Distribution System Reconfiguration with Soft Open Point for Power Loss Reduction in Distribution Systems Based on Hybrid Water Cycle Algorithm

In this paper, the role of soft open point (SOP) is investigated with and without system re-configuration (SR) in reducing overall power losses improving voltage profile, as well effect increasing number SOPs connected to distribution systems under different scenarios using a proposed hybrid water cycle algorithm (HWCA). The HWCA formulated enhance (WCA) search performance based on genetic (GA) for complex nonlinear problem discrete continuous variables represented paper by SOP installation SR. WCA one most effective optimization algorithms, however, it may have difficulty striking balance between exploration exploitation due nature problem, which mostly causes slow convergence poor robustness. Consequently, an efficient solution improve exploitation, turn leads WCA’s possibility getting trapped local minima. Several cases are studied conducted IEEE 33-node 69-node investigate real benefit gained from alone or simultaneously Based obtained results, succeeds enhancing test considerably terms loss reduction (e.g., 31.1–63.3% 55.7–82.1% compared base case) profile when case while maintaining acceptable magnitudes cases. Furthermore, superiority method validated GA separately both systems. results show outperformance attaining best optimal least iterations.