DISTRIBUTION NETWORK RECONFIGURATION
TO MINIMIZE RESISTIVE LINE LOSSES
G.3. Peponis M.P. Papadopoulos
Member IEEE
Electric Power Division
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
National Technical University, Athens, Greece
A b s t r a c t The o b j e c t i v e of t h e a n a l y s i s prcsprited is t o
I__-
o u l l i n e and v a l i d a t e a mcthodology € o r t h c o p t i m i z a t i o n of
MV d i s t r i b u t i o n network o p e r a t i o n , s o t h a t v a r i a b l e loads
a r e f e d under minimum encrgy losses. Loss minimizclliori is
achieved by t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n of shimt c a p a c i t o r s and
r e c o n f i g u r a t i o n of t h e netwot k. I h e impact of load v a r i -
a t i o n and load modelling on t h e optimizing d e c i s i o n s is
examined. Two d i c f e r c n t recoriciguratj on mclhods a r e
a p p l i e d and compared.
1. IN'I'ROWCTION
-
. In t h i s paper a combiiied method f o r t h c approach t o t h e
Most e l e c t r i c d i s t r i b u l i o n networks a r e o p e r a t e d r a d i a l l y .
Nevertheless, t h e r e a r e u s u a l l y s e v e r a l i n t e r c o n n e c t i n g
t i e s w i t c h e s a v a i l a b l e , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e undergroutid
medium v o l t a g e networks. C o n f i g u r a t i o n a1 l c r a t i o n s may be
performed by changes of t h e s t a t e of network s w i t c h e s , i n
such a way t h a t r a d i a l i t y is always r e e s t a b l i s h e d a f t e r
t h e end of l h e manipulations.
The optimal o p e r a t i n g c o n d i t i o n of d i s t r i b u t i o n networks
is u s u a l l y considcred t o be obtained when l i n e l o s s e s a r e
mii~imized,without any v i o l a t i o n s of branches loading and
v o l t a g e limits. Olher s e r v i c c q u a l i t y c r j t e r i a caii be Cur-
t h e r used, l i k e s e r v i c e c o n t i n u i t y o r v o l t a g e s t a b i l i t y .
Loss minimization problem was formely f a c e d as a p a r t of
.
d i s t r i b u t i o n networks p l a n n i n g s l u d i e s Recent advances i n
d i s t r i b u t i o n automation technology have s u b s t a n t i a l l y i m -
proved c o n t r o l arid network management c a p a b i l i t i e s . Con-
s e q u e n t l y , t h e g e n c r a l problem of l o s s minimization has
g r e a t e r e f f e c t on d i s t r i b u t i o n o p e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n s .
P r a c t i c a l l y , l o s s minimization is o b t a i n e d i n two ways:
- i n s t a l l a t i o n o f c a p a c i t o r s , when t h i s is economically
justified,
- network r e c o n f i g u r a t i o n , t h a t i s t h e s e l e c t i o n of t h e
p r o p e r t o p o l o g i c a l s t r u c C u r e of t h e network f o r miniinum
losses.
Determination of t h e optimum s i z e and p l a c e of c a p a c i t o r s
i s a very o l d problem f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n enginpers atid
s e v e r a l papers have been published on t h i s s u b j e c t . Recon-
f i g u r a t i o n problem has been r e l a l i v e l y r e c m t l y t a c k l e d ,
because of t h e advanced computing and c o n t r o l c a p a b i l -
i l i e s r c q u i r e d f o r i t s s t u d y . lhis i s dne t o the f a c t l h a t
i n r e a l d i s t r i b u t i o n networks t h e numhrr o€ s w i t c h i n g
o p t i o n s t o be t e s t e d and c o n t r o l l e d f o r l o s s minimization
is very l a r g e .
l I e i i r i s t i c r a t h e r than a n a l y t i c a l methods appear t o be more
c f f c c t i v c f o r f c e d c r r c c o n f i g u r a t i o n s t u d i e s . 'Two b a s i c
methods have been developed. 111 t h e f i r s t [ l ] , a simple
Paper APT 425-06-21 accepted for presentation at the
IEEE/NTUA Athens Power Tech Conference: "Planning,
Operation and Contiol of Today's Electric Power Systems", Athens,
Greece, Scpt. 54,1993.
GO 1
N. D.Ilatziargyriou
Senior Member IEEE
formula is used f o r -the e s t i m a t i o n of t h e l o s s r e d u c t i o n
o b t a i n e d I J a~ p r t i c i i l a r swit.ching o p t i o n , t h a t is c l o s i n g
a s w i t c h and opening a n o t h e r i n t h e loop formed ("Switch
Exchange Metliod"- SEM). In the second [ 2 , 3 ] , a l l t i e
s w i t c h e s a r e i n i t i a l l y c l o s e d , and an optimal load flow i.s
o b t a j n e d . System i.s r c t u r n c d t o a r a d i a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n by
s u c c e s s i v e openings of t h e switches having t h e lowest
c u r r c n t flow, uritj.1 network r a d i a l i t y is obtained ("Se-
.
q u e n t i a l S w i b h Opening Method"- SSOM) Many p a p e r s , u s i n g
t h e above i d e n s have been prescnted i n r e c e n t y e a r s .
optima 1 o p e r a t i n g c ondj:t i on I)f t1isi:r i.hi] I:i on ne t works i.s
p r e s e n t c d . I t s two main s t e p s a r e :
- Optimum o r xicar optj.muin network configurn-lion is ob-
t a i n e d u s i n g one of .the two b a s i c methods mentioned
above, t a k i n g i n t o account loading and v o l t a g e con-
s h - a i n t s . A v o l t a g e q u a l i t y index ['(] is a l s o Gal-
culated.
- Optimum c a p a c i t o r s i z e and l o c a t i o n a r e dct.ermined.
'l'lris is obtai.ned with t h e mcthod developed i n 151,
based on dynamic programming t e c h n i q u e s .
T h i s procedure is r e p e a t e d u n t i l t h e two steps produce the
same c o n f i g u r a t i o n a i d c a p a c i t o r arrangements.
The computer program dcvcloped is a p p l i e d on a . t y p i c a l
2OKV network c o n s i s t i n g of f i v e f e e d e r s . The impact of
load v a r i a t i o n arid load modelling on loss minjmization and
v o l t a g e q u a l i t y index improvement, is examined.
2 . GENI!RAL ALGORI"
The proposed method c o n s i s t s of t h e following steps:
1.. Iletermine the o p e r a t i n g c o n d i t i o n and cnergy I.ossc?s of
t h e c x i s t i r i g system.
2 . Reconfigure t h e system and determine the iiew o p c r a t i n g
condition.
3 . Remove t h e i n s t a l l e d c a p a c i t o r s and connect t h e onas :
r e s u l t i n g i n the mmimuni net b e n e f i t OIL the ireconfig-
ured system.
4 . Repeat s t e p s 2 and 3 u n t i l r e c o n f i g u r a t i o n and capa-
c i.tor i n s t a l l a t i o n s t c p s produce t h e same confi.guration
and capaci t.or arrangements.
5. l'erform a f i n a l load flow a i i a l y s i s and c v a l u a t c cnergy
losses.
In t h e f i v e s t e p s o u t l i n e d above, load is modeled as
follows.
G e n e r a l l y , t h e t o t a l load a t each node consist:? of f i v e
types ( e . g . r-csident.ia1, i i i d u s t r i a l e t c ) . Typical load
v a r i a t i o n with time is dctermj.nec1 by a given p r o f i l e f o r
each c h a r a c t e r i s t i c day ( c . g . w i n t e r worlti.ng tiily, snmmer
weekend day e t c ) . Given t h e t o t a l power i n s t a l led and tlrc
load composition a t each riotic, a c t i v e and r e a c t i v e load
curves can be obtained.
Loads caii be r c p r e s e n t e d by d i f f e r e n t models as c o n s t a n t
c u r r e n t ( v o l t a g e independent c u r r e n t i n j e c t i o n s ) - CJ,
c o n s t a n t power (i.nversely p r o p o r l i o n a l t o v o l t a g e vitlue) -
CS, c o n s t a n t impedance ( d i r e c t l y p r o p o r t i o n a l t o v o l t a g e
valuc) - CZ arid mixed - MX t h a t is any conil,inalion of t h c
p r e v i o u s models.

?'he t w o b a s i c reconf i g u r a t i o n methods have been irnproved
and g e n e r a l i z e d i n o r d e r t o account f o r v a r i a b l e loads.
3.1 SWITCII IXCIIANGE MLTlIOD (SEM)
d ) A s w i t c h i n g o p t i o n l e a d i n g t o energy l o s s r e d u c t i o n can
be c a r r i e d o u t i f no branch flow c o n s t r a i n t s a r e v i o l a t e d .
R e f e r r i n g t o F i g . 1 , t h e checks r e q u i r e d a r e d e f i n e d .
S u p e r s c r i p t s r e f e r t o the network c o n f i g u r a t i o n s b e f o r e
and a f t e r t h e s w i t c h i n g a c t i o n .

This method, d e s c r i b e d i n [ l J , i s a p p l i e d f o r C J loads. I t

is based on t h e e s t i m a t i o n O C l o s s r e d u c t i o n from (l), i i ) On t h e p a t h ( s t a r t - m) : f!ft = fP+f'zf
r e s u l t i n g from a p a r t i c u l a r s w i t c h i n g optioii, t h a t i s t h e
c l o s i n g of one open s w i t c h and t h e opening of one of t h e i i i ) On t h e p a t h ( 1 - n) : fjfe= fyf-fEf
s w i t c h e s i n t h e loop formed.
I n p r a c t i c e , changes i n t h e s t a t e of t h e two s w i t c h e s
( c l o s i n g , opening) a r e n o t simultaneous, and t h e loop
formed remains f o r s e v e r a l minutes. During t h i s o p e r a t i n g
where : c o n d i t i o n c o n s t r a i n t v i o l a t i o n s on t h e f o l l o w i n g branches
D s e t of buses which a r e disconnected from Feeder-I1 and should be examined :
connected t o Feeder-I with t h i s s w i t c h i n g o p t i o n ,
iv) p c p - Vm
- fbef
-bef
n
m,n buses connected t o branch m-n, where t h e s w i t c h t o m
be c l o s e d is i n s t a l l e d . Dus m is connected on ,L%l
Feeder-I and bus n on Feeder-11, on t h e p a t h ( s t a r t - q ~ ) : fiw = f'pf+f&q
3, complex load c u r r e n t a t bus i ,
R l o o p s e r i e s r e s i s t a n c e of t h e loop formed by c l o s i n g t h e On t h e p a t h ( s t a r t - n) :"'f = fyf-f&mP
s w i t c h of _branch-m-n,
5, component of E=R,,, J B t Icorresponding s t o bus m . R,,,, In both r e c o n f i g u r a t j on methods branches are numbered
is t h e " r e s i s t a n c e matrix" of Feeder-I b e f o r e the load a f t e r each s t e p i n l a y e r s away from t h e r o o t , a s p r e s e n t e d
t_ransfer, found u s i n g ttie s u b s t a t i o n bus a s r e f e r e n c e . i n 171.
is t h e _ v e c t o r of bus c u r r e n t s f o r Feeder-I,
%,, J,,;
similar t o E, b u t d e f i n e d f o r 1ius n on Feeder-11, 3.3 SEQUENTIAL SWITCH OPENING METHOD (SSOM)
Re[. J , *, I . I r e a l p a r t , complex conjugate and magnitude
operators, respectively. I n t h i s method, developed i n [2] and modified i n [3], a
low l o s s c o n f i g u r a t i o n is determined by a p p l y i n g an op-
A f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g a l l p o s s i b l e s w i t c h i n g o p t i o n s , t h e one timal power flow a n a l y s i s t o t h e system w i t h a l l s w i t c h e s
which provides ttie l a r g e s l l o s s r e d u c t i o n i s c a r r i e d o u t . c l o s e d . The system is l e a d t o a r a d i a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n by
This set of a c t i o n s is c a l l e d " s t e p " . Successive s t e p s a r e opening t h e s w i t c h e s o f t h e branches with t h e lowest
followed u n t i l no f u r t h e r l o s s r e d u c t i o n is p o s s i b l e . c u r r e n t , t h e optimal flow p a t t e r n being determined a f t e r
T h i s method does not e n s u r e convergeiice t o t h e optimum each s w i t c h opening o p e r a t i o n , c a l l e d " s t e p " . Branch
c o n f i g u r a t i o n , while it is dcpendent o n t h e i n i t i d 1 s t a t e c u r r e n t flows should be checked f o r c o n s t r a i n t v i o l a t i o n s
of t h e network s w i t c h e s . a f t e r each s t e p .
3.2 IMPROVED SWITCII EXCIIANGE ME7110D (ISEM) Optimal flow a t each meshed network is determined a s t h e
branch c u r r e n t flowing i n t h e r e s i s t i v e network ( w i t h
Let us c o n s i d e r t h e network of F i g . 1 and examine t h e branch r e a c t a n c e s n e g l e c t e d ) , t h e load nodal c u r r e n t
e f f e c t s of c l o s i n g t h e s w i t c h of branch m-n and opening i n j e c t i o n s considered c o n s t a n t . While t h i s i s t r u e f o r C J
branch k-1. l o a d s , a s proved i n [3], it can n o t be g e n e r a l i z e d f o r a l l
load models. This i s due t o t h e f a c t t h a t load dependence
on v o l t a g e does n o t allow t h e d i r e c t t r a n s f e r of t h e load
c u r r e n t i n j e c t i o n s c a l c u l a t e d f o r t h e complex network t o
., its r e s i s t j v e p a r t . Mathematically, t h e d e r i v a t i o n s
r e q u i r e d by t h e Lagrange o p t i m i z a t i o n method do n o t g i v e
simple r e s u l t s similar, t o t h o s e f o r C J loads i l l u s t r a t e d
i n [3].
F i g u r e 1: Switching o p t i o n : c l o s i n g s w i t c h of branch m-n,
operiing s w i t c h of branch k-I. Load v a r i a t i o n complicates f u r t h e r t h e c h o i c e of t h e
s w i t c h t o be opened a t each s t e p . Various t e s t s have shown
Equation (1) can be more e f f i c i e n t l y a p p l i e d , i f we t a k e t h a t t h e switch t o be opened corresponds t o t h e branch
i n t o accouril t h e f o l l o w i n g g e n e r a l remarks.
with min :Irkct) , where f k ( t ) t h e complex c u r r e n t
a) =€kl
zp31 where T,, i s t h e load c u r r e n t flown flowing on hranch k a t time t .
through t h e s w i t c h whose opening is being However, t h i s method p r e s e n t s t h e advantage of being inde-
examined. pendent from t h e i n i t i a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n arid s o i l is more
l i k e l y t o o b t a i n t h e a b s o l u t e optimum r a t h e r t h a n a l o c a l
b) @# = RBmm*d ( 1 , m), f
. minimum.
where: R B R A N C H - diagonal m a t r i x of branch r e s j d a n c e s ,
A(i,m) - m column of t h e branch i n c i d e n c e m a t r i x Power flow s o l u t i o n of meshed networks.
adapted t o t h e r a d i a l o p e r a t i o n of d i s t r i b u t i o n
networks [ 6 ] and Using d i a c o p t j c s [ 7 ] , it can he proven, t h a t a branch
YBRANC,,- brancl1 c u r r e n t v e c t o r . having a normally open s w i t c h can be p r e s e n t e d i n c l o s e d
Avoiding c o n s t r u c t i o n of R,,,matrix is very advantageous p o s i t i o n a s nodal c u r r e n t i n j e c t i o n s on t h e nodes
for reconfiguratiori processes. connected.

c ) Lost energy can be e s t i m a t e d by adding AP(t) f o r a l l

d i f f e r e n t network l o a d i n g s (time p o i n t s ) . This summation
Current
from
'ii3
is calcuIat$d
fi;l -
p r e v e n t s u s from t h e u s e of t h e I i e u r i s t i c rule_ t h a t I_oss
r e d u c t i o n may occur l o r t h e s w i t c h e s where IB,I < IE,I,
r e d u c i n g t h e number of s w j Lching o p t i o n s [ I ] .
GO2
 I f more than one normally open s w i t c h e s e x i s t , c l o s i n g of
each one a f f e c t s c u r r e n t _ j n j z c t i o n s r c p r e s c n t i n g t h e
o t h e r s through t h e v o l t a g e s V i , Vi. I n such c o n f i g u r a t i o n s
i t e r a t i v e power flows a r e requiked t o determine branch
flows a c c u r a t e l y , as accuracy h i g h l y a f f e c t s t h e r c s u l ts
of t h i s method.
a r e 50 branch s w i t c h e s i n s t a l l e d . A t t h e i n i t i a l config-
u r a t i o n , shown i n Fig.2, 17 of them a r e open. Haiti l i n e s
conductors a r e of ACSR-95 and ACSR-50 t y p e s and l a t e r a l s
of ACSR-50 and ACSR-16 t y p e s ,

'This powcr flow method may resul-t i n v o l t a g e i u s t a h i l i t y

f o r C S o r CZ loads f o r c e r t a i n poor i n i t i a l nctwork con-
f i g u r a t i o i i s . I n g e n e r a l , however i t is computational l y
e f f i c i e n t and a c c u r a t e .

4 . CAPACITOR 1NSTAI.I.ATION PROCESS

7 2
Reactive powrr compeiisation i s t h e most w i d r l y a r c c p t c d E13
mean of improving v o l t a g e p r o f i l e and energy l o s s e s i n
d i s t r i b u t i o n rielworks. W j th this approach next to vol tage/
v a r c o n t r o l o t h e r o p e r a t i o n a l pilramei e r s a r e a l s o i m -
proved, I i k e t h e p r a k c u r r e n t flows on network br anchcs
and the t o t a l peak MVA of t h e system. Thr t o t a l peak M W
r e d u c t i o n however, i s qiiestionable and j t depends on t h e t- c l o s e d s w i t c h .\. open s w i t c h
t y p e of load. For C J lodds power l o s s reducl i o n r e s u l t s i n
an equal i n c r e a s e of power consumption arid ronst a n t F i g u r e 2: A p p l i c a t i o n network.
incoming MW f e d t o t h e network. Reduction i s obscrved f o r
CS loads and i n c r e a s e , i n m o s t c a s e s , f o r CZ l o a d s . For C J load model t h e i n i t i a l annual maximum load of each
feeder is:
Voltage improvement cannot Le d i r e c t l y f i n a i i c i a l l y astim- Feeder A I3 C D E
aterl, whi l e t h e prof j t rcsril t i n g from t a t a l NVA and branch Load (MVA) : 2.42 5.1 2.96 3.11 5.2
c u r r e n t flow r e d u c t i o n s depends as well on o t h e r opera-
tioii parameters and long term planning d e c i s i o n s . On t h e D i s t r i b u t i o n s u b s t a t i o n u n i t s o r groups a r e connected a t
c o n t r a r y , l o s s r e d u c t i o n can be d i r e c t l y f i n a n c i a l l y each node. Loading has been determined t a k i n g i n t o account
estimated. t h e load composition ( r e s i d e n t i a l , i n d u s t r i a l e t c ) of each
f e e d e r arid t h e corresponding load p r o f i l e .
The o b j e c t i v e c o s t f u n c t i o n of t h i s problcm is:
F = : [ s L ~ ( I ~-~ C(i,)
) 1 Estimation of network v o l t a g e q i a l i t y is o b t a i n e d u s i n g Cw
index. l'his is r v a l u a t e d as t h e summai ion of node v o l t a g e
wherc : summation i n c l u d e s a1 1 nel-work brnncltes, v a r i a n c e s I J ~ ' . Each v a r i a n c e is c a l c u l a t e d based on t h e
SLk(Ick) t h e p r o f i t d u r t o annual energy l o s s reduct ion nominal v o l t a g e and t h e summation is weighted by t h e
on branch k, r e s u l t i n g from t h e flow of c o n t r i b u t i o n of t h e n o d e ' s load t o t h e t o t a l .
c a p a c i t i v e c u r r e n t Ick on it.
C(ick) annual c o s t ( d e p r e c i a t i o n p l u s o p e r a t i o n a l The r e s u l t s of t h e h e u r i s t i c methods a r e compared t o t h e
c o s t ) of t h e c a p a c i t o r i c ki n s t a l l a d a t bus k. a b s o l u t e optimum f o r each load modal. The l a t t e r is ob-
t a i n e d f r o m t h e examination of a l l p o s s i b l e c o n f i g u r a t i o n s
Power l o s s r e d u c t i o n on branch k is proven l o be: and t h e e v a l u a t i o n of energy l o s s e s f o r t h o s e t e c h n i c a l l y
a c c e p t e d . The time r e q u i r e d f o r t h i s d e t a i l e d s e a r c h i s ,
A P ~= 3~~(2r&..-r&)
of c o u r s e , p r o l i i b i t i v c f o r a c t u a l system a p p l i c a t i o n s .
where : R, t h e k-th liraiich r e s i s t a n c e and
I,, t h e r e a c t i v e load c u r r e n t flow on branch k. 5.1 APPLICATION OF IECONFIGURATION METIION

Summing up energy l o s s e s f o r a l l d i f f e r e n t network loading 5.1.1 Constant current loads

c o n d i t i o n s over one y e a r , g i v e s the annual encrgy l o s s
reduction.
Dynamic programming t e c h n i q u e s , a r e proven t o be w r y
e f f i c i e n t i n t h e s o l u t i o n of t h i s o p t j n i i z a t i o n problem
The optimal c o n f i g u r a t i o n found by t h e d e t a i l e d s e a r c h of
a11 p o s s i b l e c o i i f i g u r a t i o n s , is i l l u s t r a t e d i n Fig.3.
INFEED

[5,0] and have been used i n o u r approach.

An h e u r i s t i c method f o r t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of f i x c d cnpa-
c i t o r s on networks with load models d i f f e r e n t than C J
c o n s i s t s of t h e f o l l o w i n g s t e p s :

a ) Determine t h e o p e r a t i n g c o n d i t i o n of 1 he network t a k i n g
i n t o account load v o l t a g e dependence ( c a p a c i t o r s a r e A3

modelled as CZ l o a d s ) .
h) Remove t h e c a p a c i t o r s i n s t a l l e d .
c ) For t h e c u r r e n t flows determined i n s t e p 1, f i n d t h e
c a p a c i t o r set t h a t minimizes o p e r a t i o n c o s t ,
cl) Repeat s t e p s a-c u n t i l t h e c a p a c i t o r s e t i n s t a l l e d is
not altered.

5. STUDY CASE
____- F i g u r e 3: Optimum c o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r C J loads.

The overhead system i l l u s t r a t e d i n F i g . 2 was s e l e c t e d f o r The s t e p s followed a p p l y i n g t h e two h e u r i s t i c methods are

t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e methods p r e s e n t e d . I t c o n s i s t s of i l l u s t r a t e d i n Fig.4. ISEM g i v e s s u c c e s i v e r a d i a l config-
f i v e 20KV f e e d e r s , w i t h 63 nodes and 00 braiiches. 'There u r a t i o n s with decreilsiug l o s s e s a f t e r each s l e p . Cw index

GO3
is a l s o c o n t i n u o u s l y improvrd. SSOM hegins f r o m lhe mrshetl
nelwork ( a l l switclies c l o s e d ) arid by s e q u e n t j a l s w i t c h 4000
openings radia1il.y is achieved. 'The change of minimum
l o s s e s a f t e r l h e optjinal flow a t each s t e p i s i l l u s t r a t e d 3600 - il

i n Fig.4.
3200 -
1f

2800 - Lt

2400 -

2000 ' ' ' ' ' ' '2 - d - u .

2900 - 50
F i g u r e 5: Reconfiguration r e s u l t s f o r o t h e r load models.

Configu Cw Losses
ra1.i on (MWh) from from
F i g u r e 4 : Reconfiguration r e s u l t s f o r C J l o a d s .
Initial 224.02 3,700.11
From Pig.4 i l is c l c a r t h a t v o l t a g e improvement i s a l s o C Optimum 179.73 3,531.76
o b t a i n e d by network r e c o n f i g u r a t i o n aimjng a t l o s s s SSOM 179.73 3,531.76
reduction.
Initial 155.72 2,777.70
The numerical r e s u l t s a r e summarized i n Table 1. C Optimum 137.45 2,605.75
Z SSOM 132.72 2,607.52

1
1 I
I 1 I
~~ -~
ConIj g u r Losses Reduction Devia 1ioii
ation cw (MWh) from from
initial % optimum %
179.35 3,109.43 0.00 76

InInliaI
11. Table 2.
Optimum 150.11 3,0/1Ll.37 4.55
5.1.3 I n i t i a l a l e e f f e c t s
ISEM 152.1.4 3,049.01 4.40 0.15
In o r d e r t o examine t h e dependence of t h e h e u r i s t i c
150.11 3,044.37 4.55 methods on t h e iriilial s t a t u s of t h e nelwork s w i t c h e s ,
both methods a r e a p p l i e d on a p a r t i c u l a r l y poor i n i t i a l
Table 1 c o n f i g u r a t i o n , r e s u l t i n g i n i n i t i a l l o s s e s of 6,073.5GMWh
and Cw = 701.
The e x e c u t i o n t i m e of t h e two a l g o r i l h m s depends h i g h l y on
the management of t h e d a t a f i l e s r e q u i r e d t o account f o r A p p l i c a t i o n of ISEM provides t h e optimum network config-
t h e loads v a r i a t i o n . Itowever, it should be noted t h a t ISEM u r a l i o r i of Fig.3. The i n i t i a l s t a t e considered r e q u i r e s
appears much f a s t e r (105 s e c s on a PC 306, 33 MIlz f o r 16 20%more t i m e t h a n t h e i n i t i a l s t a t e of Fig.2. SSOM g i v e s
d i f f e r e n l network l o a d i n g s , whj l e SSOM r e q u i r e s 477 s e c s ) . l h e same r e s u l t s f o r C J loads b u t 125% more t i m e i s
r e q u i r e d due t o t h e meshed power flow method used. For
5.1.2 Other load models o t h e r load models SSOM g i v e s no r e s u l t s , as v o l t a g e
i n s t a b i l i t y is noted.
The d i f f e r e n t load models a r e considered and r e s u l t s a r e
compared w i t h those f o r C,J loads. 111 p a r t i c u l a r , mixed I t can he concluded t h a t i n i t i a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n a f f e c t s
loads a r e considered c o n s i s t i n g o f : 30% C J loacls, 25% CS ISEM r e s u l t s and SSOM coiiiputing t i m e . A l t e r n a t i v e power
and 115% CZ f o r t h e w i n t e r p e r i o d and 30%, 45I, 25% flow methods could he used w i t h SSOM f o r CP, CZ and MX
r e s p e c t i v e l y f o r t h e summer p e r i o d . loads when needed f o r s p e c i a l i n j t i a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n s .

'The optimum' c o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r CS arid MX loads is t h e one
i l l u s t r a t e d i n F i g . 3 (same with t h a t f o r C J l o a d s ) . For CZ
loads minimum encrgy loss is achieved by c l o s i n g branches
C2-D7 and D4-Dl4 and opening branches D2-D7 and C9-Dl4 i n
P i g . 3.
SSOM was a p p l i e d and convergence t o t h e optjmum f o r each
load model is i l l u s t r a l e d i n F i g . 5 . l'lie e f f e c t of t h o s e
models on t h e network l o s s e s p r e s e n t s p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t .
The numerical r e s u l t s a r e summarized i n Table 2 .
5.2 APPLJCATION OF RECONFIGURATION AND CAPACITOR
INSTALLATION MEIIIODS
In t h i s s e c t i o n t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n of f i x e d c a p a c i t o r banks
a t t h e network a f t e r r e c o n f i g u r a t i o n i s examined. The
i t e r a t i v e a l g o r i t h m p r e s e n t e d i n paragraph 2 is a p p l i e d .
As mentioned, c a p a c i t o r i n s t a l l a t i o n l a k e s i n t o consid-
e r a t i o n energy l o s s r e d u c t i o n , a s well a s c a p a c i t o r c o s t
t o maximize t h e n e t economical p r o f i t , arid can be
implemented f o r a l l load models.

I t can be n o t i c e d t h a t load model h i g h l y a f f e c t s calcu- In {.lie f o l l o w i n g a p p l i c a t i o n s i n s t a l l a t i o n of 300, 450,

l a l e d l o s s e s . MX load model, which can be considered t h e GOO and 9UO CKVA c a p a c i t o r s is examined.
most a c c u r a t e , g i v e s almost t h e same r c s u l t s with C J
model. Ilowever, load model does n o t s e r i o u s l y a f f e c t -
5.2.1 Corislanl c u g e n t loads
convergencc t o optimum corifj g u r a t i o n .
? h e ISEM is chosen f o r network r e c o n f i g u r a t i o n as t h e
e f f e c t s of r a p a c i t o r i n s t ~ i l l a l i o ncan be more c l e a r l y
illustrated.
604
 A f t e r rcconf i g n r a t i o n , c a p d c i t o r s arc o p t i m a l l y i n s t d l l e d
a t nocles ( s i z e s i n CKVA):
A2 900, 03 900, D4 1150, C2 900, D2 900, E2 GOO and E 3 900
(5550 CKVA i n t o t d l ) .
Configuration is s l i g h t l y a l t e r e d a f t e r t h i s i n s t a l l a t i o n .
'The r e s u l t s are given i n F i g . 6 . 'The f i n a l artnrial energy
l o s s e s a r e 2,250.93 MWh, which g i v e s il t o t a l 29.432
r e d u c t i o n of t h e i n i t i n 1 l o s s e s .
Lost onorgy / year (MWh) cw
180
Capadtor Installallon
.-
- 60
-Losses -Cw
Figure 6 : Reconfiguration and c a p a c i t o r i i t s t a l l a t i o n
f o r C J loads.
5 . 2 . 2 Other l o a d models
For CS loads t h e i n i t i a l energy l o s s i s 3,700.1 1 M W h .
A f t e r r e c o n f i g u r a t i o n , tlie f o l l o w i n g c a p a c i t o r s a r e
i i i s t a l l e t l : A2 900, 113 900, 1J4 600, C2 900, 112 900, D4 300,
E2 600 arid E3 900 CKVA (6000 CKVA i n t o t a l ) .
The r e s u l t i n g energy l o s s is reduced by 3 0 . 4 3 2 .
For CZ l o a d s , t h e c a p a c i t o r s i n s t a l l e d are: A2 900, B3
900, U 4 450, C2 900, D2 900, E2 600 and E3 900 CKVA (5550
CKVA i n t o t a l ) , r e s u l t i n g i n t o t a l energy l o s s r e d u c t i o n
16.072.
For MX l o a d s , t h e c d p a c i t o r s i n s t a l l e d are: A2 900,
D3 900, D4 600, C2 900, 112 900, E2 GOO and E 3 900 CKVA
(5700 CKVA i n t o t a l ) , r e s u l t i n g i n t o t a l eiiergy l o s s
r e d u c t i o n 27.89%.
We observe t h a t energy l o s s e s a r e s e r i o u s l y a f f e c t e d by
t h e load model used, although t h e r e a r e n o t important
d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e proposed c a p a c i t o r s . I t is a l s o i n t e r -
e s t i n g t h a t t h e r e s u l t s obtairied f o r C J and MX loads are
approximately t h e same. This c o n c l u s i o n i s i n agreement
w i t h experimental r e s u l t s p u b l i s h e d i n [ 9 ] .
--
6 . CONCLUSIONS
I n t i t i s paper a combiiied r e a c t i v e power c o n t r o l and
network r e c o n f i g u r a t i o n m e t h o d is p r e s e n t e d and a p p l i e d on
a t y p i c a l 20KV overhead network. The e f f e c t i v e l i e s s o f t h e
most widely used network r e c o n f i g u r a t i o n methods f o r l o s s
minimization is i n v e s t i g a t e d t a k i n g i n t o account t h e load
modelling a l t e r n a t i v e s . The most important c o n c l u s i o n s a r e
t h e following:
- I n t h e c a s e s c o n s i d e r e d , t h e same f i n a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n
i s p r a c t i c a l l y o b t a i n e d by any of t h e two methods,
"Switch Exchange" - SZM, o r "Sequential Switch Opening"
- SSOM. However, t h e f i r s t method r e q u i r e s substan-
t i a l l y l e s s computer time while t h e second method is
independent from t h e i n i t i a l coiifigur a t i o n and thus
more l i k e l y l e a d s t o t h e a c t u a l optimum.
- Voltage q u a l i t y i s i n g e n e r a l improved w i t h l o s s
reduction.
- Load model s u b s t a n t i a l l y a f f e c t s l i n e l o s s e s , b u t has
no s i g n i f i c a n t i n f l u e n c e on t h e s w i t c h i n g a c t i o n s
o p t i m i z i n g network c o n f i g u r a t i o n and on r e a c t i v e power
605
coiitr 01 by shunt c a p a c i t o r s .
- Cotlstant c u r r e n t load modrl appears t o g i v e t h e most
accurate calculation r e s u l t s .
REFERENCES
111: S . C i v a n l a r , J.J.Grainger, II.Yin, S.S.II.Lee,
" n i s t r i b i i t i o n f e e d e r r e c o n f i g u r a t i on f o r l o s s
r e d u c t i o n " , JEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, V01.3,
J u l y 1980.
[2] : A.Merlin,H.Dack, "Srarch € o r a Minimal-l,oss
Operating Spanning Tree C o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r an Urban
Power D i s t r i b u t i o n System", Proc. I'SCC, Cambridge
1975, Paper 1.2/6.
[3] : D.Sliirmohammadi , ll.W.llong, "Reconfiguration of Elec-
t r i c 1 ) i s t r i b u t i o n Networks f o r R e s i s t i v e 1,ine Losses
Reduction", IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, V a l - 4 ,
A p r i l 1909.
[[I] : J .D. Bunch, R . D. M i 1 l e r , J . E. Wheeler, " D i s t r i b u t i o n
System I n t e g r a t e d Voltage and Reactive Power
C o n t r o l " , IEEE Trans. on ?AS, Vol. PAS-101, No 2 ,
" S e l e c t i o n 01 the Optimum S i z e and Locatioii of
Capacitor nanks on Pledium Voltage Networks", CIRED
1903.
[6] : M.Papadopoulos, N.D.HaCziargyriou, M.E.Papadakis
" G r a h i c s Aided l n t o r a c t i v e Analvsis o f Radial
D i s t k i b u t i o n Networks", IEEE Trans. on Power
D e l i v e r y , Vol. 1'WRD-2, Nr.4, October 1987.
[7 J : A .Dramcl l e r , R. N. A1 l a n , Y . M. Hamam, " S p a r s i t y " ,
Pitman Pub1 i s h i n g JJtd, Loridon, 1976.
[U] : H.Duran, "Optimum Number, Location, and S i z e of
Shunt C a p a c i t o r s i n lladial Disl r i but ion F r e d e r s . A
Dynamic Programming Approach", IEEE Trans. on Power
Appar atus and Systems, Vol .J'AS-07, Septernlm- 1968.
[9] : E.F.Gorzelnik, "Switching i n C a p a c i t o r s does n o t
Ileducr Real Power 0 1 1 Feeders" , E l e c t r i c a l World,
March 1980.
G . , J . Peponis was born i n Preveza, Greece i n 1967. He r e -
ceived t h e 1)iploma i n E l e c t r i c a l Engineering Irom t h e Na-
t i o n a l Technical U n i v e r s i t y of Athens, Greece i n 1991. A t
p r e s c u t tie is pur4uing p o s t g r a d u a t e s t u d i e s l e a d i n g t o tlie
doctor a t e degree. His r e s e a r c h d e a l s w i t h p l a n n i n g and de-
s i g n of d i s t r i b u t i o n systcins and renewable energy s o u r c e s .
E1.P. Pdpadopoulos born i n Ioannina, Greece i n 1932. lie
receivrrl t h e Diploma i n E l e c t r i c a l arid Mechanical Engin-
e e r i n g i n 1956 and t h e 1'h.D. degree i n 1974 from t h e Nn-
t i o i i a l 'Technical U n i v e r s i t y o f Alliens, Groece. I n 1956 he
j o i n e d t h e P u b l i c Power Corporation of Greece. lie has beeir
engoged i n t h e p l a a n i n g , d e s i g n , o p e r a t i o n and c o n t r o l o r
r u r a l and urban d i s t r i b u t i o n networks, as well as in t h e
u t i l i z a t i o n o f e l e c t r i c energy. From 1965 t o 1970 and from
1972 t o 1905 he was a l s o employed as a part-time A s s i s t a n t
i n t h e E l e c t r i c a l Engineering Department of NTUA. lie is
c u r r e n t l y Associate P r o f e s s o r i n t h e same Ilepartment. llis
main r e s e a r c h iiit c r e s t s concern d i s l ri hukioii s y s tcms diid
renewable energy s o u r c e s .
-
N.D. 1latziargp-i~ was born i n Alhens, Grrcce i n 1954. lie
r e c e i v e d t h e Diploma i n E l e c t r i c a l and Mechanical Engin-
e e r i n g from the Nati onal Technical U n i v e r s i t y of Atlieiis
(NTUA), Greece i n 1976 and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees Zrom
t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Manchester I n s t i t u t e oE Science and
Technology (UMIST), Manclirstrr , England i n 1979 and 1902,
r e s p e c t i v e l y . He is c u r r e n t l y Associate P r o f e s s o r at the
Power D i v i s i o n of t h e E l e c t r i c a l Engineering Department of
NIUA. His r e s e a r c h iiil e r e s t s i n c l u d e Modelling and D i g i t a l
Techniques f o r Power System Analysis and C o n t r o l . D r .
l i a t z i a r g y r i o u is a s o n i o r meriber of IEEE and member of
CIGRE and t h e Technical Chamber of Greece.