Voltage stability maximization based optimal network reconfiguration in distribution networks using integrated particle swarm optimization for marine power applications

Abstract

This paper addresses a novel method to optimize network reconfiguration problem in radial distribution network considering voltage stability maximization and power loss reduction without violating the system constraints. In nature inspired population based standard particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique, the flight path of current particle depends upon global best and particle best position. However, if the particle flies nearby to either of these positions, the guiding rule highly decreases and even vanishes. To resolve this problem and to find the global best position, integrated particle swarm optimization (IPSO) is utilized for finding the optimal reconfiguration in the radial distribution network. The performance and effectiveness of the method are validated through IEEE 33 and 69 buses distribution networks and is compared with other optimization techniques published in recent literature for optimizing network reconfiguration problem. The simulated results simulate the fact that to attain the global optima, IPSO requires less numbers of iterations as compared to the simple PSO. The present method facilitates the optimization of modern electric power systems by empowering them with voltage stability.