ANALYTICAL METHODS AND RULES OF THUMB FOR MODELING DG-DISTRIBUTION INTERACTION

H. Lee Willis, Fellow

ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
940 Main Campus Drive
Raleigh, NC 27627-7907

To a T&D system, a distributed or dispersed generator (DG) is
simply a generator connected to the system, with all the
inherent advantages and disadvantages that brings.
Advantages are that the DG or DS unit is a source of both
power and voltage support. Disadvantages are that it
complicates protection coordination and voltage and flow
dynamics of the feeder planning. Additional consideration
relates to benefitkost evaluation -- how useful the DG or DS
unit will be in reducing cost or improving reliability. Usually,
DG and DS units are connected to the distribution system,
where their interaction with radial distribution equipment and
design causes operating and cost impacts.
“Zero point” Analysis
The vast majority of power distribution systems are radial or
open loop systems, which means that they are designed so
that power flows “downhill” from a single source to the
customers. DG and DS units change this situation, for there
are now two sources of power on a feeder. One convenient
way to characterize DG-feeder interaction on such feeders is
called “zero point analysis.” This focuses on the point on the
2. DG output is more than the load downstream of the
DG location, as depicted in Figure 2. Here, too, the
DG unit makes no substantial impact on the loadings of
any equipment downstream fiom it, but it reverses
some of the flow on the feeder from its location back
toward the substation. Unless its output is greater than
the load on the entire feeder, it creates a “zero point”
between it and the substation, where current flow is
rendered zero due to the back flow from the DG.
The zero point location is a convenient point to use to
characterize studies of DG impact. Current flow on all points
between the DG site and the zero point is reversed (as
compared to the non-DG case). Flow direction on all other
parts of the feeder, and all branches, remains the same.
Current flow on all points between the DG site and the zero
point is reversed (as compared to the non-DG case). Flow
direction on all other parts of the feeder, and all branches,
remains the same.
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feeder (if it exists) where power flow is zero, due to the DG
unit output. Distributed and dispersed generation analysis
cases fall into two categories depending on the relation of the A 1
E 2
generation output to the feeder load. 31

1. DG output is less than the load downstream of its 0 1 2

location, In this case the DG unit reduces power flow
on all equipment between it and the substation, but
makes no impact on the loadings on anything
downstream from it, as shown in Figure 1.
Distance (miles)
Figure 2. Here, the DG unit produces 3 MW. It essentiallyfeeds the
2 MW of load downstream from it, having little impact on protection,
voltage regulation and loading. The remaining I MW is fed back
toward the substation. In this case it is less than the load between the
DG unit and the substation (2 MW) and thus a zero point is created.

In general, the closer the zero point is to the substation, the

greater the potential T&D capacity requirement reduction
wrought by the DG, but the greater the potential for significant
.4 I __ . and complicated impacts with operating dynamics and
0 i 2
Mstsnce (miles)
protection needs. In cases where the DG output exceeds the
load on the entire feeder, the zero point is essentially upstream
+4 r-...
3 of the feeder source at the substation. In these and some other
2 cases, depending on the amount of DG output, loadings on
5; some points of the feeder could be higher than in the non-DG
2 case. Typically the highest loading on the feeder in these
3 cases is immediately upstream of the DG unit site, and if the
. 4 1 - -.
0 1 2 site is far “downstream” from the substation, it is typical for
Dlstance (miles) this portion of the feeder to see an increase in both normal
Figure 1. Top, power flow along a two-mile feeder uniformly loading and fault duty, too.
loaded at 2 MW/mile. Bottom, flow with a 1 MVA DG unit From the standpoint of relieving distribution loadings, the
located one mile from the substation, where the load downstream best location for a DG unit is usually at the end of the feeder’s
is 2 MW. There is no zero point. Dotted line shows reduction in most heavily loaded branch. If located at the substation (as
power flow on the feeder. many distributed units are) it makes no impact whatsoever on

0-7803-6420-1/00/$10.00(c) 2000 IEEE 1643

 H. L. Willis Analytical Methods And Rules Of Thumb For Modeling DG-Distribution Interaction

the loadings of any equipment on the feeder. In cases where ‘4 I Peak Feeder Load
the DG unit is located at the end of the feeder, the situatioii
will be only of the second case -- there is no load behind the
unit and consequently, it will cause a zero point somewhere 011
the feeder. E 2
31
Migrating Zero Points - 4 1
Q i 2
Distance [miles)
Generally, DG output and feeder load will not be correlated
over time, which means that the zero point will move, perhaps Minimum Feeder Load
over a wide portion of the feeder. Analysis of this migration
range can identify the nature of changes required in protection

Use of the “2/3 Rule” for Losses and Voltage Impact Study

The impact on feeder losses of DG can be analyzed with

something akin to the 2/3 rule often used in capacitor 0 1 2
placement studies on distributon systems. Figure 4 shows a Distance (miles)

graphical display of the 213 capacitor rule, and a similar Figure 3. Situation where the 3 MW DG unit is run as a base load
diagram of the power flow on the feeder. For a feeder with a unit and the feeder loading varies from a peak of 4 MW to a minimum
uniform kVAR load the 213 rule - best capacitor size is 2/3 of of 2.5 MW. The zero point migrates over the portion of the feeder
the kVar load, located 213 of the distance out the feeder - shown.
minimizes the “area included in the curve” (shaded area). The
213 rule is only approximate, but works in many cases well +I
enough to be a useful intuitive guide for capacitor engineering.
It can be generalized to the “2/(2N+l) rule” for N capacitors - 3+.5
the optimal two unit solution is two units each of 2/5 capacitor 5 0
located at 2/5 and 4/5 distance. [ 2 ]
ii-.5
Similarly, the same graphical and rule-of-thumb depiction can
be applied to DG impact on feeder flow. As with capacitiors, it 0 1 2
is only approximate, and can occasionally be in error to the Distance (miles)
extent that its qualitative recommendations are wrong. But it is
often usehl. Figure 5 shows an example. 666 kVar Capacito

CONCLUSION ii
Distributed generation is actually an old concept, dating to late ii
i- o .5
19* century, although widespread DG use is new to the power
industry [ 3 ] . However, DG planning and engineering basically
0 I 2
contains no concepts, needs, or analytical requirements that fall Distance (miles)
outside of traditional power system engineering concepts. But
DG does change the traditional paradigm of distribution Figure 4. GrapIhical display of the two thirds capacitor rule. For an
planning and engineering by increasing the scope and evenly loaded fceder (top). Bottom, a capacitor 2/3 of the total VAR
complexity of what must be considered. Many traditional rules load, 2/3 of the distance out the feeder, minimizes the total VAR-miles
of flow (shaded area), among all possible one-capacitorsituations.
of thumb and guidelines are no longer valid. However new
rules and guidelines are possible.
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31
Zem pQint DG (2.68 MW)
REFERENCES
B O
1). H. L. Willis and G. B. Rackliffe, Zntroduction to Integrated 6’
6 2
Resource T&D Planning, ABB Guidebooks, Raleigh, 1994.

2) H. L. Willis, Power Distribution Planning Reference Book, 0 1 2

Marcel Dekker, New York, 1997.
3) L. Philipson and H. L. Willis, Understanding Electric
Utilities and De-Regulation, Marcel Dekker, New York, 1999.
Distance (miles)
Figure 5. Two-thirdsrule applied to DG and the example feeder used
above (at peak load). A 2.66 MW unit located 2/3 distance out on the
feeder minimizes the total MW-miles of flow on the feeder.

0-7803-6420-1/00/$10.00 (c) 2000 IEEE 1644