Voltage management by the apportionment of total voltage drop in the planning and operation of combined medium and low voltage distribution systems

Abstract

The maximum allowable voltage variation on the MV and LV networks is a major and often primary constraint in the planning and design of the distribution feeders, which cannot be considered in isolation from each other. Assumed or assigned volt drop limits affect the capital and lifetime costs of the networks. This paper presents a new approach, based on network classes and transformer tap zones, to: • identify suitable maximum voltage drop limits for planning, designing and operating MV and LV networks, taking into account the characteristics of urban and rural networks, • improve voltage regulation on existing networks, and • reduce the costs of extending and strengthening MV and LV networks.