Integrated voltage control and line congestion management in Active Distribution Networks by means of smart transformers

Within the context of Active Distribution Networks (ADNs), smart transformers represent very powerful devices able to provide fast and efficient control actions with respect to different ADNs ancillary services. This paper discusses the benefits, in terms of ADNs voltage and line flows controls, achieved by interfacing distributed generators with the power grid by means of a smart transformer. Among several benefits, these devices allow for a phase-per-phase control of the generators active and reactive power injections. This peculiarity enables to deploy new control schemes that are analyzed and discussed in the paper with reference to a case study based on a modified IEEE 34 node test distribution feeder.