A new computational approach for optimal reconfiguration of radial distribution systems using a fuzzy controlled genetic algorithm

Abstract

Purpose

This research paper reports a novel genetic algorithm (GA)‐based approach for reconfiguration of radial distribution networks for real loss minimization and power quality improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

A fuzzy controlled GA has been used for efficient reconfiguration of radial distribution systems for loss minimization and power quality improvement. The special features of the proposed algorithm are: an improved chromosome coding/decoding for network representation so as to preserve the radial property without islanding any load after reconfiguration and an efficient convergence characteristics attributed to fuzzy controlled mutation.

Findings

The proposed network reconfiguration algorithm is very much effective in arriving at the global optimal solution (minimum loss network structure) because of efficient search of the solution space. Also, no invalid chromosomes are generated in the genetic evolution because of appropriate coding/decoding. The algorithm is found to be very much suitable for real time implementations.

Research limitations/implications

This research paper provides the power distribution engineers with a computationally efficient approach for optimal operation of distribution systems.

Practical implications

The algorithm proposed in this paper is computationally much faster compared to most of the present day mathematical programming approaches for distribution system operation. This makes it very much attractive for online implementations in any radial distribution network.

Originality/value

This paper has proposed a novel chromosome coding/decoding technique for radial distribution system and a fuzzy logic‐based mutation probability controller for efficient search of global solution space to be used in GA‐based optimal operation of radial distribution systems.

Citation

Prasad, K., Sahoo, N.C., Ranjan, R. and Chaturvedi, A. (2006), "A new computational approach for optimal reconfiguration of radial distribution systems using a fuzzy controlled genetic algorithm", COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, Vol. 25 No. 4, pp. 862-882. https://doi.org/10.1108/03321640610684042