Voltage Regulation Using Limited-Communication in PV-Rich Distribution Networks by Coordinated LVRs and Active Power Control
Abstract
The increasing penetration of distributed photovoltaic (PV) generation in distribution networks poses significant challenges to voltage regulation, particularly during periods of high irradiance and low demand. Inverter Tripping and Dynamic Active Power Control (DAPC) have been common solutions to systems that lack an extensive communication infrastructure, where voltage control must rely on decentralized or limited-communication strategies. While these methods are effective in preventing overvoltage, they often result in excessive active power curtailment and inefficient use of PV power. This paper investigates the coordinated integration of tap-changing low-voltage regulators (LVRs) with inverter-based active power control under a limited-communication framework. By prioritizing feeder-level voltage regulation through LVR tap adjustments and employing active power control methods only when necessary, the proposed approach reduces the reliance on aggressive curtailment while maintaining voltage within acceptable limits. The proposed strategies are tested on a modified IEEE 33-bus distribution system under high PV penetration using time-series simulations. The results demonstrate that the coordinated double-LVR and DAPC scheme reduces PV curtailment by 46.036% and 29.631%, respectively, and improves the voltage standard deviation by 5.2109% and 3.8115%, respectively, compared to tripping the inverter and DAPC, respectively, while achieving improved voltage regulation across the feeder. These findings indicate that limited-communication multi-device coordination provides an effective solution for PV-rich distribution networks.