Real-time smart distribution system reconfiguration using complementarity

Abstract

Smart Radial Distribution Systems (SRDS) of the future will have improved reliability, performance and flexibility in operation by using algorithms such as optimal reconfiguration in real-time in their distribution management systems. However, today, optimal reconfiguration algorithms are largely academic because of challenges such as they (1) depend upon heuristic techniques that require repeated runs and are not suitable for real-time applications, (2) do not guarantee an optimal solution and, (3) do not provide insight into solution space.In order to realize SRDS of the future, a real-time optimal reconfiguration algorithm is proposed, which uses a classic nonlinear optimization technique and guarantees an optimal solution in the least time. The method is based upon a complementarity technique that transforms discontinuous solution spaces into continuous, enabling use of classical nonlinear optimization techniques without resorting to heuristics.Using the complementarity technique, a nonlinear optimization formulation and classical solution method is needed to optimally reconfigure a SRDS and to minimize losses while obtaining an acceptable voltage solution is proposed.This is successfully demonstrated on 7-bus, 33-bus, and 69-bus distribution systems and the results are compared with those available in literature with respect to solution time, accuracy in results and robustness of the proposed algorithm and demonstrate superiority of the proposed technique.