ABSTRACT
It is invaluable to mathematically model the behavior of a system. For distribu-
tion systems, this is exemplified by the power flow, which computes steady-state
voltages and currents on a power system and allows engineers to ensure that a
proposed design will meet important criteria such as equipment loading, voltage
drops, and system losses. A power flow model can also be used to calculate the
impact of system expansions and system upgrades before they are actually con-
structed. In essence, a power flow predicts the electrical behavior of the modeled
system. This is such a powerful concept that power flow models have become
fundamental to the distribution planning process.
