Optimum Placement of Sectionalizing Switches in Distribution Networks with Alternative Supplies

The problem of optimum allocation of a given number of sectionalizing switches in distribution networks with alternative supplies to minimize a selected reliability factor is computationally hard due to a huge number of possible solutions. We present an efficient method for the computation of reliability factors in the presence of sectionalizing switches. The method uses the tree structure of radial distribution networks. Several methods to limit the search space in the optimum allocation problem are proposed. Limited search space combined with fast evaluation methods permits using the exhaustive search method for solving the allocation problem for a small number of switches and heuristic approaches requiring evaluation of the cost function for a large number of test cases. The performance of algorithms is tested using a real radial distribution network.