Minimum losses reconfiguration of MV distribution networks through local control of tie-switches

This paper deals with the problem of optimal reconfiguration of radial distribution networks for minimum loss operation. The proposed control strategy of the open-closed status of the tie-switches is distributed, since every MV/LV node is provided with local controllers having some measured entities as input. It also does not prevent the system from the future implementation of centralized control; instead it may represent the first step toward a complete automation of the distribution system. The proposed strategy is indeed organized in hierarchic levels, the highest of which may be in the future a central control. After introducing the general problem of networks reconfiguration, a review of the state of art on the subject is reported, even though the solution methodologies are usually related to the centralized formulation of the reconfiguration problem. Then, the proposed local control strategy is outlined and a detailed description of its different parts is reported, with special attention to all of the measures for a better performance of the system. Finally, results of a number of simulation runs are reported in order to test the behavior of the proposed local control system in different possible operating conditions.