Energy Loss Minimization in Distribution Systems Utilizing an Enhanced Reconfiguration Method Integrating Distributed Generation

Different types of distributed generation (DG) are broadly used and optimally placed in a distribution system to improve its performance. Since the network configuration affects the system operational conditions, the network reconfiguration and DG placement should be manipulated simultaneously. Nevertheless, the complexity of the problem may prevent from achieving the optimal solution. This paper presents a novel hybrid method of metaheuristic and heuristic algorithms, in order to boost robustness and shorten the computational runtime to achieve network minimum loss configuration in the presence of DGs. The developed backward/forward power flow is adopted to consider the PV(Q) model of DG. Moreover, different patterns of load types are taken into consideration to perform a practical study. To assess the capabilities of the proposed method, simulations are carried out on IEEE 33-bus and 83-bus practical distribution network of Taiwan Power Company. Furthermore, the proposed method is applied to a 33-bus unbalanced distribution network to verify its applicability in unbalanced distribution systems. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method to find optimal status of switches, as well as locations and sizes of DG units, in a rather shorter time than other approaches in the literature.