Optimized Distribution Systems Reconfiguration Considering Protection Devices Constraints

This paper presents a method for the optimized reconfiguration of radial distribution systems that explicitly considers the protection systems constraints. A fully automated method based on graph analysis is proposed to automatically identify the primary-backup relation between each pair of protection devices in different network topologies. Accordingly, protection systems constraints are derived automatically and incorporated into the optimization problem. The linearized and convexified nonlinear power flow equations, along with protection system coordination constraints, are solved using the second-order cone programming (SOCP) that assures the feasibility of the results while accelerating the convergence rate. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through the simulation of the 33-node IEEE test system.