Applied Mechanics and Materials Submitted: 2014-12-10

ISSN: 1662-7482, Vol. 785, pp 388-392 Revised: 2015-01-15

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.785.388 Accepted: 2015-04-06
© 2015 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Online: 2015-08-24

The Impact of Synchronous Distributed Generation(DG) on Distribution

System

Hasmaini Mohamad1,a*, Shahrani Shahbudin1,b and Nofri Yenita Dahlan1,c

1
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Technology MARA(UiTM),
Shah Alam, 40450,Selangor, Malaysia
a
hasmaini@salam.uitm.edu.my, bshahranis@salam.uitm.edu.my,
c
nofriyenita012@ppinang.uitm.edu.my

Keywords: Islanding; Under-Frequency Load Shedding (UFLS); Islanding Operation; Rate Of

Change Of Frequency (ROCOF); Distributed Generator (DG);

Abstract. Interconnection of Distributed Generation(DG) in distribution system presents many

potential benefits as well as drawbacks. The impacts of DG might vary with the types of generator.
This paper presents a study on the impacts of synchronous DG's interconnection in distribution
system. Steady state analysis is carried out to analyze the impact of DG on voltage profile and short
circuit current considering before and after DG interconnection. Dynamic analysis is also performed
for investigating the performance of DG when a part of distribution system is being islanded.
Results show that the penetration of DG contributes to the changes of power flow in the system,
hence give impacts to the overall system performance.

Introduction
The rapid growth of Distributed Generation based on renewable energy and distributed
technologies such as solar, hydro, fuel cells, microturbines and energy storage connected in the
distribution system contribute to the increased in generation capacity [1, 2]. With the availability of
DG in the distribution system, the power flow has to be considered bidirectional. Changing the
power flow can create problems and affect the system operation. The impact of DG connection to the
normal operation system becomes greater with the increasing numbers of DG connected in the
distribution system. The interconnection presents many potential benefits, including improved power
quality and reliability, peak shaving and improved efficiency. However, there are also some
drawbacks which can affect the normal system operation i.e increased short circuit current,
protection and increased the harmonic level [3, 4] .
The presence of DG in the distribution system could result in an increase of fault current. The
increment depends on several factors including the capacity, the type of generator and the number
of DG interconnected. As for a synchronous generator, the total amount of synchronous reactance is
considered in determining the fault contribution. The changes of the fault current on the other hand,
could present a great impact to the protection system in the distribution network. The impact varies
with the characteristics of DG, the network configuration and the location of DG.
The power quality in the system is affected due to the interconnection of DG [5]. Two important
issues of power quality are usually discussed in the literature: 1) voltage variation and 2) harmonic
distortion [3, 4]. The DG could either increase or decrease the distribution voltage level depending
on the network configuration and the location of DG. However, the voltage level should not exceed
the voltage statutory limit of the system operation.
This paper present a steady state analysis on the impact of synchronous DG on voltage profile
and short circuit/fault current on a 11kV Malaysia Distribution System connected with mini hydro
distributed generation. The analysis is performed using Power System Simulation for Engineering
(PSS/E) software. Preliminary dynamic study is also carried out to observe and analyze the critical
fault clearing time and the frequency response when a part of the system is islanded.

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 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 785 389

Network of the Test System

Fig. 1: Distribution network under study (Malaysia Distribution Network)

The network of test system as shown in Fig. 1 is based on an existing 11kV Malaysia
distribution network. As depicted by the red line, the Mini Hydro Power Plant (MHPP) is located at
6 km away from the existing network. The two mini hydro generation units rated 2MVA are
operated at 3.3kV voltage level. Both DGs are synchronous generators which are equipped with a
governor, a hydraulic turbine with all the necessary valves for control of water flows and an
excitation controller. The distribution network is connected to the transmission grid via two units of
step up transformer (11kV/132kV) rated 30MVA each. A number of load feeders (total peak load:
2327.4 kW, light load: 1563.4 kW) is connected together in the network. A Normal Open Point
(NOP) for 11kV subsystem is located at the intersection of two load feeders.
During normal operation, the required total power output to be delivered by the DG units to the
distribution network is 2.8MW. From the load flow analysis using the PSS/E software, a total of
2.5MW is absorbed by the load in the network and the remaining is exported to the grid system.

Steady State Analysis

It is well known that the interconnection of DG presents several impacts to the reliability of the
system, power losses, fault level, voltage level and protection coordination. However, the measure
of the impact depends on the size and type of DG unit, numbers of DG in a system, the DG’s
application, and the network characteristics. These impacts can be identified using steady state
analysis. This paper however will only focus on the impact of the voltage level and short circuit
current on the test system.

Voltage Level. In order to study the impact of DG on the voltage level of the feeder bus in
the distribution system, voltage variations on one of the bus feeders over the changes of the total
power dispatch of two DG units is observed. The power dispatch for two conditions of load: peak
and light are varied from maximum power generation till zero generation. The active and reactive
power dispatch limit applied for each of the DG is Pmax=1.65MW, Pmin=0MW , Qmax= 1.02MVAR
and Qmin= -0.5423MVAR. Thus, the maximum active power dispatch for two DG units used in this
analysis is 3.3MW. Bus 1012 is selected for the measurement as it is the nearest point to the
MHPP. The voltage variations at this bus could be more significant than the other buses. The plot
for voltage level versus power dispatch recorded at bus 1012 is shown in Fig 2.
390 Recent Trends in Power Engineering

1.06 1.06
1.05 1.05
1.04 1.04

Voltage(pu)
1.02
Voltage(pu)

1.02
1 1
Peak Load Peak Load
0.98 0.98
Light Load Light Load
0.96 0.96
0.95 0.95
0.94 0.94
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Power Dispatch(MW) Power Dispatch(MW)

(a) (b)
Fig.2: (a)Voltage variation at bus 1012, (b) Voltage variation at generator bus feeder (bus 1011)

As can be observed in Fig.2(a), the bus voltage at light load is higher than the peak load condition.
This could be due to the higher amount of reactive power absorbed or lower amount of reactive
power generated by the DG depending on the corresponding amount of power dispatch. The voltage
value drops as the DG reduces its power generation due to the reduced amount of generated reactive
power. The reduction of voltage level however is quite small. The voltage variation is also within
the acceptable limit of 0.95-1.05pu. Therefore, this indicates that the presence of DGs does not give
a great impact to the bus voltage. However, the voltage profile at the generator bus as shown in Fig.
2(b) shows that the voltage drop from one dispatch value to another is quite significant. This is due
to the direct impact of the reactive power generation to the generator bus feeder.

Fault Level. An increase in fault level in the distribution system is one of the main issues
pertaining to the interconnection of DG. Fault current normally flows in one direction but with the
interconnection of DG, the scenario has changed. The DG has contributed to the increased in fault
current. As a result of this, the protection coordination needs to cater for the bidirectional flow of
power. To investigate the impact of DG to the fault level, a comparative analysis of the fault current
on selected bus feeders, with and without the presence of DG on the test system was performed.
Two types of fault i.e. three phases and line to ground fault are analyzed and presented in Fig. 3.
7000
6000
6000 PEAK_withDG
PEAK_withDG
5000 PEAK_withoutDG
5000
Fault Curent(Amp)

Fault Curent(Amp)

PEAK_withoutDG
4000 4000
3000 3000
2000 2000
1000 1000
0 0
1075 1060 1010 1013 1012 1020 1064 1075 1060 1010 1013 1012 1020 1064
Bus Feeder Bus Feeder

(a) Three phase fault (b)Line to ground fault

Fig. 3: Fault for peak load condition

Table 1.The difference of fault current between with and without the presence of DG
Bus 3PF-Peak 3PH-Light LGF-Peak LGF-Light
Feeder [Amp] [Amp] [Amp] [Amp]
1075 825.1 823.1 1321.4 1317.4
1060 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1
1010 231.6 230.1 340.3 338.3
1013 840.1 837.4 1514.3 1509.6
1012 844.8 841.7 1581.7 1576.6
1020 272.5 270.7 369.2 366.6
1064 233.9 232.3 342.8 340.9
 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 785 391

It can be seen clearly that the fault current on the selected bus feeders increases with the presence
of the two units of DG in the test system. The increment of the fault current varies from one bus to
another bus. The highest recorded fault current increment as tabulated in Table 1 for the peak load
condition is on bus 1012 followed by 1013 and 1075. This indicates that the fault current
contribution from the DG is highest for the bus feeder located nearest to the DG. The lowest is
recorded on bus 1060 with the value of nearly zero. This indicates that there is no contribution of
fault current from the DG over the fault on the bus since it is disconnected from the DG by the
Normal Open Point (NOP). The increment of fault current level for each of the bus feeders indicates
the needs of different settings of overcurrent protection system for grid and islanding operation.

Preliminary Dynamic Stability Study

The purpose of performing preliminary dynamic stability studies on the test system is to identify
the critical fault clearing time of the MHPP when experiencing large disturbances or fault and to
observe the response of the DG if a part of the network system is islanded. The results will also
assist the IPP to set up a proper relay time setting for the DG protection and to take precautionary
measures to protect the DG from any damage as a result of large disturbances.

Critical Fault Clearing Time. Critical Fault Clearing Time (CFCT) is used to indicate an
acceptable minimum relay/breaker fault clearing time before the DG units fall out of synchronism
with the system. Likewise, it is the main factor in determining the stability of the DG.
In order to prevent from out of synchronism of the DG and allow the DG to continue its generation,
the relay operating time for a fault at one of the transformer or generator at the MHPP must be less
than CFCT of bus feeder 1011. Two tests were simulated to determine the occurrence of out of
synchronism of the DG unit at the MHPP. Fig. 4 [6] shows the swing curve recorded at bus 1011
when a fault of 200ms and 290ms was applied.

Fig.4: Out of synchronism of DG units for fault of 290ms at bus 1011

The rotor angle curve for fault of 200ms and 290ms is represented by the red and black lines
respectively. It is obvious that fault of 290ms has caused instability of the DG. This shows that the
CFCT for bus 1011 is 290ms.

Frequency Response of Islanded Operation. There are two contingencies that would
result in over-speed of the generating units at MHPP. The first is a complete loss of bus 1011–
1012. The second contingency is the loss of 1012-1013 line, resulting in load connected to bus 1012
to be supplied by MHPP.
A trip on line 1011-1012 will cause system islanded without any load connected and delivering
maximum power could result in frequency rise as shown in Fig. 5(a). As the frequency is expected
to increase rapidly, it is important that water flow from the penstock is completely diverted to allow
for the turbine to retard quickly.
392 Recent Trends in Power Engineering

(a) (b)
Fig.5: The frequency response after tripping line (a) 1011-1012 (b) 1012-1013

It is possible for MHPP to be islanded with some loads remain connected. This is the case when
the second contingency is performed. Since the amount of load is not significant, the frequency
would be expected to rise beyond the acceptable limits as indicated in Fig.5(b). To prevent from the
over-frequency, it could be acceptable for the islanding operation if larger amount of load is
purposely connected prior to isolation. It can be done by relocating the off point. This could bring
down the frequency to be within the limit and keep the MHPP completely isolated from the grid
system.

Conclusion
It is important to investigate the impact of the interconnections of distributed generation(DG) with
the existing utility grid to the local distribution system. A feasibility study was performed for two
synchronous DG connected in a Malaysia distribution system. The presence of DG has caused an
increased in fault current on the selected bus feeders with the highest fault current was contributed
by the bus feeder located nearest to the DG. The DG on the other hands has posed the least impact
on the voltage level of each bus feeder. A part of that, the frequency overshoot following a tripping
at point of common coupling indicated that unintentional islanding has occurred. Thus, a proper
control mechanism and protection system is required for preventing any harmful effect to the DG.

Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the University of Technology MARA, Malaysia under RACE grant
project (Grant Code: 600-RMI/RACE 16/6/2(10/2013)).

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