Analysis of injected apparent power and flicker in a distribution network after wind power plant connection

The maximum apparent power that can be injected in a bus and the flicker emission can represent a significant limit in the total capacity of a wind farm when wind turbines are connected to a radial distribution system. Quantification of these values is important in determining the largest number of wind turbines that can be connected in a network. The calculation of maximum apparent power and flicker of residential and commercial radial distribution feeder with remotely connected wind turbines has been investigated using elaborated specific software denominated winds port program and data from two energy systems. The developed software can calculate the approximate injected maximum apparent power, for a wind farm, in one bus of the network and in two buses of the network, simultaneously, without the need of a load flow program. The various simulations results reveal that wind farm capacities, in each bus, can be limited firstly for flicker and later for bus injected power for a voltage variation value, and the calculation of approximate apparent powers allows a precise and fast adjustment of voltage variation. If a load flow program is used for the determination of the wind farm maximum apparent power in each bus of the distribution system, a lot of simulations with a lot of attempts must be necessary. Therefore the methodology used by the authors is advantageous.