A new formulation of the optimal compensation and reconfiguration problem including minimum load nodes unavailability for automated distribution networks

This paper deals with a new formulation of the optimal operation of electrical distribution networks problem in regular working state. In the new deregulated energy market providing reliable and economical service to customers is a primary task. The multiobjective formulation of the reconfiguration and compensation problem used in this paper considers as a primary object also the minimisation of the load nodes unavailability (UA) expressed in probabilistic terms. Therefore, the objectives to be attained through the optimisation strategy are: minimal power losses operation, minimum UA of the load nodes, load balancing among the HV/MV transformers, and voltage profile regularisation. The application carried out uses an evolutionary algorithm and a particular normalisation technique for the multiple objectives formulation. In the considered automated network, the remote control of capacitor banks and tie‐switches is possible and their layout is the optimisation variable. After a brief description of the optimal reconfiguration and compensation problem for automated distribution networks, the most recent papers on the topic are reported and commented. Then the problem formulation and the solution algorithm are described in detail. Finally, the test results on a large MV distribution network are reported and discussed.