Optimal placement of switches in a radial distribution network for reliability improvement

• The paper has solved multi-objective reliability optimization problem.
• Optimal allocation of remote control switches (RCSs) has been performed.
• Differential search algorithm (DS) is applied to solve the optimization problem.
• Performance of DS algorithm has been compared with PSO.
• Performance of DS algorithm is observed to be more encouraging.

This paper proposes differential search (DS) algorithm to solve distribution system reliability optimization problem. Optimum number and location of remote control switch (RCS) have been found, in order to enhance reliability of a radial distribution system. A multi-objective formulation has been considered with a view to enhance reliability at a compromised cost. DS algorithm utilizes the Brownian-like random-walk movement used by an organism to migrate. Simulation results obtained by DS algorithm have been compared with that of particle swarm optimization (PSO), differential evolutionary algorithm (DE), genetic algorithm (GA), ant colony optimization (ACO) and gravitational search algorithm (GSA). Results show that DS algorithm provides considerably superior performance, in terms of quality of solution obtained and computational efficiency.