A Novel Solution Method for the Distribution Network Reconfiguration Problem Based on a Search Mechanism Enhancement of the Improved Harmony Search Algorithm
Josephy Dias Santos,
Frederico Marques,
Lina Paola Garcés Negrete,
Gelson A. Andrêa Brigatto,
Jesús M. López-Lezama,
Nicolás Muñoz-Galeano
Affiliations
Josephy Dias Santos
Electrical, Mechanical and Computer Engineering School, Federal University of Goias, Av. Universitária, No. 1488, Goiania 74605-010, Brazil
Frederico Marques
Electrical, Mechanical and Computer Engineering School, Federal University of Goias, Av. Universitária, No. 1488, Goiania 74605-010, Brazil
Lina Paola Garcés Negrete
Electrical, Mechanical and Computer Engineering School, Federal University of Goias, Av. Universitária, No. 1488, Goiania 74605-010, Brazil
Gelson A. Andrêa Brigatto
Electrical, Mechanical and Computer Engineering School, Federal University of Goias, Av. Universitária, No. 1488, Goiania 74605-010, Brazil
Jesús M. López-Lezama
Research Group on Efficient Energy Management (GIMEL), Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA), Medellin 050010, Colombia
Nicolás Muñoz-Galeano
Research Group on Efficient Energy Management (GIMEL), Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA), Medellin 050010, Colombia
This paper addresses the problem of Distribution Systems Reconfiguration (DSR), which consists of finding the state of switching devices (open or closed) in a given distribution network, aiming to minimize active power loses. DSR is modeled as a mixed-integer non-linear optimization problem, in which the integer variables represent the state of the switches, and the continuous variables represent the power flowing through the branches. Given the multi-modal and non-convex nature of the problem, an improved harmony search (IHS) algorithm is proposed to solve the DSR problem. The main novelty of this approach is the inclusion of a Path Relinking phase which accelerates convergence of the DSR problem. Several tests were carried out in four benchmark distribution systems, evidencing the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed approach.
