Reconfiguration of MV Distribution Networks With Multicost and Multipoint Alternative Supply, Part II: Reconfiguration Plan

This is the second part of a two-paper set that presents a methodology to determine an optimal radial reconfiguration plan for a medium voltage (MV) distribution network. It is applicable to primary distribution systems with multicost and multipoint alternative supply for short and medium terms. The optimization criterion is based on minimizing the operation costs, including the purchased energy cost and switching cost. In addition to the proposed methodology, a main contribution of the work is to evaluate the impact of the energy price on the operative topology working within a competitive market structure, where the demand is supplied from several purchase nodes featuring significantly different energy prices. The methodology is based on dynamic programming, heuristics, and a method to calculate the economic dispatch (ED) through radialization specifically designed for multicost and multipoint alternative supply, as is the case of distribution networks. The capacity of the network components, the service quality, and the dynamics of the demand are considered. Finally, the advantages of applying the methodology to a realistic distribution network are discussed.