Distribution Network Loss Minimization via Simultaneous Distributed Generation Coordination with Network Reconfiguration

The power loss is one of the constraints to achieve a more reliable and economic distribution system. The installation of distributed generation (DG) in the existing problem is one of the available solutions; however, the random use of DGs will actually worsen the problem. Moreover, the network reconfiguration is another approach for losses reduction. This method works by controlling the tie and sectionalizes switches to change the topology of the distribution network. Nevertheless, this process must maintain the system in radial network due to protection scheme. Hence, a suitable technique is needed to tackle the DG coordination (DG output and DG location) and network reconfiguration problems. This paper presents a new hybrid optimization technique based on Artificial Bee Colony and Artificial Immune System algorithm to determine the optimal DG coordination with network reconfiguration for multiple DG simultaneously. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated on a 33-bus distribution test system and validated with various test cases. The results prove that the approach to determine DG coordination with network reconfiguration simultaneously reduces the power losses by 95.10 % from the initial power losses. Furthermore, the proposed method gives a better percentage of minimum voltage increment and improvement of stability index, which is 9.14 % and 0.0428, respectively.