Method and apparatus for regulating a voltage in a distribution system

Abstract

A method for the closed-loop control of a voltage in a distribution network that supplies nodes with voltage via mains power lines. A node, which recognizes that the local voltage of the distribution network present at the node lies above or below a permissible supply voltage range, switches from slave mode to master mode and in the master mode regulates the local voltage that is present, by drawing or supplying reactive power in order to reach the permissible supply voltage range. The node then indicates this to other nodes of the distribution network that are in slave mode by modulating an indication signal pattern onto the reactive power being drawn or supplied by the node. The signal pattern has a signal parameter which is proportional to the amplitude of the reactive power that is drawn or supplied by the node.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.