Reconfiguration of distribution networks using rain-fall optimization with non-dominated sorting

The sharp escalating power demand and configuration changes in distribution networks (DNs) may operate the networks more closely to voltage stability boundaries. Under critical operating conditions, the DN is not able to provide good voltage profile and may experience voltage collapse. The performances of the DN can be improved by optimally reconfiguring the network. This paper models the reconfiguration of DN as an optimization problem with objectives of lowering active power loss, improving the voltage profile and enhancing the voltage stability; and suggests a new reconfiguration method involving rain-fall optimization and non-dominated sorting to obtain the best compromised solution for DNs. It presents simulation results of standard 33-, 69- and 95-node DNs, and exhibits that the method was able to lower the active power loss from 201.97 kW to 139.5525 kW, from 225 kW to 98.6082 kW and from 89.6733 kW to 30.5700 kW for 33, 69 and 95 node DN systems respectively. In a similar way, it portrays that the method was able to produce better results in enhancing the voltage profile and voltage stability.