2004 IEEE International Conference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2 0 0 4 Hong Kong
A Novel Power Flow Tracing Approach
Considering Power Losses
Zhou Ming, Student Member, IEEE, Sun Liying, Li Gengyin, Member, IEEE,
Yixin Ni, Senior Member. IEEE
--
Abstract This paper proposes a new approach on tracing
power flow and losses simultaneously, which is based on
proportional sharing principle. Each node is equivalent to
two nodes, an active power node and a reactive power node.
Then a proportional sharing matrix M is built up. To trace
power flow, searching this matrix gets the contribution
factors of each generator and each line-to-ground
capacitance to each load. During the process of tracing, line
charging power is equivalent to reactive power source in the
both ends of a line, and loop flow is detected and settled.
Numerical test shows that the proposed method can trace
both power flow and losses correctly and effectively, which
provides foundation for transmission charge allocation.
Index Terms -- Power markets; power flow tracing;
proportional sharing principle; power losses allocation
I. INTRODUCTION
s a consequence of power industry deregulation,
A power transmission system becomes open access for
all market participants. The power flow tracing method
has become the discussion focus as an important principle
of transmission cost allocation.
The previous methods [I], [2] about transmission cost
allocation based on transactions didn’t consider physical
power flow, such as postage-stamp method, contract path
method, MW-Mile method, etc. While the approaches
based on sensitivity analysis of DC power flow 121, [3]
can not calculate real AC transfer flow of the network
either, such as generation shift distribution factors
(GSDFs or A factors), generalized generation distribution
factors (GGDFs or D factors) and generalized load
distribution factors (GLDFs or C factors). Power flow
tracing approach is a widely accepted as a feasible method
on transmission cost allocation, but there are some
debates when it comes to practical problems. Reference [4]
proposed a proportional sharing principle. The method in
[5] can be used for large systems. Reference 161 traces
active and reactive power using real and imaginary
currents, respectively. Two current decomposition
principles were presented in [7] based on power losses
allocated by current proportion, not by square current
This work is supported in part by Foundation for University Key
Teacher by the Ministry of Education (Grant No. GG470-10079-1001),
Zhou Ming, Sun Liying, and Li Gcngyin arc with the School of
Elcctrical Engincering, North China Electric Powcr University, Baoding
071003, Hebei, P.R.China (e-mail: zhouming@nccpu.edu.cn)
Yixin Ni is with the Department of Elcctrical and Electronic
Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR (e-mail:
yxni@cce.hku.hk)
0-7803-8237-4/04/$17.00020041EEE
355
proportion [8]. The proposal of dealing with loop flow
was discussed in [9]. In [lo] graph theory was used to
decide the tracing sequence quickly. Reference [ 111
proposed the principle for determining line MVA loss and
power components contributed by each generator. The
angle and magnitude of bus voltage were used as the
reference to trace active and reactive power respectively
in [12]. Reference 1131 presented an approach to detect
loop flow using graph theory.
This paper proposes a novel approach on tracing power
flow and losses simultaneously. This paper presents an
approach that a power node is separated into two nodes:
an active power node and a reactive power node in order
to deal with the coupling of active power and reactive
power. Thus active and reactive losses due to active
power transmission, and active and reactive losses due to
reactive power transmission, can be distinguished
accurately. Different tracing modes are built up
corresponding to the same and opposite directions of
active power and reactive power. When transmission line
is light loaded, reactive power at the receiving terminal of
line might exceed that at the sending one, so grounding
admittances of the line must be taken into account in this
case. Furthermore, the loop flow is dealt with and the
corresponding power flow tracing results is modified. A
five-bus test system is applied to verify the effectiveness
of the proposed approach. And a comparison to the
method in [4] is also given to illustrate the proposed
approach. The numerical result shows that the proposed
method can trace both power flow and losses correctly
and effectively, which provides a theoretical approach on
transmission charge allocation.
11. POWERFLOWTRACING
MODEL
A. Tracing Principle ConsideringPower Flow and Losses
The purpose of tracing power flow is to determine the
distribution factors of power injection to each node on the
outflow branches, or contribution factors of each
generator to each load on the basis of AC power flow
computation.
It is believed that the proportional sharing principle
proposed by Bialek in [4] is an important principle in the
power flow tracing methods (as shown in Fig.1). Based
on the two current decomposition axioms proposed in [7]:
“components of current in a branch are keeping
invariable” and “the current components in outflow
current of an injected current at a node are proportional to
2004 IEEE Intemational Conference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2004 Hong Kong

the current of outgoing lines”, it can be proved that losses

allocation by current (power) proportion is correct. In this
way, the cost due to the users is correct, and the usage of
power source to line is the same at the terminal and
original of line [ 141. 2
r..,.
Qoji . Qoji’
‘N+i .N+j = Qoji ’ ‘i, N+j =-
Vj Vj? !
I

S,, = f’L, ; SN+j,N+, = QL,

Fig. 1. Proportional sharing principle
where, Po,,, Qo,~ are the branch powers of receiving
terminals before separation, and PLI,Q L I , PL,, QL, are the
loads of the corresponding nodes, respectively.
If the directions of active power and reactive power are
opposite, active power losses caused by transmission of

Based on the previous consideration, a new method of

reactive power eo,,
from node i to node j are due to the
node j , as shown in Fig.2(b), and then
tracing power flow and losses simultaneously based on D 2 n 2
proportional sharing principle is proposed in this paper. S, = Poji+ -‘ rO ij i9 . SN+i,j=-=oji .

B. The Equivalent Model of Line vj V j 2 xi’

The transmission of active power can cause not only
active power losses but also reactive power losses. And
that is the same for transferring reactive power. in this
paper considering the coupling between active power and
reactive power, each node i of the network is separated
into two nodes: one is active node i, another is reactive S, = P L , ; S N + j , N + , = QL,
node N+i. If there is a branch between two nodes of the where Po,, and Qo, are the branch powers of sending
primary network, there must exist branches among terminals before separation respectively.
corresponding two active nodes and two related reactive When the directions of reactive power are from both
nodes, as shown in Fig.2. So, a network with N nodes is ends of the branch to the middle, reactive powers of two
equivalent to one with 2N nodes, in which nodes 1, 2, ..., sides can be equivalent to reactive loads, as shown in
N are active ones and nodes N+1, N+2, . .., 2 N are reactive Fig.2(c), and
ones. Po.,’ . poJI’ .
If the directions of active power and reactive power are ’I/ = ‘OJl + F r y ’ ‘N+r,] =-
the same, as shown in Fig.2(a), the equivalent model of v, ‘,I XI/’

line gets the following relation: St, = P L I ; S N + l , N+t = QLl + Qo, ;

i S, SJl = P L J ; SN+l,N+, = QL, + Qoji .
PoqfjQoq Poji+jQoji After power flow tracing completion, reactive power of
1 T . j each generator injected to a node is allocated in the
proportion of Q L i and Q, .
N+i Sv+i.~+j N+j
Obviously, S,, is active power for O<k<iv while S,, is
(a) The same directions of active power and reactive power reactive power for N<112N.
S, C. The Settlement of Line-to-Ground Capacitance
Poij-jQoij Pojij Q o j i The active power in the sending end of a line is always
larger than that in the receiving end, but not always true
-j for reactive power (like line @ in the numerical test
N+i s~+,.N+i N+j
example with this case), there even exists reactive power
(b) The opposite directions of active power and reactive power
outflow from both ends of a line (like line @ in the
numerical test example). The reactive power losses on a
line consist of two parts: capacitive losses in parallel
Poy+jQoi/ Poji-jQoji
capacitors and inductive losses in series inductances. As a
v
r,+/xIj component in power systems, that the reactive losses of a
line are capacitive or inductive is uncertain. In this paper,
(c) The flow’s directions direct to the line each line-to-ground capacitance is equivalent to reactive
Fig. 2. The cquivalcnt model of line power sources in both ends of a line, as shown in Fig.3.

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2004 IEEE International Conference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2004 Hong Kong
Poo+jQo~ Poji+jQoji &+jQ bi, Poji+jQ b,i
=
ij i T jQci
" " l j jQq
I T
Fig. 3. The settlement of line-to-ground capacitance
Then the previous problem can be settled well. In Fig.3,
Qh,=QoV+Qci and Qbji=Qojz-Qci, where Qci and QI are
the equivalent reactive powers in both ends of line.
D. The Process of Power Flow Tracing
Define the vector S,=[P,I, PI?,. .., P,N, QQ, ..., QN],
where S,, (k=l, 2, . .., 2h9 is the total injection power of
node k. Then a proportional sharing matrix M is defined,
where Mkl=Sk,/SIkdenotes the ratio of transmission power
from node k to node I over the total injection power of
node k.
The dimension of matrix M is 2Nx2N, and the sum of
all elements in any row is 1. If there is no branch between
node k and node I, Mkl=M/k=O;while only if there is a
branch between node k and node I, one of Mk. and Mlk is
unequal to 0. So M is a very sparse matrix.
Tracing starts from the pure source node k (including
generator's active power nodes and all reactive power
nodes). Firstly, search row kh of matrix M to find the
nonzero element Mk,, (Mkl is unequal to 0, that means
there is power transmission from node k to node I), then
go on searching the nonzero element from row lrhof M .
Repeat the previous steps, until reach load node Mil. The
proportional sharing coefficient Kgkli(it is the proportional
sharing coefficient from pure source node k to load node I)
through this route (called a supply route) can be gained by
multiplying associated coefficient Mk,. The sum of Kgkli
from the pure source node k to load node 1 through
different routes is equal to Kgkl. So, the portion KgklxSgkof
power Sgk injected by pure node k is taken away by load
node 1.
E. The Detection and Solution to Loop Flow
There may exist loop flow, especially AC loop flow in
a complex network (like the case shown in Fig.2(b)). If
there is a loop in the network, power flow tracing using
above approach will repeat ceaselessly, no result can be
gained. So it is essential to first detect and solve the loop
flow before starting tracing power flow.
The detection to loop flow goes along with tracing
process when searching M . If certain a node appears
repeatedly in the supply route during the searching
process, that means there exists loop flow consisted by
these repeated nodes in this supply route, then mark it and
jump out from the loop and continue to trace next node.
If an injection power participates in a loop flow, each
cyclic tracing result of this injection power on the flowed
branch in a loop flow forms a geometric series whose
common ratio is less than 1 [9]. And to different branches
influenced by the loop flow, the common ratio q is the
same, which can be gained by multiplying the power flow
357
sharing coefficients M of all lines in the loop flow. While
the first value of every geometric series is different, which
is the power flow sharing coefficient M of this line. So in
this paper, by calculating the limit of the geometric series
is adopted to determine the distribution factor of the loop
flow contributed to the associated branches. If the loop
flow influences a supply chain, multiply Kgkl of the supply
chain by l/(l-q) as modification. Finally, the portion S,
xKgkl/(l-q) of power Sgkinjected by pure node k is taken
away by load node 1.
111. IMPLEMENTATION OF TRACING
ALGORITHM
Based on the above approach, the following procedure
is implemented to trace power flow:
Calculate the power flow of power systems.
Settle each capacitance-to-ground of lines.
The N-node network is equivalent to a 2N-node
one.
Determine S, of each branch.
Form the vector S,.
Detect and solve loop flow.
Form the matrix M .
Determine the tracing sequence and start to trace
power flow.
IV. NUMERICAL
TEST
A 5-bus test system, as shown in Fig.4, is used to verify
the effectiveness of the proposed approach on power flow
tracing. The parameters of the network and the results of
power flow calculation are shown in Table I Table 111, -
the results of power flow tracing are shown in Table IV.
From tracing calculation, we draw out the following
comments:
1) The process of tracing does not become complex
because of the equivalence to the network (from N-node
to 2N-node), for M is a very sparse matrix.
2) The sum of all elements in each row in M is 1, that
means injection power to each node can be distributed out
completely.
3) The sum of all elements in each column in Table
IV is equal to the total load power, which is greater than
the actual load because it includes power losses
contributed to this load.
4) The sum of all elements in each row in Table IV is
60+j20
SO+jO
1
I' III
2 ' I ' " 5
0
50+j10 70+j30
Fig. 4. The five-bus test system
2004 IEEE International Conference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2004 Hong Kong

equal to the generator's generation or reactive power proves the validity of the proposed approach on power
source's output. flow tracing and the feasibility of presented algorithm.
5) The sum of all elements in the last row (total load
6 ) For comparison, the power flow tracing results
including losses) in Table IV is equal to the sum of the
with the method proposed in [4] are shown in Table V.
last column elements (total injected power including
The sum of all elements in a column in Table V is the
generators and reactive power sources) in Table IV. That
actual load demand; but the sum of all elements in a row
TABLE I in Table V is not equal to the actual generator output,
INFORMATION OF THE NETWORK because the actual generator output is equal to the sum of
the load and losses. The method in [4] neglects power
No I J R X Bl2
losses and the effect of reactive power flow to active
0 1 2 0.02 0.06 0.03
power flow, uses average active power flow of line to
0 1- - 3 -
0.08
- - 0.24 0.025 calculate, the results are not consistent with the fact.
0 2 4 0.06 0.18 0.020
0 2 5 0.04 0.12 0.015 TABLE V
RESULTS USED THE MODELOF REFERENCE [4]
0 3 4 0.01 003 0010
8 4 5 0.08 0.24 0.025 Load2 Load3 Load5 TOTAL
GI 0.448913 0 188972 0.378921 1.016806
TABLE I1
B S U L T S - BUS VOLTAGE AND POWER
POWER FLOWANALYSIS G4 0.052032 0.413528 0 328709 0.794279
TOTAL 0.500945 0.602500 0.707630 1.8 1 1085
NO PG QG PL QL V
1 1.03361 0.14518 0 0 1.06000
-_I__
2 - -0 - - ._ --0 - -05 I
01 I03451 I _ _
V. CONCLUSIONS
_ 3_ 0 __ I I
0
_ -
0.6
- - 02 - 104170
Based on thoroughly analysis to power flow tracing
4 08 028575 0 0 105000
methods, this paper proposes a new approach on tracing
5 0 0 0.7 0.3 0.99898
both power flow and losses simultaneously based on
proportional sharing principle.
TABLE 111
POWER FLOW ANALYSIS RESULTS - LINEPOWER AND CHARGING POWER Considering the coupling of active
power and reactive power, this
No I J pi PJ QI QJ PI Input QJ Input paper presents a method by
@ 1 2 0.84343 0.83016 0.15221 0.17819 0.03371 0.03211 separating a power node into two
0 1 3 0.19018 0.18757 -0.00703 0.04037 0.02809 0.02713 nodes: one active node and one
0 2 4 -0.09664 -0.09734 -0.07772 -0.03637 002140 0.02205 reactive node, active and reactive
0 2 5 042680 041888 015591 016319 001605 001497 losses due to the transmission of
- - ___ - - - ___ - - _ _
0 3 4 -041243 -041420 -0 15963 -0 I4307 001085 001103 active power, and active and
8 4 5 0.28846 0.28112 0.10631 0.13681 0.02756 0.02495 reactive losses due to the
transmission of reactive power, can
TABLE IV be calculated accurately. Two
TRACING RESULTS different tracing models are built
Load 2 Load 3 Load 5 TOTAL
up for active power with the same
G , 0.454958+/0 052605 0 190177+jO 014772 0.388473+~0077798 1.033608+j0.145175
direction with reactive power and
opposite, respectively. When the
Gq 0.052484+j0.017944
- 0.414201+j0.127118 0 333315+j0.140690
- -
0.800000+j0.285753
transmission line is light loaded,
ClZ JO 012215 j0.003430 1 0 01 8064 ~0.033709
the reactive power of receiving
cz_. I j 0 01 I807
- _- . __ - _- 0.000000
- - ._ -~ j0.020303
- -_ IO.-- -
j0.0321
. I --_I_

terminal may exceed that of

c13 10 010178 j0.002858 j0.015053 j 0 028089
sending end, so grounding
c;I 0 000000 10 0271 30 0.000000 j 0 027130
admittances of line are equivalent
G? j0.007869 0 000000 JO 013531 JO 02 1400
to reactive power sources in both
~0.001384
- ~0.009809
__ - _ _ - j0.010856 ~0.022050
- - - _ _
c-12 - - -. - - .. .. . ends of line, and loop flow is
czs j0.005902 0 000000 ~0.010148 jO.016050
. . detected and solved synchronously.
csz 0 000000 0 000000 j 0 014970 j 0 014970
Numerical test shows that the
C34 0 000000 10.010850 0 000000 10 010850
proposed method can trace both
- c43 j 0 000693 - - - -__ - j 0 00543
j0.004907 1 j0.011030
.__ - I - . - I- power flow and losses correctly
c4s jo.00 I73 1 j0.012260 JO 013569 j 0 027560
and effectively, which gives correct
c 54 b ~I!JOOOO 0.000000 j 0 024950 j0.024950
- guideline for transmission charge
TOTAL 0.507442+~0122328 0 604378+j0.213 134 0.721788+j0.365363 1 833608+~0.700826 allocation.

358
2004 IEEE Intemational Conference o n Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2004 H o n g K o n g
The method proposed in this paper is only suitable for
power pool mode. A next is included bilateral
contracts.
VI. REFERENCES
Yu Erkeng, Power Market, China Electric Power Publisher, Beijing,
1998.
Xie Kai, Yu Erkeng, Liu Guangyi, “Transmission Service in
electricity market (4)- allocation of transmission charges,” Power
System Technologv. vol. 21,110.7, pp.65-68, 1997.
Mohammad S, Hatim Y , Zuyi Li, Market Operation in Electric
Power Systems - Forecasting. Scheduling and Risk Management,
John Wilcy & Sons, New York, 2002
Bialek.J, “Tracing the flow of clectricity,” IEE Proc. Gener.
Transm. Distrib., ~01.143,no.4, pp.313-320, 1996.
Daniel Kirschen, Ron Allan, “Contributions of individual generator
to loads and flows,” IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, vol. 12,
no. 1, pp.52-60, 1997.
Daniel Kirschcn, Goran Strbac, “Tracing active and reactive power
between generators and loads using real and imaginary currents,’’
IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, vo1.14, no.4, pp.1312-1319,
1999.
Wang Xifan, Wang Xiuli, Jia Bin, “Fundament of loadflow
analysis in wheeling costing - loss allocation problem,” Electric
Power, ~01.31.no.6.ap.6-9.
. _ 1998.
C.N.Macquecn, M.R.Irving, “An algorithm for the allocation of
distribution system dcmand and energy losses,” IEEE Transactions
on Power Systems, vol.l1, no.1, pp.338-343, 1996.
Sun Hongbo, Chang Baobo, Zhou Jiaqi, “Study on allocation
energy losscs,” Automation of Electric Power System, vo1.23, 110.2,
pp.1-4, 1999.
[IO] Felix F. Wu, Yixin Ni, Ping Wei, “Power transfer allocation for
open access using graph theory - fundamentals and applications in
systems without loopflow,” IEEE Transactions on Power Systems,
~01.15,no.3, pp.923-929,2000,
[I I ] Peng Jianchun, Jiang Hui, Chcng Liansheng, “Theory of branch
complex power components induced by individual generator,”
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[I21 Li Wcidong, Sun Hui, Wu Yaguang, “An iterative load flow
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[I41 Li Weidong, Sun Hui, Wu Yaguang, “Research on rule for losses
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VII. BIOGRAPHIES
Zhou Ming received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in
power system and its automation from North China
Electric Power University (NCEPU) in 1989 and
1992 respectively. Now she is pursuing Ph. D.
degree.
Since 1992, Ms. Zhou has been with the
department of Electrical Engineering at NCEPU.
Now, she is an associate professor. Her areas of
interest include AI application to power system, electricity market, and
power system openition and management.
Sun Liying was born in Hcilongliang Province,
China, on Nov. 4, 1978. She received the B.S.
degree in power system and its automation from
North China Elcctnc Power Univcrsity (NCEPU) in
2001.
Since 2001, Miss Sun has been studying the
“p
mastcr’s degree at the department of electric power
. engineering of NCEPU. Her research area of interest
is power market.
Li Gengyin (M’2003) was born in Hebci Province,
China, on May 18, 1964. He reccived the B.S., M.S.
and Ph.D. degrees in power system and its
automation from North China Electric Power
University (NCEPU) in 1984, 1987 and 1996
respectively.
Since 1987, Dr. Li has been with the department
of Electrical Engineering at NCEPU. Now, he is a
professor and associated head of the Department.
His research areas of interest include electricity market, power quality,
analysis and control of power systems, and new transmission and
distribution technologies.
Yixin Ni received her B. Eng., M. Eng., and Dr. Eng. Degrees all in
electrical cngineering, Tsinghua University, China. She was former
Professor and Director of National Power System Lab, Tsinghua
University and now with the University of Hong Kong. Her interests arc
power system stability and control, FACTS, AI technology Application
in power systems and power market.