Pilot Nodes Searching for Voltage Regulation in Distribution Systems by OLTC

Distribution System Operators (DSOs) have to face new challenges due to the constant growing of Distributed Generation (DG) on networks. Due to the growing diffusion of electric vehicles, also power demand is raising. For this reasons, the classical control strategies currently implemented for the On-Load Tap Changers in primary substations could result ineffective for voltage regulation. In this paper, a strengthened control strategy for the OLTC installed in a primary station of an MV distribution network is proposed. It is based on the voltage measurements coming from a few pilot nodes of the network. Besides, the method to individuate the pilot nodes is formalized. Performances of the proposed control method, compared with the ones of a classical regulation strategy, are analyzed through simulations on a realistic MV distribution network.