Enhanced feeder reconfiguration in primary distribution networks using backtracking search technique

ABSTRACT

The Backtracking Search (BS) technique is a new evolutionary optimiser which simply prepared to make use of the previous populations. It has been employed to solve the feeder reconfiguration problem to minimise the energy losses to face the different loading conditions on two distribution networks. The first system is 11-kV realistic Egyptian distribution ring which is called El asal-Magles El madinah primary distribution ring in Gharbia governorate. The second system is a 12.66-kV radial distribution system of 32 buses and 37 distribution segments. It has been handled using Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) to analyse the impacts of disconnecting the distribution segments and varying the normal open points on the active and reactive power losses. The different loading conditions are based on real measurements of the feeders and transformers loading on both the medium voltage side and the low voltage side at the rush hours. Significant technical and economical merits are satisfied for the studied distribution network. Both the BS application and ETAP analysis demonstrate the great technical and economical merits of optimally disconnecting the distribution segments to minimise the related costs of the energy losses, improve the voltage profile, and avoid the overloading in branches.

KEYWORDS:

• Feeder reconfiguration
• distribution networks
• backtracking search technique
• energy losses
• ETAP

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Abdullah M. Shaheen

BDULLAH M. SHAHEEN was born in Tanta, Egypt, in 1985. He received the B.Sc. degree from Suez Canal University, Port-Said, Egypt, in 2007. He received the M.Sc. and the Ph.D. degrees from Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt, in 2012 and 2016, respectively. He is currently with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Suez University, El-Suweis, Egypt. His research interests include power system operation, control, and planning; the applications of optimization algorithms in electric power systems; renewable integration and smart grid.`/italicb

Ragab A. El-Sehiemy

RAGAB A. EL-SEHIEMY (Member IEEE) was born in Menoufia, Egypt, in 1973. He received the B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering, and the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Menoufia University, Egypt, in 1996, 2005, and 2008, respectively. He is currently an Associate Professor with the Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering-Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt. He is the receipt of Prof. Mahmoud Khalifia Award in Power System Engineering from Academy of Research and Technology in 2016. He has published more than 100 articles in International Journals and conferences. He is an Editor in the International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa. His research interests include power systems operation, planning and control, smart grid, renewable energy, AI and its application to power systems.