Distribution System Operation and Expansion Planning using Network Reconfiguration

This paper presents an algorithm for network reconfiguration which could help in the operation and expansion planning of three-phase distribution systems. Considering the fact that power losses lead to decrease utility benefits, and the three-phase unbalanced voltage can damage electrical machines, the proposed algorithm is presented as a multi-objective optimization problem based on Evolutionary Algorithms where the power losses and three-phase unbalanced voltage are simultaneously minimized. In order to validate the efficiency of the proposed reconfiguration algorithm, a large-scale radial electric distribution system, under maximum load conditions, is considered for operation planning. In addition, different scenarios are compared to test the algorithm as an expansion planning tool. The proposed algorithm maximizes the utility profits and improves system performance reducing power loss and unbalanced voltage.