Optimal network reconfigurations in distribution systems. I. A new formulation and a solution methodology

A new formulation of the network reconfiguration problem for both loss reduction and load balancing that takes into consideration load constraints and operational constraints is presented. The number of switch-on/switch-off operations involved in network reconfiguration is put into a constraint. The new formulation is a constrained, multiobjective and nondifferential optimization problem with both equality and inequality constraints. A two-stage solution methodology based on a modified simulated annealing technique and the ε-constraint method for general multiobjective optimization problems is developed. A salient feature of the solution methodology is that it allows designers to find a desirable, global noninferior solution for the problem. An effective scheme to speed up the solution methodology is presented and analyzed