A novel approach for network reconfiguration based load balancing in distribution networks

Network reconfiguration for load balancing is the determination of switching-options for a particular set of loads on a distribution system that improves load balancing the most and is performed altering the topological structure of distribution feeders by changing open/closed status of sectionalizing and tie-switches. By transferring loads from the heavily loaded feeders to the lightly loaded ones, network reconfiguration can balance feeder loads and alleviate overload conditions of a network. In this paper a novel method is proposed by formulating an algorithm to reconfigure distribution networks for load balancing. Systematic logical approach is used to determine the feasible switching combinations, select the status of the switches, and find the best combination of switches for maximum improvement in load balancing. The algorithm has been developed in two stages. In the first stage, a limited number of switching combinations is formed by trinary logic principle. A simultaneous switching approach is applied logically to find the best combination by selecting the appropriate switching options, connecting the switches accordingly, and assigning the loads for the newly formed combinations. In the next stage, the search is extended to investigate whether any other switching combination gives rise to maximum improvement in load balancing, compared to the improvement obtained in the first stage. This is carried out by considering one after another, the branches next to the open-branches of the best configuration, and the switching configuration that gives the maximum improvement in load balancing is identified. The proposed method has been tested on a 69-bus test system, and the test results indicate that the algorithm proposed is able to determine the appropriate switching-options of the optimal (or near optimal) configuration with less computation. This paper proposes a scheme to implement the simultaneous switching algorithm for real-time on-fine control of three-phase distribution networks, with symmetrical loading per phase.