IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 19, NO.

1, JANUARY 2004 279

Power Flow Analysis on Simplified Feeder Modeling

Jian Liu, Senior Member, IEEE, Bi Pengxiang, Zhang Yanqing, and Wu Xiaomeng

Abstract—Three novel models to simplify distribution network
analysis are presented including equivalent load model (ELM),
equivalent load density model (ELDM), and discrete equivalent
load density model (DELDM). The voltages and the power
on/through both ends of a feeder are used to describe the load and
its distribution pattern within the feeder line. Only real time field
data from feeder circuit breakers in substations and sectionalizing
switches along the feeder lines are needed to obtain a satisfied
analysis result. The loads on the feeder are represented by one
load in ELM. Six fundamental load distribution patterns are
put forward in ELDM. By solving the voltage drop function and
the power loss function of the feeder line, characteristic values
together with the corresponding similarity parameters for the six
load distribution patterns are obtained, respectively. Weighting
values for the six load distribution patterns are calculated, respec-
tively. Consequently, voltage drop and line loss can be acquired
without needing the data from each distribution transformer on
the feeder line. Based on above method, a discrete equivalent load
density model is advanced to improve the property. Examples are
also given with comparison with other approaches showing the
feasibility of the proposed methods.
Index Terms—Analysis, distribution automation, feeder automa-
tion, modeling, power flow calculation.
I. INTRODUCTION
drop (EVD) model, which ensures an accurate calculation of
voltage drop at the end of feeder line, and an equivalent line
loss (ELL) model, which ensures an accurate calculation of line
loss. In EVD and ELL, the loads on a feeder line are indicated
by one equivalent load. A hybrid model is put forward synthe-
sizing EVD and ELL together to obtain accurate results both
in voltage and line loss in [8]. Although EVD, ELL, and a hy-
brid model can obtain precise results, they still depend on data
collected from distribution transformers. But distribution trans-
formers are seldom monitored in practice to reduce the invest-
ment. In [9], a simplified model has been put forward, in which
switches on feeder lines are regarded as nodes, and a feeder line
together with the distribution transformers on it are regarded as
a dissipated component. However, voltage drop and power flow
on feeder line cannot be figured out.
In this paper, a simplification for distribution network anal-
ysis by equivalent load model (ELM) and equivalent load den-
sity model (ELDM) is put forward. The measurement of load
from each distribution transformer is not necessary, and a better
approximate result of power flow can be achieved based on
the information of voltage and power at a few points along the
feeder where there are feeder terminal unit(s) FTU(s).

T HE practical difficulties such as the large amount of cal-

culation, large storage size, low speed, difficulty in con-
vergence and combination explosion are faced when finding the
II. EQUIVALENT LOAD MODEL
A typical feeder line and its ELM are shown in Fig. 1(a) and
solution and optimization to large-scale networks. Complicated (b), respectively, where
distribution networks not are only large in size, but also lack and sectionalizing switches;
necessary data, so it is more difficult to find the solution [1]. and magnitude of complex power through A
Recently, the study on setting up simplified model and simpli- and B, respectively (in kilovolt amperes);
fication analysis is very active. A way in which load data is de- and phase angle of SA and SB, respectively;
termined by using the load-out of substations and the pattern and magnitude of voltage on A and B, respec-
of users’ load types, seasons dates, periods of time, and load tively (in kilovolts);
curves is put forward in [2]–[4]. However, in this way, only a and phase angle of and , respectively;
rough result can be achieved by counting up users’ load distribu- magnitude of complex power drawn at the
tion statistically. An approach to share the load data of a feeder th load (in kilovolt amperes);
line according to the rated power of distribution transformers is phase angle of , respectively;
discussed in [5], but this result is rough too. T.P. Wanger has per-unit length resistance of the feeder line
put forward a way to deal with distribution simplification and ;
analysis by evenly distributing the load on the feeder line [6], per-unit length inductance of the feeder line
which is called as EVEN method. In this way, a distribution ;
network can be simplified, but the error is so large when the length between the th load and the
load is not evenly distributed which is almost the case in the th load (km);
practice. N. Vempati [7] has put forward an equivalent voltage total length between A and B;
position the equivalent load located;
magnitude of equivalent load (in kilovolt
Manuscript received October 11, 2002.
J. Liu and Z. Yanqing are with Xi’an University of Science and Technology, amperes);
Xi’an 710054, China (e-mail: dongzzxa@sina.com). phase angle of ;
B. Pengxiang is with the Northwest Electric Power Staff University, Xi’an length between the A and K (in kilometers);
JiaoTong University, Xi’an 710054, China (e-mail: bpxing@sina.com).
W. Xiaomeng is with Xi’an Petroleum University, Xi’an 710065, China. length between the B and K (in kilometers),
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TPWRD.2003.820179 ;
0885-8977/04$20.00 © 2004 IEEE
280 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 19, NO. 1, JANUARY 2004

and magnitude of current through A and B, re-

spectively (in amps);
and phase angle of and , respectively;
magnitude of current drawn by equivalent
load (in amps);
phase angle of

FTUs are likely to be installed at the place where sectional-

izing switches are mounted on the pole; thus, the accurate values
of voltage magnitude, real power, and reactive power at the ends
of feeder segments can be obtained. In fact, the most important
thing to establish with the equivalent load model is to calculate
the magnitude and phase angle of the equivalent load together
with its position according to the data reported by FTUs at point
A and B.
According to Fig. 1(b), regarding A as the voltage reference,
the magnitude of the voltage on point K, that is, can be
Fig. 1. Simplifying the distribution network by equivalent load model (a) a
calculated as typical feeder. (b) The simplified model of the feeder.

load. Moreover, line loss equations are not used in ELM. As a

result, ELM leads to a larger error of line losses occasionally.
(1)
where and are magnitudes of real power and reactive III. EQUIVALENT LOAD DENSITY MODEL
power through A, respectively.
On the other hand, regarding B as the voltage reference, the ELDM of a feeder line is shown in Fig. 2, where A and B
magnitude of the voltage on K (i.e., ) can be calculated as are feeder switches, and are power flow
through A and B, respectively. is the total load through
the point with a distance of from B.
The total customer load distributed between A and B is
represented by . Six typical load distribution patterns in
(2)
triangular shapes are shown in Fig. 3.
where and are magnitudes of active power and reactive
We do not pick rectangular shapes for the following reasons.
power through B, respectively.
First of all, it is hard to determine the suitable start posi-
Let be the difference of (1) and (2), we have
tion and the end position of a rectangular distribution pattern.
(3) Second, if we use Walsh series (a typical kind of rectangular
distribution pattern), the (which will be mentioned later) of
The value of and can be obtained by the iteration all distribution patterns will be so close to each other to make the
method. If the absolute value of is less than the assigned weighting process more difficult. Finally, triangular shapes can
error limit, we regard it as converged. Otherwise, if , form a rectangular shape (such as the even distribution pattern).
the value of will be increased at the next iteration. If Functions of load density between A and B of the six
, the value of will be decreased. typical load distribution patterns can be written as (5) to (10),
According to Fig. 1(b), it is obvious that respectively

(5)
(6)
(4.a)
(7)
Other

(8)
where is complex conjugate. Other
Finally, we have the equivalent complex power as (9)
Other
(4.b)
(10)
Other
All of the parameters of the simplified model based on equiv-
alent load have been obtained. where is called the characteristic value of load distribution
Although ELM can calculate the power flow of distribution pattern. It is a normal value. (km) is the distance to B. is
network without data from each distribution transformer, it is the length between A and B. In order to simplify analysis, the
not quite suitable to represent the loads on a feeder line by one following two assumptions are introduced:
LIU et al.: POWER FLOW ANALYSIS ON SIMPLIFIED FEEDER MODELING 281

According to (11), the loss power is

Fig. 2. ELDM of a feeder.

(15)

Therefore

(16)

Fig. 3. Six typical load distribution patterns of a feeder line.

Because the load increases linearly along the line, so

Assumption I: Assuming the power factors of the loads on

(17)
one feeder line are equal, thus .
Assumption II: Assuming the voltage drop is very small
It is obvious that , , S, and have the following
along a feeder line; thus, the average voltage can be used in
relationship:
the analysis (i.e., ). As for a distribution
network, the voltage phase angles along a feeder line are almost (18)
the same. Thus, we may regard the voltage phase angles as
zero. that is
Voltage drop and line losses under the six load distribution
patterns are deduced as follows, where per unit system is used, (19)
in which reference value is . According to assumption II,
per-unit voltage value can be approximately regarded as unit.
First, we will deal with the case of the load increasing linearly Equation (19) can be rewritten as
along the line (i.e., load distribution pattern 1).
(20)
According to (5) and assumption I, we can analyze the feeder
line as follows:
where
(11) Finding the solution to (20), we can obtain the value of K,
which is written as

(21)

(12) Second, we will deal with the case of the load decreases lin-
early along the line (i.e., load distribution pattern 2).
According to (6) and assumption I, we have
where is the voltage drop from A to B, R and X are total
resistance, and total inductance of the feeder line. Therefore

(13)
(22)
where Z is magnitude of impedance.
The value of K can be obtained from (13), which is written
as . That is

(14) (23)
282 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 19, NO. 1, JANUARY 2004

Therefore patterns. Let i represent the th load distribution pattern, the

corresponding weighting parameter can be written as
(24)
(32)

(25) The power loss of the feeder line (i.e., ) can be written by

According to (22), the loss power is

(33)

where is a normal value and can be written by

(26) (34)

Substituting (33) into (18), we can obtain the value of . Con-

Therefore
sequently, the active power loss (i.e., the real part of ) is also
determined.
(27) The voltage drop of the feeder line can be obtained by

Since the load decreases linearly along the line, we have

(35)
(28) where is the voltage drop calculated for the th load distri-
bution pattern.
According to (18), we have From the above, we can see that by using the way in which
loads distribution along a feeder line being expressed by the load
density model (LDM), we can obtain the important parameters
of voltage drop and line losses without calculation of power
(29)
flow. Therefore, it is simple in handling and high in speed.
They can be systematized as
IV. DISCRETE LOAD DENSITY MODEL
(30) A simplified analysis of successive distribution LDM has just
been dealt with. However, load on a feeder line is discrete, and
a load is only at the position where a distribution transformer is
Finding the solution to (30), we can obtain the value of . installed. Although we cannot obtain data of distribution trans-
Similarly, the two sets of values for the other four distri- formers, the location of each distribution transformer is known.
bution patterns can be obtained, which are represented by On the basis of the fact, discrete load density model (DLDM) is
to and to , respectively. put forward.
If the actual load distribution in reality is the same as the th Fig. 4 shows a feeder line with six discrete loads. to
load distribution pattern, will be equal to . But indicate the length from corresponding load to B. The total load
if there is some difference of the practical load distribution and between A and B (not including line loss power) is indicated
one of the six loads distribution pattern, and will be by . The envelope of the discrete load distribution can be
also different. We define similarity parameter as classified into six simple distribution patterns as shown in Fig. 2.
As for the six load distribution patterns, the discrete load den-
(31) sity function can be written as

(36)
The parameter illustrates the similarity of the given distri-
bution pattern and the practical loads distribution. is infinity
if the given load distribution pattern is exactly the same as the where M is the number of loads along the feeder line, and
practical load distribution. Therefore, we can calculate for the is unit-sample sequence.
six loads distribution pattern, respectively, and the load distribu- Regarding each load and point A and B as nodes and ac-
tion pattern with the maximum value of is the most similar to cording to , power flow of the feeder line can be figured
the reality. out easily by the branch current method.
Generally, any load distribution can be formed by the According to voltage drop between A and B and by itera-
weighted summation of the six typical load distribution tion method, the value of of the six load distribution patterns
LIU et al.: POWER FLOW ANALYSIS ON SIMPLIFIED FEEDER MODELING 283

Fig. 4. Feeder line with six loads.

can be decided, respectively, the procedure of which is shown

in Fig. 5(a), where is a value of the desired convergence pre-
cision, ’ is the voltage drop by calculation, and is a cor-
rection value of iteration step.
Then, according to the relationship between , , , and
[shown in (18)], the value of of the six load distri-
bution patterns can be decided by the iteration method, respec-
tively, the procedure of which is shown in Fig. 5(b).
Taking the similar way described in the last section, discrete
load density model can be established as follows.
We define the discrete similarity parameter and the discrete
weighted parameter as

(37)

and

(38)

Substituting (37) and (38) into (33) to (35), line losses and
voltage drop on the line can be obtained under the condition of
arbitrary load distribution.

V. EXAMPLES
In the examples, the results of the proposed simplified
methods are compared with that of the Newton–Raphson load
Fig. 5. Procedure of deciding (a) Kvi and (b) K .

flow method (N-R). First of all, the loads of known values are
calculated by the N-R method to obtain the exact values of
voltage drop between the two terminals of a feeder line and the
power loss of the feeder line. And then the simplified methods
are used to calculate the approximate values of voltage drop
and power loss on the basis of only the datum of the two
terminals of the feeder line (without the values of each load
along the feeder). At last, the approximate values are compared
with the exact values to show that the proposed simplifications Fig. 6. Feeder line for case study 1 to 3 to test the proposed ELM.
are feasible.
, ,
A. Case Study 1 , . Ac-
A feeder line is given in Fig. 6, which is used as the first case cording to the Newton–Raphson load flow method (N-R),
to be analyzed by the proposed ELM. and can be figured out. With , , , , and
In this case, the feeder line employs LJ-120 wire, the average based on ELM, we can obtain ,
distance between every two conductors is 1 m; therefore, , and .
, . Other parameters In case study 1, we consider the case that the direction of
of the feeder line are as the following: , power flow is from A to B. Based on the above datum and by
, . It can be calculated from above the N-R method, we can obtain the voltage on B and the power
data that , , loss of the feeder line. Figs. 7 and 8 show the results compared
. Let , with N-R method, EVEN, EVD, and ELL, respectively.
284 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 19, NO. 1, JANUARY 2004

TABLE I
RESULTS OF CALCULATION WHEN THE LOADS ARE 200 kVA EXCEPT FOR THE LOAD OF Vm IS 800 kVA WHILE S IS ZERO

TABLE II
RESULTS OF CALCULATION WHEN THE LOADS ARE 200 kVA EXCEPT FOR THE LOAD OF Vm IS 2000 kVA WHILE S IS ZERO

TABLE III
RESULTS OF CALCULATION WHEN THE LOADS ARE 200 kVA EXCEPT FOR THE LOAD OF Vm IS 800 kVA WHILE S IS 1000 kVA

Fig. 7. Results of terminal voltage calculation of case study 1. Fig. 8. Results of real power loss calculation of case study 1.

Figs. 9 and 10 show the results based on ELM together

B. Case Study 2 with the results by using N-R method, EVEN, ELL, and EVD,
In case study 2, we consider the situation that the direction respectively.
of power flow in Fig. 6 is from B to A. Let , It can be seen from Figs. 7—10 that for voltage, ELM appears
, , , , , and are the same as that in case to match the N-R method exactly, while for power loss, ELM is
study 1. Therefore, the value and position of the equivalent a little different from the N-R method but still better than EVD
load are the same as that calculated in case study 1 (i.e., and EVEN.
, , and It can be seen from the results of case study 1 and 2 that the
). ELM established on the datum when the direction of power flow
LIU et al.: POWER FLOW ANALYSIS ON SIMPLIFIED FEEDER MODELING 285

TABLE IV
RESULTS OF CALCULATION WHEN THE LOADS ARE 200 kVA EXCEPT FOR THE LOAD OF Vm IS 2000 kVA WHILE S IS 1000 kVA

TABLE V
RESULTS OF CALCULATION WHEN THE LOADS ARE 200 kVA EXCEPT FOR THE LOADS OF Vm AND Vn ARE 800 kVA WHILE S IS ZERO

Fig. 11. Topology of Chao-8 line of Xi’an City distribution network.

Fig. 9. Results of terminal voltage calculation of case study 2.

Fig. 12. Results of terminal voltage calculation (per unit) of case study 3.
Fig. 10. Results of real power loss calculation of case study 2.

is from A to B is also suitable when the direction of power flow

is from B to A. So the ELM is bidirectional.

C. Case Study 3
A practical feeder line (i.e., Chao-8 line of Xi’an City distri-
bution network is calculated in this case). It consists of 34 nodes Fig. 13. Results of real power loss calculation of case study 3.
and 33 branches, the topology of which is shown in Fig. 11. The
loads distributed on the line are shown in Table 9.
Figs. 12 and 13 show the results based on ELM together with D. Case Study 4
the results by using the N-R method, EVEN, ELL, and EVD, It can be seen from the case 1 to 3 that a high precision occurs
respectively. in the calculation of voltage drop of the proposed ELM. But in
286 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 19, NO. 1, JANUARY 2004

TABLE VI
RESULTS OF CALCULATION WHEN THE LOADS ARE 200 kVA EXCEPT FOR THE LOADS OF Vm AND Vn ARE 2000 kVA WHILE S IS ZERO

TABLE VII
RESULTS OF CALCULATION WHEN THE LOADS ARE 200 kVA EXCEPT FOR THE LOADS OF Vm AND Vn ARE 800 kVA WHILE S IS 1000 kVA

TABLE VIII
RESULTS OF CALCULATION WHEN THE LOADS ARE 200 kVA EXCEPT FOR THE LOADS OF Vm AND Vn ARE 2000 kVA WHILE S IS 1000 kVA

line loss calculation, the error of ELM is higher than ELL, but
still better than EVEN and EVD.
In case 4, we will test ELDM and D-ELDM. The constitution
of a feeder line in case study 4 is shown in Fig. 14. The
feeder line of LGJ-120 is 1 km in length. There are ten loads
between A and B and the distance between adjacent loads is
100 m. Suppose all of the load power factors are 0.85. Most
loads are 200 kVA in value while one or two special large
loads are assumed at the positions described in column one
of Table I–VIII together with the results by using ELDM and
D-ELDM, respectively.
In Tables I and III, a certain load is set a value of 800 kVA
while is zero and 1000 kVA, respectively. In Tables II and
IV, a certain load is set a value of 2000 kVA while is zero
and 1000 kVA, respectively. The position of the special load
is shown in column 1 of the tables. In Tables V and VII, two
certain loads are both set a value of 800 kVA while is zero
and 1000 kVA, respectively. In Tables VI and VIII, two certain
Fig. 14. Feeder for case study 4 to test the proposed ELM.
loads are both set a value of 2000 kVA while is zero and
1000 kVA, respectively. The positions of the two special loads
are shown in column 1 of the tables.
It can be seen from the tables that the results of ELDM and
D-ELDM are much better than ELM and EVEN. In addition,
the results of D-ELDM are much better than that of ELDM.
Note that Results of N-R method are benchmark of loss per-
centage error.
VI. CONCLUSION
Fine analysis results of power flow can be achieved by using
the methods of ELM, ELDM, and D-ELDM without needing the
LIU et al.: POWER FLOW ANALYSIS ON SIMPLIFIED FEEDER MODELING
TABLE IX
LOADS ON CHAO-8 LINE OF XI’AN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
real time data of feeder distribution transformers on the feeder
line.
ELM is more precise in voltage drop calculation than equiv-
alent line loss model, but not very nice in line loss analysis.
However, it is still better than load even distribution model
and equivalent voltage drop model.
ELDM takes into account the influence of all kinds of dis-
tribution, and uses not only relationship of voltage drop on the
feeder line but also relationship of line loss. Therefore, the re-
sults are close to both voltage drop and line loss, and generally,
the results of ELDM and D-ELDM are better than those of ELM.
Besides, the results of D-ELDM are better than those of ELDM.
But in the case with only one load on the feeder line, better re-
sults can be achieved by using ELM than ELDM and D-ELDM.
Based on the proposed simplified methods, we have devel-
oped intelligent software, which is applied in the distribution
287
automation projects of Xi’an City, Baoji City, Hanzhong City,
and Yan’an City.
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Jian Liu (SM’01) received the Ph.D degree in electrical engineering from Xi’an
JiaoTong University, Xi’an, China, in 1997.
Currently, he is a Professor in the Department of Automation Engineering at
Xi’an University of Science and Technology (XUST) Xi’an, China (. He is also
the chairman of academic committee of XUST. He is also a visiting professor
for three other universities in China including Xi’an JiaoTong University. He
has published several books and many papers. His research interests focus on
distribution modeling and automation.
He received the China National Science and Technology Award five times in
1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000, respectively.
Bi Pengxiang received the Ph.D degree in electrical engineering from Xi’an
JiaoTong University, Xi’an, China, in 2002.
Currently, he is an Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering at Northwest
Electric Power Staff University, Xi’an, China. He has published several papers.
His research interests include electric power system analysis and intelligence
technique applications in power systems.
Zhang Yanqing is an Associate Professor at Xi’an University of Science
and Technology. Xi’an, China. Her research interests focus on distribution
modeling.
Wu Xiaomeng was born in 1974. She is currently a graduate student in Xi’an
Petroleum University, Xi’an, China.
Her research focuses on electric power system and distribution automation.