IJSRD - International Journal for Scientific Research & Development| Vol.
3, Issue 03, 2015 | ISSN (online): 2321-0613
A CYMDIST Study on Effects of Solar PV Generation at PCC And Its
Mitigation
Anirudha S. Marothiya1 Prathamesh Chittal2
1,2
Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai, India
Abstract— The advent of renewable energy, especially in
the distributed energy form, have brought many economical
benefits to the end user alongside certain key technical
challenges to the very utilities they integrate to. The
commonest of these issues is the voltage rise at the point of
common coupling (PCC) which is being studied in this
paper via CYMDIST simulation cases, wherein the presence
of a voltage regulator or OLTC device at a predefined node
location upstream of the solar PV integration node, helps to
recover the voltage profile of the last mile feeder section
back within the tolerance range. Cases include, with and
without the action of the regulator, all possible modes of
operation of solar PV inverter viz. voltage controlled or
power factor controlled, although the latter case is
experimental only, and not standardized through any grid
code amendment till date, at least for India. However all
cases clearly demonstrate the well documented voltage
variation phenomena due to distribution generation
integration.
Key words: Distributed Generation, AVC, LDC, VR, Solar
PV, CYMDIST
I. INTRODUCTION
Recent developments in the field of smart grid are enabling
distributed generation (DG) to play a vital role in their
operation [1-3]. Distributed generation means generation of
electricity in distributed fashion, often connected to the
distribution utility network, using various energy sources
like solar photovoltaic (PV), wind energy, bio-gas engines,
micro-turbines, co-generation systems, and fuel cells [4-7].
Due to technical issues emanating from such an
interconnection, primarily the issue of voltage rise, it is
mandatory for any integrator to study the effect of all these
sources at the point of common coupling (PCC) voltage. In
this paper we have selected only one type of distributed
generation i.e. solar PV and are studying its effect on the
voltage level at PCC. A simple radial feeder distribution
network is considered. The base case does not have any
solar generation connected. Later cases discuss the effect
due to addition of solar generation at PCC albeit under
different operating condition such as voltage control mode,
fixed generation mode (that too, at different power factors).
Lastly we propose different methods to overcome these
problems encountered.
Basic aim of electric utility is to deliver power to
their customers 24x7 throughout the year within a specific
range of nominal voltage. The voltages at respective bus,
power flow, power losses and voltage drop in line is
calculated using a simple two bus system [8] as shown in
Fig.1
Fig.1: Two-Bus System
In fig.1, R and X represents the total resistance and
inductive reactance of the section between bus-1 and bus-2
respectively. Here the total active & reactive powers, line
losses between two buses are calculated by using the
following equations [8].
( ) ( ) (1)
( ) ( ) (2)
( ) (3)
The voltage at bus-2 and the voltage drop in the line (see
figure 1) is calculated by using equations (4) and (5)
respectively.
( )
( ) (4)
= (5)
In practical cases of study, distribution network consists of
large number of nodes, and are often radially spread out, and
have more resistance than inductance in each line segment.
Moreover their phases are not loaded in a balanced manner.
For the analysis of such systems, which require more than
simple Gauss-Siedel load flows, a sophisticated software
package is needed. Here the complete steady state analysis
of selected distribution network is done on CYMDIST 7.1
software with voltage drop (unbalanced) method chosen for
load flow.
II. VOLTAGE REGULATING EQUIPMENTS
In distribution network, maintaining the voltage level at
each feeder within the specific tolerance is of utmost
importance[9]. Last-mile feeders which are long in length
see a huge drop in voltages at the far end, especially during
high consumer load. Therefore to overcome such problem,
the electricity utility may install Automatic Voltage
Controller (AVC), Line Drop Compensator (LDC) and
Voltage Regulator (VR) to keep the system voltage within
its nominal value, by fulfilling the requirement of reactive
power if any[13]. In addition to the above equipments one
may use capacitor banks which not only fulfill the
requirement of reactive power but also improve the power
factor of system [10-11]. AVC maintains the system voltage
constant. It works similar to that of autotransformer which
brings back the system voltage to its nominal value if it gets
disturb due to unfavorable conditions [12]. If distributed
generation (DG) such as solar photovoltaic (PV) is
connected in the system, voltage profile and line losses in
the system change from the expected values, and to
overcome those issues we may have to reset the LDC, AVC
or capacitor banks, prior to their use. This solution is
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 A CYMDIST Study on Effects of Solar PV Generation at PCC And Its Mitigation
considered in this paper as well, where we consider a
Voltage Regulator only.
III. CASE STUDY
In this paper a case study from the tutorial of CYMDIST
software is selected after some modifications. The network
diagram and its specification details are shown in Fig.2.
Fig.2: Simulation Network For Case Study
From Fig.1 we see that the case study contains two sources
of which one is the existing grid or LV mains supply and
another is PV solar generation, which are connected at node
602 and 4 respectively. The entire network is consisting of
six different sections. In section D-E, voltage regulator is
connected to mitigate the effect of solar PV generation at
PCC. At each section some equivalent spot loads are
connected to give the case study the proper lumped load
found in a typical residential distribution network.
(IJSRD/Vol. 3/Issue 03/2015/454)
IV. SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE
In order to study the effect of solar PV generation at PCC in
the given network, a solar module is selected in CYMDIST
software. The solar module dialog box is shown in Fig.3.
The dialog box shows the open circuit voltage (OCC), short
circuit current (SCC), cell temperature and input radiation.
Fig.3 Solar PV Module
Here the total generation through solar PV is 3000KVA at
4.2kV, which is gotten by series and parallel combination of
cells into an array, and the connection of this array to an
inverter. This voltage is stepped up via a transformer to
25kV and connected at node 110 as shown in Fig.2. Grid
operating voltage is 25kV.
V. SIMULATION CASES
Since this study investigates the effect of solar PV injection
on the voltage level at PCC for a LV system, we select the
farthest section from the PCC as possible, which is HI,
because being the farthest section it will have the largest
variation in voltage for our different cases. Different cases
which we have selected for the simulation are as follows-
A. Voltage Regulator Is By-Passed
A1 – with grid source without solar PV
(BASE CASE)
A2 – with solar PV in voltage controlled mode
A3 – with solar PV in fixed generation mode A3-1
– At unity power factor
A3-2 – At 0.9 power factor leading
A3-3 – At 0.9 power factor lagging
B. Voltage Regulator Is Connected
B1 – with solar PV at 0.9 power factor lagging.
Then for each case the voltage profile is plotted, where the
voltage profile begins from the normal source point (LV
grid) and ends at the farthest spot load, which is section HI
for this case study. So this voltage profile covers all nodes,
and allows us to focus on the voltage at PCC (node F) as
well as all other nodes, where loads are connected.
VI. RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS
Here in our simulations 124V is selected as a base voltage
value, as it is commensurate with the utility supply voltage
found in USA, to which certain default settings have been
made in CYMDIST. Fig.4 shows the voltage profile for base
case (A1). In this case the voltages continuously drop
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 A CYMDIST Study on Effects of Solar PV Generation at PCC And Its Mitigation
(IJSRD/Vol. 3/Issue 03/2015/454)

throughout the length of feeder. The minimum voltage drop

is in section HI which is found to be 113.2V.

Fig.7: Voltage Profile For Case A3-2

Fig8. shows the voltage profile for case A3-3(with solar PV
in fixed generation mode at 0.9 power factor lagging), where
the voltage in section HI is found close to 115.5V.
Fig.4: Voltage Profile For Base-Case
Fig.5 shows the voltage profile for case A2 (with solar PV
in voltage controlled mode). From Fig.5 it is clear that the
section voltage is 118.4V, which is superior as compare to
case A1 which means due to the connection of solar PV
generator in the system, voltage profile at far end section has
improved.

Fig.8: Voltage Profile For Case A3-3

Last case has solar PV generating power in fixed generation
mode at 0.9 lagging power factor with voltage regulator on
(i.e. case B1). The voltage profile for this case is shown in
Fig.9.

Fig.5: Voltage Profile For Case A2

Fig.6 shows the voltage profile for case A3-1 (with solar PV
in fixed generation mode at unity power factor), where the
voltage in section HI is found close to 119.8V.

Fig.9: Voltage Profile For Case B1

From Fig.9 it very clear that voltage regulator comes into
picture at a distance of 70000 feet from the grid source. At
Fig.6: Voltage Profile For Case A3-1
this point the voltage curve is shifted back to its base value
Fig7. shows the voltage profile for case A3-2(with solar PV
i.e. close to 124V. If we compare case no A3-3 and B1, the
in fixed generation mode at 0.9 power factor leading), where
voltage at far end section when solar PV is generating at 0.9
the voltage in section HI is found close to 123.5V.
power factor lagging is poorer, but that is improved to a
good extent by simply connecting a voltage regulator to a
node upstream of the PCC.

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 A CYMDIST Study on Effects of Solar PV Generation at PCC And Its Mitigation
(IJSRD/Vol. 3/Issue 03/2015/454)

VII. CONCLUSION Proceedings of 17th Conference on , vol., no.,

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