Optimal Operation of Electric Springs for Voltage Regulation in Distribution Systems

In this article, we propose an optimal voltage control method for critical buses in an active distribution system using electric springs (ESs). The proposed optimization model relies on both an accurate ES and a load model. The real-time load parameters are determined using the nonintrusive load monitoring (NILM) technique, which provides a flexible and convenient power profile disaggregation. The optimization problem is solved in both a centralized and distributed manner with the minimum ES voltage outputs. A control center communicates with all ESs and collects system information in a centralized scheme, while a multiagent concept is built into the distributed scheme to manage the communication, optimization, and control of ESs located in different areas. The proposed voltage optimal control methods with ESs are verified and compared on a modified IEEE 15-bus distribution network. The results are promising; voltage regulation capability is verified, indicating advantages in the proposed optimal operation strategy over the previous ES control strategy.