A more realistic approach for electric power distribution networks design that considers existing electric infrastructure and geographic constraints

Due to its considerable impact on the distribution systems' operative efficiency, the technical losses of electric energy are a fundamental parameter to be optimized during the design of the grids. Unfortunately, in practice, this task is generally made without facing the problem as a minimization of the total involved costs. In addition, the proposed methods for coping with this task actually are theoretical. Indeed, they do not consider that the circuit routes in most cases are constrained e.g., by rivers, parks, avenues, streets, sights, etcetera. In this paper, a novel routes-constrained clustering-based methodology is proposed with the aim of determining, without any assessment of operative costs, not only the optimal location of transformers but also the optimal -and feasible-paths for their secondary circuits. With illustrative purposes, a uniform distribution of clients' demand along the study area is assumed. For the sake of going deeper into this research topic, the authors are currently developing an improved version of this methodology, which could be applied to actual Electric Power Distribution Networks (EPDN), by dabbling into the digraphs and evolutionary algorithms application.