AN EFFICIENT ALGORITHM FOR REAL-TIME NETWORK RECONFIGURATION IN LARGE-SCALE UNBALANCED DISTRIBUTION-SYSTEMS

Real-time applications demand fast computation, this paper proposes an efficient algorithm for real-time network reconfiguration on large un balanced distribution networks. A novel formulation of the network rec onfiguration to achieve loss minimization and load balancing is given. To reduce computational requirements for the solution algorithm, well justified power how and loss reduction formulas in terms of the on/of f status of network switches are proposed for efficient system updatin g. The algorithm relies only on a few full power flow studies based on system states attained by explicit expressions using backward-forward sweeps for efficient computation of system's states at the critical s ystem operating points. The solution algorithm runs in an amount of ti me linearly proportional to the number of tie switches and the number of sectionalizing switches in the system. The solution algorithm has b een implemented into a software package and tested on unbalanced distr ibution systems including a system with 292-buses, 76-laterals, 7 tran sformers, 45 switches and 255 line sections under diverse system condi tions.