A Simplified Algorithm for OLTC Control in
Active Distribution MV Networks
R. Caldon, M. Coppo, R. Sgarbossa, R. Turri
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Italy
Abstract—The increasing penetration of Distributed
Generation (DG) in distribution electrical systems may cause
alteration of voltage profiles on the lines. Traditionally,
distribution networks with radial configuration are designed
as a passive top-down architecture where voltage regulation
is mainly performed by an On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC)
transformer located at the Primary Substation. Therefore it
becomes rather difficult to compensate lines radiating out
from the same bus-bar where some of these are subject to
overvoltages due to the power injection by DGs connected
whereas others are subject to voltage drops due to the
presence of passive loads only. A first step in regulation and
managing the voltage levels, in order to be consistent with the
contingent needs of the network, may be a decentralized local
control strategy performed by the DG units, however better
results will be obtained with a coordinated OLTC
intervention.
In this paper an OLTC control strategy, based on only few
remote measurements, is proposed. This procedure allows the
tap changer controller to infer the state of network node
voltages and to act accordingly. The performance of the
proposed control method is demonstrated through
simulations on a realistic MV distribution network.
Index Terms— Active networks; Distributed generation;
OLTC; Voltage control.
I. INTRODUCTION
The growing connection to the grid of non-
programmable renewable energy resources raises several
issues in the operation of modern distribution networks.
Due to the of traditional radially structured MV distribution
networks, some technical factors limit the diffusion of DG
units: fault current level increase, possible power flow
inversion with risk of ampacity violations and impact on
voltage regulation.
The diffusion of DGs in distribution networks requires
the application of more sophisticated control schemes in
order to avoid technical issues related to the unpredictable
power flow alterations (e.g. voltage level violations).
The possibility of performing the network regulation,
through complex voltage monitoring and communications
systems coordinated by a central unit is a topic of actual
discussion, see for instance [1-5].
In a previous work, a strategy for the coordination of
the DG intervention for voltage regulation in MV networks
has been proposed, also including the participation of LV
networks by the communication exchange among the
remote terminals and a network supervisor [6].
The basic hypothesis for the regulation strategy
development presented in [6] is a bi-directional
communication among the end-users and the central
controller (called Network Supervisor), allowing an
adaptive area selection for the evaluation of suitable zonal
control signals to be forwarded to the local regulators
including the OLTC action.
In this paper, a control strategy suitable for the On Load
Tap Changer, installed at the Primary Station HV/MV
transformer, based on few remote current and voltage
measures is presented. An algorithm for the voltage drop
estimation knowing only a restricted number of measures
regarding the DG connection buses along the distribution
feeders has been developed and briefly discussed in the
following.
In this work, a case study MV distribution network
equipped with several inverter-interfaced DGs is used to
investigate the dynamic behavior of the local controllers
when they are included in the coordination strategy which
includes an OLTC control for dynamic adjustment of the
tap position of the PS transformer.
Studies have been conducted through the co-simulation
between two software environments: DigSilent
Powerfactory, used to simulate dynamic control of OLTC
and distributed inverters, operating on the basis of the
signals concurrently elaborated by an estimation algorithm
implemented and running on the Matlab platform.
II. VOLTAGE DROP ESTIMATION ALGORITHM
The algorithm for the voltage drop estimation is based
on the use of innovative not expensive TATV sensors
(examples of which are shown in Fig.1), developed as
innovative integrated current and voltage measurement
equipment for the fault detection in MV systems (see for
instance [7]).
This sensor has already been proposed for exploiting a
voltage regulation strategy based on the reactive power
exchange among adjacent buses [8].
 A
A. Calculatee the unitary cuurrent (associaated to each buus)
as (indicaating Ltot as thee branch total length):
l
I A  IB
iload (2)
Ltot
B
B. Calculatee the relative vvoltage drop foor each sectionn of
the consiidered branch,, separating thhe effects of the
active andd reactive com
mponents İa andd İr:

ªl1 º ­ª1 ... 1 º ª 1 º½

Figgure 1. Examples of combinedd phase current and voltage sennsor « » °« » « »°
[H a ] r ˜ « ... » ˜ ®«0 1 ...» ˜ Re(iload ) ˜ «...» ¾
«¬ ln »¼ °¯«¬0 0 1 »¼ «¬ 1 »¼ °¿
In this worrk, supposing that sensors area placed onlyy at
ffew buses (e.gg. distributed generators buus-bars), the loocal
vvoltage measuure along withh the current measures on the r ˜ >L @˜ >T @˜ >Re(ilooad )@ (3)
inncoming and outgoing brannches are used to estimate the
vvoltage level inn every branchh in order to seet the optimal set- [H r ] x ˜ >L@ ˜ >T @ ˜ >Im(iload )@ (4)
OLTC through an algorithm implementingg the
ppoint for the O
wwell-known vooltage drop appproximate form mulae (1):
'V RI cos M  XI sinn M (1) C. Compute the progresssive voltage drops along the
C
branch coonsidering sepaarately each seection as for (11):
Fig. 2a reeports an exxample of a n-buses feeeder
cconnected to two voltage sources, whicch represents the
ggeneral case off a distributionn branch connnecting two active
'V ^
3 ˜ [T ]1 ˜ [H a ]  [T ]1 ˜ [H r ] ` (5)
bbuses of whichh are known the voltages and the outgooing D
D. Evaluate the maximuum and minnimum voltagges,
ccurrents with thhe reference shhown in figuree. knowing that the higheest value is onee of the measuured
The propossed voltage estimation straategy is basedd on voltages, since the rem
maining part oof the networkk is
thhe hypothesis of knowing, bbesides the vo oltage and currrent passive:
mmeasures derivving from the T TATV sensorss, the geometrrical
aand electrical characteristiccs of the linnes; further itt is Vmax m
max(Vmeasured ) (6)
aassumed at firsst that the loadds’ power is equally distribuuted
Vmin min(VA  'V )
m (7).
aamong the ussers.. The alggorithm used to compute the
vvoltage set-point for the O OLTC can be described in the Fig. 2b shhows the com mparison betw tween the actual
ffollowing stepss: vvoltage along a 4-buses feeeder and the estimated vallues
ccalculated withh the above aalgorithm. It should
s be notiiced
thhat the voltage estimation ((red dashed linne) deviates fr
from
thhe actual valuue (blue solidd line), but kknowledge of the
vvoltage value VB enables tthe correctionn showed by the
a) ggreen dashed liine.
III.. OLTC CO
OORDINATED A
ACTION
In the normmal operation, the OLTC coontrol behavess as
aan Automatic Voltage Reggulator (AVR R) based on the
vvoltage measuurement at the transformer ssecondary bussbar
(tthe sending feeeder bar).
b) The propoosed regulatiion strategy consists inn a
ccoordination off the OLTC acction with the remote estimaated
(aand partiallyy measured) voltages derriving from the
aalgorithm discuussed in sec. III.
In fig. 3 thhe proposed control logic of the OLTC C is
ddepicted: V_mmin and V_maxx are respectivvely the minim mum
aand maximum m voltages in tthe network; a regulation bband
Figure 2. a)) Example of a feeder extennding between two bbetween the lim mits Vmin_limit and Vmax_limit is set in ordeer to
vvoltage sources A and B. b) Nuumeric example of the voltage ddrop eevaluate the neew tap positionn nTAP(1), beingg nTAP(0) the iniitial
eestimation, knoowing the num mber of buses and the relevvant pposition.
ddistances, along with the voltagee and current m
measures.
 Loads and generators tootal active andd reactive pow wers
aare reported in Table I, distinguished by ttype
ccorresponding to the daily sccaling factors shown in Fig. 5.
T
Table I. Active aand passive userrs rated power.
Feeder 1 Feeder 2
Type
P [MW] Q [Mvar] P [MW] Q [M
Mvar]
Residentiial 5,13 2,66 - -

Loads
Commerccial 4,70 3,68 1,57 0,775
Industriaal - - 3,87 1,889
Wind - - 4,00 0

DGs
Photovoltaaic - - 4,50 0

F
Figure 3. Concepptual diagram of
o the OLTC conntrol, given the
reemote measuredd/estimated volttages.
When bothh the maxim mum and miinimum voltaages S li ffactor
oovercome or respect
r the connsidered regulation band (hhere
t

sset at Vn±5%) no actions arre taken by thee OLTC. In otther

Scaling

ssituations, the control unit leeads to a tap adjustment at the

pprimary windinng.
In this proocedure, a fuurther conditioon is adoptedd to
aavoid instabilitty, preventingg the controlleer from changging
thhe tap positionn if one between the maximuum and minim mum
vvoltages values is inside thee regulation bband for less tthan Time [h]
thhe ¨V% variaation associatedd with each tapp commutationn.
IV. CASE STUDY
The case sttudy for this w work is a 12-bus MV netw work
wwith a 132/220 kV transfo former equippped with OL LTC
S li factor

ccontroller instaalled at the priimary HV winnding. The OLLTC

f t

hhas a ±10 tap variation

v rangee, with a ǻV=((1%)Vn per tapp.
Scaling

The networrk, shown in Fig. 4, consissts of two feedders

wwhose branchees characteristtics are reporrted in the figgure
ittself.

Time [h]
F
Figure 5. Daily load
l (a) and genneration (b) scalling factors.
The loads’ power factor is maintainedd constant durring
thhe 24-hour simulation, whiile the DG unnits are equippped
wwith local conttrols enabling the reactive ppower modulattion
fo
for voltage suppport stated byy the Italian sttandard CEI 0-16
0
[9].
The DG unnits are required to exchangge reactive pow wer
wwith the netwoork following a droop characteristic Q=ff(V)
oof the type reported in Figg. 6, using thee local measuured
vvoltage, in a ±((48,43%)Pn power range.
In this paaper three sccenarios considering differrent
OOLTC automaations are propposed in ordeer to compare the
standard AVR control, basedd on the transfformer seconddary
bbusbar voltagee, with the cooordinated regulation strattegy
bbased on the proposed alggorithm; finallly an applicattion
cconsidering alsso the influennce of the locaal voltage conntrol
F
Figure 4. Single--line diagram of the case studyy network. bby DGs is pressented.

F
Figure 6. CEI 0--16 Voltage-Reaactive droop currve.
A
A. Scenario A (AVR with voltage referrence at startting
bus)
In scenarioo A, the AV VR control is adopted for the
OOLTC, so thhe goal is tto maintain the transform mer
ssecondary busbbar (node N2)) voltage withhin the dead-bband
±±(1,5%)Vn. Inn this case thee local voltagge control by the
DDG units is not enabled inn order to focuus on the OL LTC
ooperation, so tthe generated ppower is mainntained at unittary
pp.f.. The adoptted procedure is the followinng:
x The OLT TC constantly receives the m
measured volttage
at the N2 busbar;
x When thee voltage is ooutside the im mposed threshoolds
for longeer than the inteentional delayy time of 30s, the
control unnits operate too change one tap of the OL LTC
position, in order to rrestore the vooltage inside the
dead-band;
x After the 30s intentionnal delay (if thhe secondary bus
voltage rremains outsidde the dead-bband) one tapp is
changed every
e 5s time delay (i.e. meechanical delayy).
Loads andd generators vary durinng the 24-hoours
ssimulations foollowing the ddaily scaling factors shownn in
FFig. 5.
Voltage p.u.
Voltage p.u.
pu
T
Time [h]
F
Figure 7. Voltagge levels during the 24h simulaation in the scennario
A application.
Fig. 7 shoows the maxiimum and minimum voltaages
aalong with thee transformerr secondary bbusbar voltagee in
ccase of an unccoordinated action by the O OLTC. It cann be
nnoticed that during the low productiion periods the
mmaximum volttage is measuured at node N N2, while durring
thhe high prodduction periood (due to the photovolltaic
ccontribution) thhe two feederrs have opposiite voltage trennds.
AAs a result, thee N2 busbar vvoltage settles around the vaalue
1 pu, even if the minimum m voltage overrcomes the lower
liimit 0,95 pu aand no further actions are takken by the OL
LTC
ccontroller.
B
B. Scenario B (AVR equippeed with estimaation algorithm
m)
Scenario B considers thhe application of the propoosed
eestimation alggorithm, knowwing the volttage measuress at
nnode N2 (trannsformer secoondary busbarr), N9 and N N12,
wwhere DGs aree connected. TThe coordinatiion procedure can
bbe summarizedd as follows:
x the contrrol algorithm estimates thee maximum and
minimumm voltages in oorder to evaluaate the tap chaange
necessaryy, following thhe logic presennted in sec. II;
x OLTC chhanges the tapp position aftter an intentioonal
delay of 30s, in ordeer not to folllow fast volttage
fluctuatioons;
x After thee 30s intentiional delay ((if the objecttive
remains constant)
c one tap is changeed every 5s time
delay (i.ee. mechanical delay).
d
This scenarrio considers tthe same netw work conditions of
scenario A, so the DG units are still not ennabled to suppport
thhe voltage witth a local reacttive power conntrol.
Fig. 8 shhows the vooltage values in a 24-hoours
simulation connsidering the daily scaling factors in figg. 5.
TThe violet soolid curve shhows the estimated minim mum
vvoltage level which differss from the acctual value (bblue
ddashed line) aat most for 0,01 pu, as a result of a non- n
uuniform load distribution on the feedder. In orderr to
ccompensate suuch error, a m more restrictivee lower threshhold
iss considered byb the controlller, i.e. 0,96 puu rather than 00,95
ppu.
pu
T
Time [h]
F
Figure 8. Voltagge levels during the 24h simulaation in the scennario
B application.
The OLTC C control is aiimed at reduccing the netw work
vvoltage deviatiions within thhe ±5%Vn baand, adopting the
ccontrol schemee in Fig. 3.
Although tthe efficiencyy of the cooordinated conntrol
strategy is prooven by a reeduced voltage deviation w with
respect to scennario A, it shhould be noticced that in soome
innstances, evenn with voltagee issues not coompletely solvved,
nno further actioon is taken byy the OLTC controller in orrder
too avoid adversse effects on thhe other voltages.
 1.075
OLTC AVR reg. OLTC coordinated reg.

1.05

1.025
Voltage [p.u.]

1 aa)

0.975

0.95

0.925
0 5 10 15 20 2
25
L
Length [km]
F
Figure 9. Com mparison betweeen the networkk voltages in one
bb)
simulation instannce (t=8 h) undder different opeerating scenarios: in
reed scenario A, in
i blue scenarioo B.

In Fig. 9 a comparisonn of the feeeders voltagess in Time [h]

sscenarios A annd B is reporrted. It can bee noticed that the
uuncoordinated operation of the OLTC, regulating
r the N2
vvoltage aroundd the 1 pu vaalue cannot ssolve the volttage
isssues at remoote buses, whhereas adoptinng the estimattion
aalgorithm, thee OLTC, knnowing the remote volttage
cconditions, maay ensure a suiitable control action.
a bbetween the O OLTC and thhe remote vooltage controlllers
C. Scenaario C (AVR with
w estimatioon algorithm and
load rreactive compensation)
In this casse the OLTC C coordinated control usedd in
sscenario B haas been testeed consideringg also the loocal
vvoltage regulattion by DGs wwith the droopp characteristicc of
FFig. 6.
Fig. 10 shhows the vooltage values in the 24-hhour
ssimulations, where
w it can be noticed that the volttage
ssupport by DG Gs, especiallyy during the high producttion
pperiod, allows a more efficcient voltage ccontrol, avoidding
aany threshold oovercoming.
Voltage p.u.
pu
FFigure 11. Activve (red solid linnes) and reactivve (blue solid linnes)
ppower for wind ((a) and photovooltaic (b) DGs.
This last scenario stressses the fact thhat a cooperattion
should benefit the overall vooltage level.
V. CONCLUSIONS
The propoosed procedurre provides a control of the
OOLTC intervventions, suittable with tthe independdent
regulation actioons performedd by the DG unnits.
Results shoow how usingg the proposedd algorithm in the
OOLTC voltage regulation strrategy, leads too a better volttage
pprofile along the feeder. T This approachh is suitable for
ppassive networks with the presence of sseveral DG uunits
since it needs oonly few remoote signals reggarding local line
vvoltage/currentt measuremennts in order to obtain a reliaable
eestimation of tthe voltage profile on an active
a radial MV
M
ddistribution nnetwork. The proposed coontrol could be
straightforwarddly applied onn active netwoorks until a more
m
ddiffused integgration of ICTT technologiees would enaable
smarter managgement system ms to be deployyed.

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FFigure 10. Voltaage levels durinng the 24h simuulation. The OL LTC [22] P. Varvalhho, P. Correia, L. Ferreira, 2008, “Distribuuted
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