Improvement of the voltage profile in distribution systems using load balancing and probabilistic load modeling

This paper presents two tools that may be applied in the study and improvement of the voltage profile in distribution systems, warranting higher quality in electrical energy supply. First, a method for the reconfiguration of electrical energy distribution networks is presented, focusing on network load balancing, obtained by means of the selection of feasible solutions through the intersection of fuzzy sets (considering technical criteria) which form the initial population so that a generic algorithm may determine the alternative with the highest adequacy degree for such criteria. Balancing of the distribution network lowers losses along the secondary feeders. Afterwards, a new modeling is presented, which represents analytically the uncertainty in nodal voltage of distribution systems when demand variation occurs. Probabilistic modeling allows one to identify load buses, which are more sensitive to voltage variation, without the need for a load flow solution.