Enhanced Backward/Forward Sweep Load Flow Algorithm for Radial Distribution Systems

This paper presents an advanced approach to address the divergence issue encountered in the Newton-Raphson and Gauss-Seidel methods for radial system load flow calculations, while preserving their precision. The proposed method achieves this by enhancing the precision of the Backward/Forward Sweep (BFS) load flow algorithm tailored for radial distribution systems. The focus lies on enhancing calculation accuracy within power distribution networks in accordance with IEEE standards for the voltage calculation, while also considering various receiver types such as motor and non-motor loads. The algorithm's efficacy is validated through development and testing on the IEEE 33-bus system using the MATLAB platform. Comparative analysis with results generated by ETAP Software for the Newton-Raphson and Gauss-Seidel methods, as well as the standard BFS method, underscores the effectiveness of the proposed approach.