Effect of placement of droop based generators in distribution network on small signal stability margin and network loss

For a utility-connected system, issues related to small signal stability with Distributed Generators (DGs) are insignificant due to the presence of a very strong grid. Optimally placed sources in utility connected microgrid system may not be optimal/stable in islanded condition. Among others issues, small signal stability margin is on the fore. The present research studied the effect of location of droop-controlled DGs on small signal stability margin and network loss on a modified IEEE 13 bus system, an IEEE 33-bus distribution system and a practical 22-bus radial distribution network. A complete dynamic model of an islanded microgrid was developed. From stability analysis, the study reports that both location of DGs and choice of droop coefficient have a significant effect on small signal stability, transient response of the system and network losses. The trade-off associated with the network loss and stability margin is further investigated by identifying the Pareto fronts for modified IEEE 13 bus, IEEE 33 and practical 22-bus radial distribution network with application of Reference point based Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (R-NSGA). Results were validated by time domain simulations using MATLAB.