Uniform voltage distribution based constructive algorithm for optimal reconfiguration of electric distribution networks

•We introduce a new constructive algorithm and a theorem for network reconfiguration.•The theorem states that a network with identical ending voltage is globally optimal.•The tracing nature of the proposed method facilitates the radial constraints.•The method is rigorously explained in details using a widely studied 33-bus test system.•We examine the proposed method on numerous test system ranged from 16 to 830-bus system.

This paper introduces a new heuristic method called uniform voltage distribution based constructive algorithm (UVDA) especially intended for optimal reconfiguration of large-scale distribution networks. The algorithm starts with expanding a subnetwork through tracing maximum bus voltage and performing a series of branch exchange operation concurrently. By the aid of tracing nature of UVDA, no radial constraints are imposed. To exemplify the presented method, UVDA has been rigorously explained in details using a widely studied 33 bus test system. The validity of the proposed algorithm was confirmed through successful performance on numerous practical distribution networks, ranged from 16-bus system with 3 tie-switches up to 835-bus system with 146 tie-switches. Furthermore, comparisons are made with the other recent approaches available in the literatures. The test results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm successfully finds a globally optimal configuration for all the test systems in a conspicuously short time.