Unified Framework for the Analysis of the Effect of Control Strategies on On-Load Tap-Changer’s Automatic Voltage Controller

With the advent of new loads and generation on the low voltage grid, voltage fluctuation has increased, especially in active distribution grids with a high penetration of distributed resources and a large deployment of electric vehicles. The coordination of different technologies has emerged as the best way for voltage regulation, among others, smart inverters, open soft points or transformers with on-load regulation capability. This paper proposes a novel way to model the control strategies for the automatic voltage controller of On-Load Tap-Changer transformers. The purpose is to standardize and simplify the way these strategies are represented, in order to facilitate (i) their selection by Distribution System Operators, (ii) their future integration with other systems, and (iii) to increase the ability to anticipate On-Load Tap-Changer behavior. The proposal has been validated using real data, obtaining an accuracy of 99.15% in the tap changer positions. A unified framework is also introduced, which allows the proposed functional representation to be combined with the On-Load Tap-Changer controller behavior estimation. A experimental validation has been carried out where more than 150 000 strategies have been simulated, finally determining the one that best fits the objectives. Note to Practitioners—Historically, on-load tap-changing transformers have been used in high-voltage substations. However, with the integration of electric vehicles and the penetration of distributed energy resources, the need to implement this type of solution in low-voltage substations has grown. However, the characteristics and requirements are not the same, for example, given their nature, low voltage grids are more unbalanced and are often regulated to ensure the quality of supply. Therefore, inheriting the control strategies of traditional on-load tap changers may pose a serious risk. This paper proposes a novel unified framework that facilitates the modeling and simulation of almost any control strategy for distribution transformers with on-load tap changers. This will allow the choice of control parameters that minimize voltage deviation from the voltage setpoint and maximize device lifetime. Our proposal can be considered as a solution to the uncertainty of which control parameters to use. It can be performed before commissioning, based on historical data, or a posteriori, based on the collected data.