Network Reconfiguration in the Presence of Distributed Generators and Voltage-Dependent Loads

Hybrid reconfiguration and distributed generators (DGs) operation is an efficient method for reducing power loss in distribution systems, in which load power significantly affects distribution losses and DGs output. Load power is not constant and is changed with voltage variations. Moreover, the power demand relationship with voltage depends on load type. However, these important issues have been considered rare in research on network reconfiguration and DGs planning. Only a few papers have considered voltage dependency and type of load in their relevant models. Nevertheless, their proposed reconfiguration models introduce high nonlinearity that should be computed by nonlinear solvers or metaheuristic algorithms or needs heavy linearization technique to implement them by linear solvers. Nonlinear solvers require high computational time, and metaheuristic algorithms cannot guarantee optimal solutions. Accordingly, appropriate modeling of load behavior is important in the reconfiguration of active distribution systems. This paper introduces an efficient reconfiguration model that is simple enough to implement in classic optimization tools and is accurate in finding suitable solutions for the reconfiguration problem.