Medium voltage planning tool based on utilities best practices and multi-objective optimization

This paper presents the methodology and its correspondent software conceived by Daimon Engineering to propose the medium voltage distribution system work plan of CELESC. To accomplish this job, a specially designed computer program has been created to take into account several technical variables, according to the type of problem (overcapacity of conductors and voltage drops). As a result of this approach, Daimon Engineering has been able to propose a set of alternatives for each problem, such as installation of air-break switches, feeders reconductoring, installation of capacitor banks, installation of voltage regulators etc. across the grid. To optimize the solutions, the developed computer program uses a posteriori approach in terms of preference articulation for solving multi-objective problems. In addition, to enhance the input data quality, another module, in the same software has been implemented to ease the user to find the alternatives to the network problems. This is accomplished by using concepts of Knowledge Management which will feed the software database with information from the organization memory, providing suggestions to the user in order to find the appropriate solutions.