Equivalent Circuits for Power-Flow Studies
J. B. W A R D
A S S O C I A T E
N ETWORK ANALYZER STUDIES of power-flow
conditions on large interconnected systems frequently
require preliminary simplification and reduction of the
network because of the limited number of analyzer circuits
and sources available. Even in smaller systems which do
not exceed the capacity of the analyzer being used, it is
sometimes desirable to represent in detail only a portion of
the system, simplifying the remainder by use of equivalent
circuits for the purpose of speeding up studies on the portion
of primary interest. Simple equivalent circuits can be
devised for extensive power networks by adopting the view-
point that in power-flow studies the system generation and
loads approach, as an approximation, constant-current
quantities. The network being simplified may contain
numerous loads and generators, but the equivalent circuit
derived by this method retains the identity of only the tie-
line terminals or points of interconnection with the detailed
setup. The line network of the reduced system is replaced
by an equivalent mesh network between retained tie-line
terminals. If m is the number of such terminals, this mesh
network in general will consist of m (m — 1) /2 branches. The
effects of the suppressed generators and loads are repro-
duced by an equivalent generator or load at each tie-line
terminal. An equivalent circuit of this type can be derived
for a given system either by analytical methods or by simple
tests on an analyzer setup of the complete network which is
to be reduced. The equivalent circuit is flexible in that
any schedule of internal generation and loads can be repro-
duced readily without the necessity of repeating the reduc-
tion or of making additional tests.
The equivalent loads and generators are determined by
application of the principle of superposition. Each genera-
tor and load in the reduced network contributes to the
equivalent net source or load at each tie-line terminal. In
treating loads and generation alike as current sources, the
distinction between them is merely a matter of relative
phase position of the currents. The contribution of one
suppressed source at the retained terminals can be deter-
mined by impressing unit current at that bus with all other
sources open (loads, generators, and capacitors) and with
the tie-line terminals short-circuited to neutral. The frac-
tions of unit current input which leave by way of the
several short-circuited tie-line terminals are treated as dis-
tribution factors to apportion at the retained terminals a
scheduled loading of the bus which is energized. Similar
distribution factors are determined for each load and
generator bus in the reduced network. When all genera-
tion and load is reflected to the tie-line terminals in this
Digest of paper 4 9 - 9 6 , "Equivalent Circuits for Power-Flow Studies," recommended
by the AIEE Systems Engineering Committee and approved by the AIEE Technical
Program Committee for presentation at the AIEE Winter General Meeting, N e w
York, N. Y., January 31-February 4, 1949. Scheduled for publication in AIEE Trans-
actions, volume 68, 1949.
J. B. Ward is on the staff of the School of Electrical Engineering, Purdue University,
West Lafayette, Ind.
794 Ward—Equivalent Circuits for Power-Flow Studies
A I E E
fashion, the actual line network is replaced by an equivalent
network of transfer impedances between the retained tie-
line terminals.
Some of the assumptions, limitations, and additional fea-
tures of the equivalent circuit method are summarized
briefly in the following.
1. In most power-flow studies the bus voltages and
angles in sections of the system which might be replaced by
equivalent circuits do not vary widely. An initial, normal
set of voltages and angles can be taken into account ac-
curately and the assumption made that subsequent varia-
tions in these can be neglected.
2. Synchronous condensers, static capacitors, and lint-
charging capacitance may be treated as separate sources of
reactive power or combined with nearby loads or genera-
tion.
3. It is assumed that loads and generation in the reduced
system operate at a fixed schedule of real and reactive power
loading. The reactive power output of generators and
synchronous condensers may be subject, in actual system
operation, to wide variations, thus introducing a serious
departure from the constant-current assumption. The
representation of variable reactive power generation is
simplified if busses of known, fixed voltage are chosen as the
retained terminals. Then, only the real-power component
of the equivalent sources need be determined.
4. Effects of off-nominal transformer tap settings in the·
reduced system can be reproduced approximately in the
equivalent circuit.
5. A d-c board can be used to determine the equivalent
line network and distribution factors if it is assumed that
transformer taps are on nominal ratio and impedance angles
are uniform.
6. The net equivalent sources can be determined by an
alternative method involving network analyzer measure-
ments on a setup of the complete network. To obtain the
net equivalent sources, normal-flow loadings on tie lines are
combined with the circulating flow appearing in the equiva-
lent mesh network as a result of the same normal-flow ter-
minal voltage and angle differences.
7. If the equivalent circuit calls for several analyzer
generator units and they are not available, further reduction
can be made, at the expense of additional line units, to
evolve an equivalent circuit requiring only one analyzer
power source.
8. In applications to power-flow studies, the methods
are not exact. The degree of approximation involved de-
pends on the special conditions and characteristics associated
with individual systems.
Practical experience with this type of equivalent circuit
in system studies has yielded good results. The methods
used seem to be well suited for representing intercompany
ties.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING