Power Flow Analysis in DC Grids: Two Alternative Numerical Methods

Abstract

This express brief proposes two new iterative approaches for solving the power flow problem in direct current networks as efficient alternatives to the classical Gauss-Seidel and Newton-Raphson methods. The first approach works with the set of nonlinear equations by rearranging them into a conventional fixed point form, generating a successive approximation methodology. The second approach is based on Taylors series expansion method by using a set of decoupling equations to linearize the problem around the desired operating point; these linearized equations are recursively solved until reach the solution of the power flow problem with minimum error. These two approaches are comparable to the classical Gauss-Seidel method and the classical Newton-Raphson method, respectively. Simulation results show that the proposed approaches have a better performance in terms of solution precision and computational requirements. All the simulations were conducted via MATLAB software by using its programming interface. © 2004-2012 IEEE.