A distributed slack bus model and its impact on distribution system application techniques

Distribution system operating environments are changing rapidly. For example, with the steady and significant increase in dispersed generation expected, planning and operating application techniques must also change. The paper re-evaluates the single slack bus assumption typically employed in steady-state distribution power flow solvers. Specifically, a distributed slack bus model, based on the concept of generator domains, is discussed and integrated into a power flow solver. Improved representation and allocation of distribution system losses to multiple generators is expected to impact other application techniques, such as capacitor placement, service restoration, etc. In addition, economic impacts of dispersed generation are significant and simulation results are presented to highlight this impact.