Towards Improved Power Supply: Investigating the Trans-Amadi 33kV Distribution Network Using Continuation Power Flow Algorithm

There is a need to improve conditions of poor loading margin from electric utilities to avoid unallowable bus loading limits. In this study, the Trans-Amadi 33kV Distribution Network in Port Harcourt, Niger Delta, Nigeria was investigated using the continuation power flow algorithm. Load parameters were considered as declared variables with loading trends at an incremental step of 2%:2:10% at a constant loading factor () of 1. For the studied load buses (1 to 10), their capacities were 182, 15.5, 174, 274, 375.08, 312, 80, 74, 51, and 56kW, respectively at corresponding perturb incremental parameters of 185.64, 15.8, 177.48, 279.48, 382.58, 318, 81,6, 75.08, 52.02, and 57.12kW. Results showed that a 2-% load bus indicates a voltage stability margin with no violations. A 4-% load bus showed violation of buses 4 to 6, 6% load buses showed violations of buses 3 to 6 that were later compensated using reactive power controller, while the remaining buses were unviolated. An 8% incremental step showed violation of buses 4 to 7, leaving the remaining buses unviolated. This predictive and corrective optimal control mechanism puts the system’s behaviour on continuous check and control to avoid early system instability, which may eventually lead to network collapse. Additionally, a 10% incremental loading step showed violations at buses 3 to 8 while others were classified unviolated. These results provided the incremental loading trend for studied load buses for the detection of minimum and maximum loadability limits to avoid early system collapse due to poor loading margin that can result in network instability (blackout).