 are considered.

Yes

i=1

i= i+1

10

Fig 4: 12-Bus System

Yes

23

Compute
P (i+1) and Q (i+1)
by using eqn. 7

IT=1

Set
PLOSS (i) =LP (i)
QLOSS (i) =LQ (i)
For i= 1, 2 NB-1

....( 3 . 10 )

Eqn. 3.10 is a very good initial estimate for

obtaining the load flow solution of the proposed
method.

20
21

Fig 5: 33-Bus System

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17

VI. Additional Application of the

Proposed Method (Load Modeling)

Table 7.1: Load Flow Solution of 12-Bus

System

All loads, including shunt capacitors for

reactive power compensation were represented
by their active (Po) and reactive (Qo)
components at 1.0 per unit. The effect of voltage
variation is represented as follows:
P = Po |V| k
Q = Qo |V| k
Where |V| is the voltage magnitude and k = 0, 1,
and 2 for constant power, constant current and
constant impedance loads, respectively. The
value of k may be different according to the load
characteristics. The load flow solution depends
on the type of real and reactive loads. It is
extremely easy to include real and reactive
power loads in the proposed algorithm. For
constant current and constant impedance loads,
real and reactive power have to be computed
after every iteration.

VII. Results
7.1 Results of 12-Bus System
The solution of the load flow has been
given in Table 5.3. It took three iterations to
converge by the proposed method. The coupled
NR method also takes three iterations to
converge but the FDLF method fails to converge.
However, the proposed method is 1.6 times
faster than the coupled NR method and the
memory requirement is only 27% of the coupled
NR method.

VOLTAGE
MAGNITUDE

NODE
NO

NO OF
ITERATIONS
(Novel
Approach)

1.00000
0.99433
0.98903
0.98057
0.96982
0.96653
0.96374
0.95530
0.94727
0.94446
0.94356
0.94335

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

VOLTAGE
MAGNITUDE
(P.U)

NODE
NO.

VOLTAGE
MAGNITUDE
(P.U)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

1.00000
0.99701
0.98288
0.96764
0.94946
0.94594
0.93228
0.92595
0.92010
0.91923
0.91772
0.91155
0.90927
0.90786
0.90650
0.90448

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

0.90391
0.99648
0.99290
0.99220
0.99156
0.97929
0.97262
0.96930
0.94753
0.94497
0.93353
0.92531
0.92175
0.91759
0.91668
0.94446

Total
real
power
loss =
20.71
kW
Total
reactive
power
loss =
8.04
kVAr

7.2 Results of 33-Bus System

The solution of the load flow has been
given in Table 5.4. It has taken four iterations to
converge by the proposed method. The coupled
NR method takes three iterations to converge,
whereas FDLF method takes seven iterations to
converge. However, the proposed method is 2.2
times faster than the coupled NR and 4.3 times
faster than the FDLF methods. Memory
requirement is 25% of the coupled NR and 50%
of the FDLF methods.

Table 7.2: Load Flow Solution of 33-Bus System

NODE
NO.

POWER
LOSSES

NO OF
ITERATIONS
(Novel
Approach)

POWER LOSSES
P LOSS
(kW)

Q LOSS
(kVAr)

210.986

143.127

Table 7.3: Comparison of Results with Other Methods

13-Bus System
Method

33-Bus System

No of
Iterations

PLOSS
(kW)

No of
Iterations

PLOSS
(kW)

Proposed Method

20.714

210.986

Novel Method[1] By DAS

20.714

Iterative Method Based On

Kirchoffs Law[2] by ZEHAR

13

20.714

19

210.986

Coupled Newton- Raphsons

Method[3] By TINNY

20.714

Fast Decoupled Load Flow[4]

By STOTT

Diverges

210.986

VIII. Conclusion
In this study, a novel load flow technique, named
forward sweeping method, has been proposed
for solving radial distribution networks. It
completely exploits the radial feature of the
distribution network. A unique lateral, node and
branch numbering scheme has been suggested
which helps to obtain the load flow solution of
the radial distribution network. The forward
sweeping
method
always
guarantees
convergence of any type of practical radial
distribution network with a realistic R/X ratio.
Computationally, the proposed method is
extremely efficient, as compared to the coupled
Newton Raphson and Fast Decoupled Load Flow
methods, as it solves simple algebraic recursive
expressions of voltage magnitude only. Another
advantage of the proposed method is that all data
can be stored in vector form, thus saving an
enormous amount of computer memory. The
method can easily handle the composite loads if
the break up of the loads is known. Several
Indian rural distribution networks have been
successfully solved using the proposed forward
sweeping method.

REFERENCES
[1]. D. Das, H.S. Nagi and D.P. Kothari, Novel
Method for Solving Radial Distribution
Networks, IEEE Trans., July 1994, Vol.
141, No. 4, pp 291-298.
[2]. ABDELLATIF HAMOUDA and KHALED
ZEHAR, Efficient load flow method for
radial distribution feeders, Journal of

Applied Sciences 6(13), 2006, pp.27412748.

[3]. TINNY, W.F and HART, C.E, Power flow
solution by Newtons method, IEEE Trans.,
1967, PAS86, pp. 1449-1456.
[4].STOTT.B and ALSAC.0, Fast decoupled
load flow, IEEE Trans., 1974, PAS-93, pp.
859-869.
[5].RAJICIC.D and BOSE.A, A modification to
the fast decoupled power flow for networks
with high R/X ratios, IEEE Tran., 1988,
PWRS-3, pp. 743-746.
[6].IWAMOTO.S and TAMURA.Y, A load
flow calculation method for ill-conditioned
power systems, IEEE Trans., 1981, PAS100, 1736-1713.
[7].TRIPATHY.S.C,
DURGAPARASAD.G,
MALIK.O.P and HOPE.G.S, Load flow
solutions for ill-conditioned power system
by a Newton like method, IEEE Trans.,
1982, PAS-101. pp. 3648-3657.
[8].SHIRMOHAMMADI.D,
HONG.H.W,
SEMLYEN.A
and
LUO.G.X,
A
compensation based power flow method for
weakly
meshed
distribution
and
transmission networks, IEEE Trans., 1988,
PWRS-3, pp. 753-762.
[9].RENATO.C.G New method for the analysis
of distribution networks, IEEE Trans.,
1990, PWRD-5, (I), pp. 391-396.
[10].GOSWAMI.S.K and BASK.S.K Direct
solution of distribution systems, IEEE
Proc. C, 1991, 1- (I), pp. 78-88.

APPENDIX
Table A.1: Line Data of 12-Bus System Table

Table A.2: Load Data of 12-Bus System

Branch
no.

Sending
end

Receiving
end

R
(ohms)

X (ohms)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

1.093
1.184
2.095
3.188
1.093
1.002
4.403
5.642
2.890
1.514
1.238

0.455
0.494
0.873
1.329
0.455
0.417
1.215
1.597
0.818
0.428
0.351

Branch
no.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

Node
no.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

PL (kW)

QL (kVAR)

0
60
40
55
30
20
55
45
40
35
40
15

0
60
30
55
30
15
55
45
40
30
30
15

Table A.3: Line Data and Load Data of 33-Bus System

Sending Receiving
X
PL
QL
R (ohms)
end
end
(ohms)
(kW)
(kVAR)
60
100
0.0477
0.0922
1
0
40
90
0.2511
0.4930
2
1
80
120
0.1864
0.3660
3
2
30
60
0.1941
0.3811
4
3
20
60
0.7070
0.8190
5
4
100
200
0.6188
0.1872
6
5
100
200
1.2351
1.7114
7
6
20
60
0.7400
1.0300
8
7
20
60
0.7400
1.0400
9
8
30
45
0.0650
0.1966
10
9
35
60
0.1238
0.3744
11
10
35
60
1.1550
1.4680
12
11
80
120
0.7129
0.5416
13
12
10
60
0.5260
0.5910
14
13
20
60
0.5450
0.7463
15
14
20
60
1.7210
1.2890
16
15
40.
90
0.5740
0.7320
17
16
40
90
0.1565
0.1640
18
1
40
90
1.3554
1.5042
19
18
40
90
0.4784
0.4095
20
19
40
90
0.9373
0.7089
21
20
50
90
0.3083
0.4512
22
2
200
420
0.7091
0.8980
23
22
200
420
0.7011
0.8960
24
23
25
60
0.1034
0.2030
25
5
25
60
0.1447
0.2842
26
25
20
60
0.9337
1.0590
27
26
70
120
0.7006
0.8042
28
27
600
200
0.2585
0.5075
29
28
70
150
0.9630
0.9744
30
29
100
210
0.3619
0.3105
31
30
60
0.5302
0.3410
32
31
40