A new method for handling PV nodes in backward/forward power flow for radial and weakly meshed networks

Besides the good convergence characteristics and robustness, an effective handling of PV nodes is a desirable feature of any power flow method. This paper proposes a new approach for handling PV nodes in the power flow methods for radial and weakly meshed transmission and distribution networks. It concerns the class of power flow methods where backward and forward procedures are the main part. The new approach has been developed without additional assumptions. It automatically determines whether the control generator at PV node should inject current at 90 degrees leading the corresponding node voltage or at 90 degrees lagging the corresponding node voltage. It does not introduce any additional active power at PV nodes and exactly keeps the voltage magnitudes on their scheduled values (if reactive power limits are not violated). In principle, the proposed approach is simple and can be implemented in the existing methods without any difficulties.