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MULTIPURPOSE RECINFIGURATION OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS USING

FUZZY REASONING APPROACH

A.Ebrahimi S. Mohseni
Electrical and Comp. Engineering Department Research Department
Isfahan University of Technology, IRAN . Isfahan Regional Electric Company, IRAN

Abstract
In this paper, a heuristic fuzzy reasoning based algorithm is applied to multipurpose reconfiguration of medium voltage
distribution systems. Five objectives of loss reduction, load balancing, voltage profile improvement, with least service
interruption and minimum switching actions have been considered simultaneusly. By the proposed method, the main
twot objectives are first optimized individually and all configurations obtained are stored. Afterwards five performance
indices are considered for mentioned goals and by using fuzzy reasoning approach the best configuration is selected
among all saved forms. The proposed method is applied for reconfiguration of some test networks and a part of Isfahan
medium voltage network.

I -Introduction
Distribution system, as a medium between the
transmission system and consumers is relatively vast
and contains high-density current flows. In many
undeveloping countries like Iran , there are usually no
remote controlled switches for medium and low
voltage feeders . Thus, a simpler protection scheme is
required which radial 20 kV. distribution feeders
prepare. These feeders contain several manual
operating normally close and normally open circuit
breakers which provide the possibility of system
reconfiguration . Figure 1, shows a simple distribution
system reconfiguration which is obtained by closing
the number 7 branch and opening branch 18 that causes
the transfer of the load of nodel 8 from feeder F3to F1.
Most of researchers have considered the transmission
loss reduction as the main goal in distribution systems
reconfiguration . However, in some other reports,
feeder’s load balancing, improvement of voltage
profile and restoration of loads are also considered as
objectives of the problem [1,2,3,4]. The absence of
remote controlled switches makes the problem to be
quite different . For example , the necessity of reducing
the number of switching actions , and considering the
time required for operating groups , and the number of
these groups available , should be taken into account.
In this paper, a heuristic method for reconfiguring
distribution systems contain no remote controlled
switches, is presented where several objectives are
optimized simultaneously. In this method, each
performance index is considered by a fuzzy
representation and based on tizzy reasoning approach
the best configuration for the distribution system that
relatively satisfies these opinions is evaluated . An
overview of the conventional methods is first presented
and various parts of the proposed method such as load
balancing, loss reduction and used load flow methods
are then discussed. Some case studies are presented at
the end to investigate the capability of the proposed
method.
large-scale optimization problem. Multiple objective
functions which are partly discontinuous and have no
derivative, numerous concerns and large dimensions
push the problem to be solved by heuristic methods.
However, some classic optimization methods such as
mixed integer linear programming may be used for
solving the problem in only very small distribution
systems. According to these difficulties, heuristic based
methods are used for this purpose. The main key of
these methods is to find a couple of switches that
opening one and closing the other moves the system to
a new configuration with a better. value of objective
function which is usually the power loss reduction
orland feeder’s load balancing. For example one of
these heuristic rules is that closing a normally open
switch with maximum voltage difference and opening
the branch with maximum flow tends to a
configuration with less power loss [6].
In recent years, some methods based on artificial
intelligence such as artificial neural networks; genetic
algorithm and fuzzy logic have been considered as
valuable tools for solving the reconfiguration problem
in practical distribution systems [ 1,7,8]. In reference
[9], by using some training patterns evaluated by
heuristic methods at several load levels designed
artificial neural networks are trained and prepared for
solving the reconfiguration problem immediately. In
reference [ 11 the same method is used to reduce power
loss and increase feeder’s load balance. References
[5,7,8] report the use of genetic algorithm for
distribution system reconfiguration.
F l g l . A simple medum voltlgs nerrvork

2-Methods of reconfiguration
From the mathematical point of view, the
reconfiguration problem is considered as a nonlinear -

ClRED2001,18-21June 2001,Conference Publication No. 482 0 IEE 2001

 4.29
In this method a configuration is represented by a
chromosome containing n binary bits where n is the
number of branches and each bit is 1 when the branch
is closed. One of the difficulties that appear in this
method is to distinguish and choose configurations
representing the radial feeders.
3-Reconfigurationgoals
Most of the researchers have used the power loss
reduction as the main goal of reconfiguration problem
However, feeder’s load balancing is also considered as
a first or second objective function in some reports.
Load balance performance index can be defined in
several ways among which Si I S””“,is more often used,
where Si is the flow of branch i and Smax, is the
maximum flow of this branch. In reference [I] the
maximum amount of this ratio is considered as the
objective function which is to be minimized. In
reference [2] a performance index for load balancing is
defined based on the amounts of this ratio in all system
branches.
Increasing the minimum amount of node voltages can
be considered as another goal. However, in some
reports smoothing the whole voltage profile of the
system has been considered but it seems that due to
under voltage difficulty, it is more practical to increase
the voltage of nodes which have less amount.
In Iran all distribution systems have the radial
configuration and should remain radial after
reconfiguration. The minimum cross section area of the
used conductors is 35 mm2 and it is 70 m2for new
constructed distribution feeders. Hence, due to the
radial structure of the feeders it is realistic and easier to
balance only the loads of primary feeders external from
63/20 Kv substations. Balancing the loads of primary
feeders balances the loads of transformers at the
substation as well.
In distribution systems where there is no remote
controlled switches, immediate reconfiguration is not
possible and it may take a couple of hours for operation
team to reconfigure the system, during which no loop
should be maintained. Thus, reducing this operation
time required, or at least reducing the time of service
interruption of important loads would be considered as
another goal of reconfiguration.
Besides the above-mentioned aspects, reducing the
number of switching actions is usually taken into
account in multi-criteria reconfiguration problems.
4-The proposed recon$guration algorithm
The proposed algorithm for multi-criteria
reconfiguration of distribution systems contains several
stages discussed as follows:
4- 1-Different configurations stored. Among various
goals, two main objectives of power loss reduction and
feeder’s load balancing are selected first. By two
separate heuristic methods, all of the initial, last and
intermediate configurations obtained in this separate
optimization procedure are stored.
4-2-Performance index evaluation: For each stored
configuration a fuzzy performance index is evaluated.
Five objectives of loss reduction, load balancing,
increasing the minimum amount of node voltages,
reducing the time of service interruption for important
loads, and reducing the total number of switching
actions are considered as the multiple criterions of
system reconfiguration. As mentioned in (4-l), the first
two objectives are selected as the main and their related
configurations are stored. At this stage, a fuzzy set is
defined for every criterion in which every
configuration is a member with a membership function
evaluated and normalized between 0 and 1. The worst
stored configuration from a criterion point of view has
a membership function of 0 and the best-stored
configuration from that point of view has the
membership function of 1. Figure 2 shows this
membership function for a minimization objective
function.
4-3-Using expert operator experience: according to the
complexity of problem and due to its multi-criteria
opinion, it is quite suitable to benefit the worth
experience of expert operators. This is achieved by
defining a fuzzy rule base for various operating
situations and categorizing the related Configuration in
accordance with the expert operator’s opinions.
5-Thefuzzy reasoning approach
When all performance indices have been constructed
as fuzzy membership functions a fuzzy reasoning
system is designed to evaluate the optimal multi-
purpose compromised configuration. The proposed
fuzzy reasoning system contains five inputs for five
objectives of the problem. Each of inputs is represented
by a three-part linguistic variable of “low”, “medium”
and “high”. The output of fuzzy reasoning system is a
five-part linguistic variable from “poor” to “excellent”,
which is the judgment of fuzzy reasoning system for
the related configuration. Figures 2 and 3 show the
typical input and output variables. The necessity
relations and rules are of Mamdani’s type. According
to five input variables and three membership functions
there are 3’=243 states should be considered for each
configuration. Fuzzy rules prepare adequate tools based
on expert operator’s opinions to analyze and categorize
these states and prepare the proper output. An example
for these fuzzy rules could be as follows: “if the
amount of power loss is low and the performance index
for load balance is high and the minimum amount of
nodes voltages is medium and the index of service
interruption and number of switching actions are
medium then the configuration is excellent”.
Figure 2. Input variable membership function
Figure 3. Output variable membership function
 4.29

By reconfiguration of the first test system for loss

6-Case stitdies reduction, the total power loss is reduced 8.8% and
The same test system of references [ l , 2, 4,11, and with the goal of load balancing an increase of 55% is
121 is considered for investigation of the proposed obtained in its performance index. The same amounts
method of reconfiguration. Figure 1 shows the layout for the second test system are 2.2% and 90%
of this system, which contains 3 feeders, and 19 nodes respectively.
from which 13 have loads on them. The system has
also 3 tie lines. Table 1 shows the obtained results of Table 4. Optimal configurations of 2nd test system
the proposed algorithm, which is the same as those
reported in references [2,4,11 and 121. It should be All of inputs 1 Second
mentioned that this obtained configuration is the Loss and Load balancing I Third
absolute optimum configuration of the system [4]. Loss Second
Minimum voltage Second
Table 1. Comparison of reconfigurations for loss Load balancing Fifth
reduction(The numbers in table are N.O. switches in Number of switching Firth
each configuration) Important customer interruption I Firth
State/ references[2,4,11,12] [I] proposed
method method
first 9-15 7-18 9-15 6-2-Results obtained for a practical test system
second 14-13 - 14-13 The fuzzy reasoning method of reconfiguration is also
applied to a practical test system that is a part of 20Kv.
Results obtained by the fuzzy reasoning approach for distribution network of Isfahan City center shown in
various objectives are presented in Table 2. Optimum Appendix 2. This system contains 180 branches, 1 1 1
configurations of Table 2 are indicated by their nodes and loads on feeders F3, F4, F5, F9, F10, FI I ,
normally open switches listed in Table 3. In the and F12 feeding from Hafez substation and feeders F2,
proposed method an objective function is simply F3, and F4 from Taleghani Substation. The total load
ignored when its performance index is supposed to be of this area is about 35Mw. During the reconfiguration
equal to 0.5. procedure for loss reduction 8, and for load balancing
6 configurations were obtained and stored .A11
performance indices obtained for these 14
configurations are presented in Tables 5 and 6 .
For the practical test system, experiences of expert
operator have been used to define the fuzzy rule base.
Reconfiguration of the system by the proposed method
for loss reduction reduces 24.7% of the total power
loss. Similar test for load balancing is down and 64%
improvement of the related performance index is
obtained. The optimal configuration for both objective
functions has gained these indices equal to 15.8% and
64% respectively. The same indices are 9.5% and 27%
when all five objectives are considered simultaneously.
Normally Number of Table 6. Optimal configurations according to various
open switches configuration inuuts
7,9,14 1
7,15,14
. . 2
7,15,13 3
6.9.14 4
, ,
6,15,14
I

15 1
For more investigations of the proposed method,
some loads and some branches impedance of the test All of inputs 1 st
system of Figure 1 have been changed and the second
test system is achieved. Results obtained by the fuzzy
reasoning method for various singles and multiple
7.Conclusion
objectives are indicated in Table 4. Definition of
In this paper a heuristic method based on fuzzy
configurations is the same as in Table 3. It is seen that
reasoning approach considered for multi-criteria
the optimal configuration obtained for both loss
reconfiguration of distribution systems. In this method
reduction and load balance is different and between
two main goals of power loss reduction and load
those obtained for these objectives individually.
balancing of feeders separately optimized and all of
initial, final & intermediate configurations are saved
 4.29

Table 5. Various saved configurations for loss reduction and load balancing optimization
and their performance indices for practical network

Configuration Loss reduction configurations

Number Line Power minimum load balancing switching service
Inlout loss voltage index number interruption
173-17 ,12078 ,988745 2.866 1 .0208
177-62 ,10861 ,98875 2.866 2 .0431
171-38 ,1042 .98876 2.466 3 ,0539
17-19 ,10359 ,98908 2.6091 3 .0456
183-102 .lo241 ,98908 2.649 4 .0496
7 172-37 .lo1853 ,989451 2.55 5 ,0531
185-131 .lo105 .98949 2.238 6 .0639

1f
174-46 .lo0576 ,98949 2.379 7 .0689
Load balancing configurations
173-16 ,12236 .98798 1.961 1 .023
185-131 .12156 ,98798 1.605 2 .0338
178-66 ,115333 ,98798 1.342 3 .0428
171-9 ,11394 .98798 1.260 4 ,0468
13 182-87 ,113807 ,98798 1.228 5 ,0504
66-65 ,11246 ,98798 1.163 6 ,0554

and proper perfomance indices are evaluated for them.
These indces are then normalized by fuzzy
membership functions. By a fuzzy reasoning approach
with rules defined by expert operator the best
configuration that has the most satisfaction of all goals
is evaluated.
Obtained results show that if the goal is only power
loss reduction or load balancing of feeders, the best
configuration that satisfies this objective, as the same
rusults of the existing reports, is obtained. Other goals
such as less service interruption of important loads,
improvement of voltage profile and reducing switching
actions are also considered and their effect on
reconfiguration is studied.
The proposed method was successfully applied for
reconfiguration of a part of Isfahan medium voltage
practical network.
8 .Acknowledgement.
Authors should thank the experts and managers of
Isfahan Regional Electric Company and Isfahan
Electric Distribution Company because of their usehl
support and cooperations.
9.References
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18 I 17 10 10 I .04+.04i I 2.1 1 1 I 1.8

19 I 16 10 10 I .09+.12i I 1 I .7 1 1.8

Apppendix 2 specification of second test network