Optimization method for short circuit current reduction in extensive meshed LV network

• Published in: International journal of electrical power & energy systems 2023-10, Vol.152, p.109203, Article 109203
• Main Authors: Topolanek, David, Krcal, Vit, Foltyn, Ladislav, Praks, Pavel, Vysocky, Jan, Praksova, Renata, Prettico, Giuseppe, Fulli, Gianluca
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Distribution network; Evolutionary algorithm; Meshed network; Optimization; Reconfiguration; Short circuit
• ISSN: 0142-0615; 1879-3517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijepes.2023.109203

•Model of extensive and highly meshed LV distribution network for testing of optimization method is introduced.•Deterministic algorithm for reducing of short circuit current in meshed distribution network is described and used for comparison with AI methods.•The evolutionary algorithms methods have high potential for extensive meshed network optimization in an acceptable calculation time.•The results of deterministic algorithm can be used as a starting point for the evolutionary algorithms methods. This paper focuses on the analysis of suitable optimization methods applied to large meshed low-voltage networks. The introduced methods aim to minimize the SC-current contribution by simultaneously fulfilling well-defined operational constraints. The high number of binary variables (134) used in the worst case to determine the possible network configurations generates 1040 possible solutions. For this reason, the paper focuses only on methods capable of reducing the necessary steady-state calculations to a tractable size. Depending on the case under study, the deterministic method turns to be faster than the other ones at the price of reaching only a local minimum. In contrast, if a longer computation time is tolerated, then evolutionary algorithms succeed in finding the global optimum.