Large-scale control of domestic refrigerators for demand peak reduction in distribution systems

• Refrigerators can be flexibly disconnected from the network for short periods.
• The potential for peak demand reduction and improved network operation is considerable.
• We develop a simulation model for refrigerators including its thermodynamics characteristics.
• We propose strategies for large-scale demand control of refrigerators in distribution networks.
• The strategy contributes for reducing peak demand, improving losses and voltage profile.

This paper presents a practical strategy for large-scale control of domestic refrigerators for demand peak reduction in distribution systems. Due to thermodynamics particularities, the refrigerators can be flexibly disconnected from the network for short periods without impacting negatively on their delivered services. Besides, combined with the fact that these loads are present in almost every residential home, the potential for energy consumption reduction is considerable. In this context, the objective of this work is threefold: develop an adequate model for simulation of individual and group of refrigerators; implement practical strategies to manage the demand of refrigerators during peak time; and analyze the impact of such strategies in the operation of distribution systems. The simulation results confirmed that the proposed strategy can contribute not only for reducing peak demand, but also for improving losses and voltage profile of power distribution systems.