Optimal conductor sizing in radial distribution systems planning

In this paper, a generalized model for optimal multiconductor size selection in planning of radial distribution system planning is presented. The model takes into account nonuniform loading, increase in load, load factor, cost of energy, cost of power, and diversity in load peaks at various load points along the feeder. The optimal conductor sizes are determined by minimizing the total cost consisting of cost of conductor and cost of losses and subject to the constraint on voltage drop at far end load points and maximum current carrying capacity of the feeder. An efficient method is presented to solve this problem in which the search space is enumerated systematically and efficiently. To reduce the search space, logical decisions are developed and only those feasible solutions are considered for functional evaluation, which are close to the boundary of the constraints. The method developed is applicable to straight as well as branched radial feeders.The effectiveness and applicability of the proposed approach is illustrated with suitable examples.