Optimal Feeder Reconfiguration of Distribution System with Distributed Generation Units using HC-ACO

The objective of optimal feeder reconfiguration of radial distribution system problem is to obtain the best set of branches to be opened, one each from each loop, such that the resulting radial distribution system has the desired performance. This paper presents a feeder reconfiguration problem in the presence of distributed generators to minimize the system power loss while satisfying operating constraints using Hyper Cube-Ant Colony Optimization (HC-ACO) algorithm. Loss Sensitivity analysis is used to identify optimal location for installation of DG units. Simulations are conducted on 33 – bus radial distribution system at four different cases to verify the efficacy of the proposed method with other recent published approaches reported in the literature. The result shows that the method proposed is fast and effective. Keyword: Distribution system, radial distribution system, Distribution feeder reconfiguration, Distributed generator, Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm, Real power loss. Nomenclature Pi Real power flowing out of bus i Qi Reactive power flowing out of bus i P j Real power flowing out of bus j Q j Reactive power flowing out of bus j Li P Real power load connected at bus i Q Li Reactive power load connected at bus i PLj Real power load connected at bus j Q Lj Reactive power load connected at bus j i j R Resistance of line section between i and j i j X Reactance of line section between i and j , Lj eff P Effective real power load connected at bus j , Lj eff Q Effective reactive power load connected at bus j I ij Current in line section between buses i and j I ij max Maximum current in line section between buses i and j , i nom V Nominal voltage of bus i V i Voltage of buse i V j Voltage of buse j V i min Minimum value of bus voltage magnitude Received: December 12, 2013. Accepted: February 24, 2014