Verifying the effect of distributed generators on voltage profile, power losses and protection system in radial distribution networks

In the recent years the electrical power networks are undergoing rapid restructuring and developing process worldwide. Advancement in technologies and concern about the environmental impacts have led to increase interconnection of renewable energy based distributed generations (DGs) in distribution networks. The DGs have significant impacts on the distribution systems; these impacts may be either positively or negatively depending on the modified interconnected DG distribution network structure. It will be necessary to consider many issues concerning these impacts. In this paper, an investigation of DGs impacts on voltage profile, power losses, and protection system in radial distribution networks is introduced and explained. The performance of the interconnected DG distribution network in terms of power losses, voltage profile and fault currents is analyzed; the penetration level of interconnected DG is used as a parameter in order to verify the effects on these issues. A comparison between many cases with different numbers, sizes and locations of interconnected DGs are considered and discussed. Detailed simulations using MATLAB are conducted in order to explain and verify the results.