A network-based distributed slack bus model for DGs in unbalanced power flow studies

This paper revisits the concept of a single slack bus in power flow solvers for distribution systems to accommodate the anticipated growth of distributed generators (DGs) in unbalanced distribution systems. It introduces a distributed slack bus model through scalar participation factors by applying the concept of generator domains. The participation factors are incorporated into the three-phase power flow equations, and a Newton-Raphson solver is discussed and implemented. Simulation results on systems with a different number of DGs and different levels of DG penetration are obtained and studied.