An improved genetic algorithm for distribution system reconfiguration

Making use of the features of radial distribution systems, a chromosome coding method and genetic operation strategies were developed. Crossover operations were defined as to exchange the same template while mutation operations and inversion operations are restricted in the template. The above strategies greatly reduce the infeasible solutions produced during genetic operations. Further, a simplifying power distribution method was also proposed to reduce the length of chromosome and reciprocal value of the active power losses as the fitness function. The above measures improve the performance of genetic algorithms for distribution reconfiguration. Several tests were conducted and the results have shown that the proposed algorithm has advantages over other previously developed algorithms.