A Genetic Based Algorithm for Intentional Islanding of Distribution Network to Maximize Social Welfare

Abstract

An electricity distribution system is a vital part of a total electric power supply system, since it is a link between a bulk transmission system and customers. It has been estimated that 80% of supply interruptions faced by customers are due to failures that occur in the distribution network. To secure more costumers with increasing competition, the energy supply companies are now increasingly under pressure to maintain a high degree of uninterrupted power supply quality and reliability. Therefore a practice of disconnecting all distributed generation units once a fault occurs is not a practical solution in a deregulated electricity market environment since it relies on power outage. Operation of safe intentional islanding would be viable solution. The aim of this paper is to present a genetic-based coordinated methodology for islanding operation and management of active and reactive powers in a distribution network after occurrence of a fault with regard to cost related to active and reactive powers generation of distributed generations, price of energy purchasing from a retail market, and loads interruption cost. Since optimal operation and islands configuration of a distribution network is a complicated and discrete problem, the genetic algorithm has been used for implementation and solving of the proposed algorithm. Simulations have been applied on 33-bus IEEE test system in three scenarios according to faulty branches and DGs penetration rate.