New method for power flow analysis of radial distribution systems

The paper presents a novel power flow study method for radial distribution systems. The method accurately develops the load current at load buses as a linear function of the load bus voltage magnitude and angle. Subsequently, the current in each branch is expressed as a linear function of all the load currents that pass through that branch. The voltage drop equation is then developed as a function of the branch current and the voltages at the two end buses, resulting in 2N linear equations in the voltage magnitudes and angles of the buses, where N is the number of branches or load buses. Neglecting the voltage angles, which are typically extremely small, results in N linear equations in the voltage magnitudes only. The efficacy of the proposed method is demonstrated by applying it to a 27-bus radial system.