A survey on distribution system feeder reconfiguration: Objectives and solutions

Feeder reconfiguration (FRC) is an important function of distribution automation system. It modifies the topology of distribution network through changing the open/close statuses of tie switches and sectionalizing switches. The change of topology redirects the power flow within the distribution network, in order to obtain a better performance of the system. Various methods have been explored to solve FRC problems. This paper presents a literature survey on distribution system FRC. Among many aspects to be reviewed for a comprehensive study, this paper focuses on FRC objectives and solution methods. The problem definition of FRC is first discussed, the objectives are summarized, and various solution methods are categorized and evaluated.