Loop-analysis-based continuation power flow algorithm for distribution networks

A new continuation power flow method is proposed, which is an extension of the popular backward/forward sweep power flow (BFS) for distribution network. The different reasons for the divergence of Newton´s algorithm and fixed-point iteration algorithm near the saddle node bifurcation point have been investigated extensively. Loop-analysis-based power flow (LBPF) is a revised version of BFS, which belong to fixed-point iteration algorithm and its convergence remains satisfactory in a meshed network. Based on LBPF, a tailored continuous power flow method is developed, which can be used as a voltage stability analysis tool for both radial and meshed distribution networks. Numerical test results are presented to validate the proposed procedure.