Switch Optimization for Smart Grid Distribution Automation

It is a daunting task to find optimum number and placement of sectionalizing switches in Distribution Automation (DA) feeders. Switch optimization is the most essential component of evaluating economic feasibility of a DA project and one has to consider the trade-off between reliability and economics to arrive at the answer. This chapter presents a novel iterative algorithm for the optimal switch number and placement problem. The proposed iterative algorithm can determine the solution faster compared to traditional switch optimization techniques by minimizing the total interruption costs at each step of the analysis. The proposed algorithm does not rely on varying switch capital investment and customer interruption cost data that are usually based on outdated utility surveys. The proposed method has been successfully implemented on Mon Power’s, a FirstEnergy company, distribution system as part of the US Department of Energy (DOE) funded project, West Virginia Super Circuit (WVSC). The proposed method is also validated using IEEE 34-bus and 123-bus test feeders to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The mathematical model is developed in Matlab and the results show that the proposed iterative algorithm can drastically reduce the search space, and can find optimal number and placement of the switches with minimum computational effort.