A MULTIOBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION APPROACH TO LOADING BALANCE AND GROUNDING PLANNING IN 3-PHASE 4-WIRE DISTRIBUTION-SYSTEMS

This paper proposes a multiobjective optimization approach to loading balance and grounding planning. A new formulation is presented of the optimal loading balance and grounding planning problem in three-phase four-wire distribution systems. This formulation is a multiconstraint, multiobjective and nondifferentiable optimization problem with both e quality and inequality constraints. It encompasses four desired object ives related to investment, operational efficiency, security, and poll ution of the system. A method based on simulated annealing was used to determine (i) the phase load pattern, (ii) the locations of the neutr al to be grounded, and (iii) the types of numbers of ground electrodes to be installed such that the desired objective functions are minimiz ed while the load variation and system operation constraints are met. The epsilon-constraint method was incorporated in the method to solve the multiobjective problem. A salient feature of the method is that it allows designers to find a desirable, global, noninferior solution of the problem.