Towards optimal post-fault self-healing in future smart distribution grids

Abstract

This paper deals with a key functionality of the future distribution smart grids namely the automatic post-fault network self-healing. To this end we propose an optimization approach that aims finding the post-fault grid topology that minimizes the amount of unsupplied energy to consumers. The approach extends existing optimization models, developed in the context of losses minimization, for our particular application and proposes ways to overcome their limitations. We prove the interest of the approach on a 33-bus benchmark distribution system as well as on a 61-bus real-life distribution grid.