Performance analysis of forward/backward sweep power flow methods for radial distribution systems

摘要

This paper brings a complete comparison among three power flow methods used worldwide for radial distribution systems. These methods are referred to as Power Summation, Current Summation and Ladder. For analysis, the methods were implemented in MATLAB® platform employing object-oriented programming. Using the IEEE 13 Node Test Feeder, different loading conditions and load models were considered, allowing a comparative analysis of results and performance related to processing time and number of iterations for convergence. Through this study, detailed information on the analyzed methods is provided, allowing students and researchers to choose the best alternative for the desired application.