Network reconfiguration for loss minimization and load balancing

A power distribution system normally is designed as a weakly meshed network but the system is operated as radial because of the protective problem. To make the system radial, several sectionalizing switches of the network must be opened. A problem to determine which switches should be opened is referred to as "network reconfiguration problem". The loss minimum or load balancing reconfiguration problem for the open loop radial distribution system is formulated as a combinational optimization problem, and is hard to solve. Many solution methods to solve the problem have been proposed so far. In this paper, algorithms proposed in past 15 years in IEEE transactions are surveyed and classified, and several recently developed algorithms are introduced.