An MILP Model for Optimal Placement of Sectionalizing Switches and Tie Lines in Distribution Networks With Complex Topologies

Abstract

Sectionalizing switches (SSs) and tie lines play essential roles in reducing the duration of customer interruptions in electricity distribution networks. The effectiveness of such assets is strongly influenced by their placement in the grid. Operation of SSs and tie lines is also inherently interdependent. Due to the structural complexities regarding the mathematical modeling of such dependencies, optimization of the planning and operation of switches and tie lines has typically required either leveraging heuristic and metaheuristic approaches or oversimplifying the network topology. To tackle such issues, this paper presents a computationally-efficient model for reliabilityoriented concurrent switch and tie line placement in distribution networks with complex topologies. The proposed model can be applied to grids with several tie lines and laterals per feeder, and yields the optimal location of tie lines, type of tie switches, namely manual or remote-controlled, and the location and type of SSs. Being cast as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problem, the model can be efficiently solved with guaranteed convergence to global optimality using off-the-shelf optimization software. The efficiency and scalability of the proposed model are demonstrated through implementation on five networks and the outcomes are thoroughly discussed.

Multi-Objective Optimization for Distribution Network Reconfiguration With Reactive Power Optimization of New Energy and EVs

“…Actually, tie switches and sectionalizing switches play essential roles in distribution network for reducing the power loss and duration of customer interruptions in the process of electric energy transmission [27]. Figure 1 presents the vivid example of branches and multiple candidate tie switches locations of normal distribution.…”

An exact MILP model for joint switch placement and preventive maintenance scheduling considering incentive regulation

“…It is worth mentioning that failure rate of feeder sections depends on PM actions in these inequalities. In the case that j th PM action is applied to one feeder section, j th failure rate decreases to initial value by Equations ( 16), ( 19), ( 22), (25), and (28). Afterward, the failure rate increases one step by each year using Equations ( 14) (17) (20) (23), and ( 26) until the new PM action is applied.…”

“…Nonetheless, the investigations in [24] demonstrate that the reliability could be further improved if lateral feeders are regarded as well. Reliability worth is also evaluated in [25] for the SP problem. In addition to feeders, a model for the SP problem is presented in [26] to allocate switches for tie lines.…”

“…More specifically, the modelling of the PM scheduling problem requires the interruption time as input data [31–36]. Similarly, the modelling of the SP problem needs the failure rate as input data [9–30]. Therefore, the failure rate is the output of the PM scheduling problem.…”

A feeder link planning method for total supply capability improvement of distribution network

“…A novel method to determine the optimal routing of medium-voltage distribution networks in sparse rural areas was presented, and the optimization model was applied to a real rural distribution network in the South-West region of western Australia (Fletcher et al, 2018). A model that can supply the optimal feeder locations and feeder switch types was presented by Jooshaki et al (2021), which improved the calculation efficiency of complex distribution networks. Shahbazi et al (2021) presented a planning model for the natural disaster situation, which can minimize the total cost while maintaining the stable operation of the power grid in extreme weather.…”