Optimal Service Reconfiguration and Restoration of Network using Cuckoo - Search and Prim's Algorithms

This study proposes a hybrid technique for solving the problem of optimal service reconfiguration and restoration of distribution network with Cuckoo-Search algorithm and Prim's algorithm. Network reconfiguration problem is done to minimize the losses in the network during varying load conditions. Service Restoration is an application of reconfiguration problems done during line outage conditions in the distribution network. Network reconfiguration problem are difficult to solve, because of two criteria. The first criteria is to identify the switching sequence as there are large number of sectionalizing and tie switches involved, since for ‘m’ switches in the network, the combinations will be of the order of 2m, and the second is to satisfy the radial conditions. Therefore, this research work applied Cuckoo-Search technique and Prim's algorithm to find the desirable switching sequence thereby reducing the search space for a particular load condition of the network. In this Cuckoo-search algorithm is used to generate various switching sequence and the Prim's algorithm is utilized to check the radial condition. The MATLAB simulation of Cuckoo-Search and Prim's algorithm is implemented in a 33 - bus IEEE test distribution network. The results show that not only the loss reduction but also voltage improvement during the distribution networks service reconfiguration and restoration.