An ACO algorithm for service restoration in power distribution systems

Service restoration in power distribution systems involves operating the line switches to restore as many loads as possible for the areas isolated by a fault. In service restoration, not only the final network configuration but also the sequence of switching operations is important. This paper proposes an ant colony optimization algorithm for a minimization problem of energy not supplied (ENS) during restoration process. The proposed algorithm based on a hypercube framework (HC-ACO) searches for an optimal switching sequence, and the solution provides an effective service restoration strategy that improves system reliability. The numerical results with a test power system demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm.