Optimal Reconfiguration of Power Distribution Systems

This paper presents a new method to solve the network reconfiguration problem. The uncertainty of system loads on different feeders which vary from time to time makes the distribution system operation and its control more complex. For a fixed network configuration power loss is not minimum in a distributed network. Hence, there is a necessity for reconfiguration of the network. Network reconfiguration is the process of altering the topological plan of feeders by changing switching status of sectionalizing and tie switches. Reconfiguration is carried out generally to reduce real power loss and to prevent overload in the network. Since network reconfiguration is a complex combinatorial optimization problem with several constraints, many algorithms are proposed in the past. The integrated approach for reconfiguration of power distribution systems helps to obtain more efficiency on power distribution systems with improved voltage profile. This paper introduces one of applications of the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) technique to solve the optimal network reconfiguration problem. The proposed method was examined on distribution network consisting of 33bus radial distribution systems at different load levels to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the proposed method. Keywords—Distributed network, reconfiguration, real power loss, efficiency, voltage profile, Ant Colony Optimization.