Application of Ant Colony System algorithm to distribution networks reconfiguration for loss reduction

Optimal load distribution among the power distribution substation feeders is one of the most important and least expensive operational tools to lower the losses. For this purpose, the state of the network switches (open/closed) should be determined such that the load switched from the heavily loaded feeders to the lightly loaded ones and in the meantime the operational constraints and radial nature of the network are not violated. In this paper, the ant colony system (ACS) algorithm is used to solve this problem. here, the artificial ants would be able to find the best possible solution by using the information in the form of pheromones poured in the path they travel. A new strategy for switch selection by ants is proposed in this paper. At the end, in order to check the capability of this approach, three different networks cited in the literature are studied and the comparison of results is included.