Phase Balance Optimization of Customers and Electric Vehicles in a Real Low Voltage Electricity Distribution Network

Phase unbalance is a common issue encountered in LV electricity distribution networks, caused by uneven allocation of single-phase loads among phases. This paper analyses a part of a real LV distribution network, situated in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The impact of single-phase customers and single-phase charging of electric vehicles was analysed. To reduce unbalance and improve the voltage profiles, Phase Balance Optimization in DIgSILENT PowerFactory software was performed in six scenarios with different customer and electric vehicle unbalance. The goal was to find a method with the least number of changes in the customer and electric vehicle phase connection that fits within defined limits of voltage variations and voltage unbalance of a European norm for power quality (EN 50160). Results showed that all analysed scenarios were improved, with reference to voltage variation and voltage unbalance values, and were found acceptable by the limits from standard EN 50160.