Economic and performance based approach to the distribution system expansion planning problem under smart grid framework

Abstract

This paper proposes a new vision of the Distribution System Expansion (DSE) problem considering new system performance measures. The mathematical model has been rebuilt with a new combined multi-objective formula, minimizing the system expansion Capital costs, Operations and Maintenance (OM) costs and achieving the best combined performance measure consisting of a combination of Reliability, Resiliency and Vulnerability. A new practical weighted combined system performance index is applied and tested to be used by utilities replacing the common simple reliability indices. The new model uses the application of multi-objective optimization utilizing mixed integer design variables, which include a combination of seven logical and technical constraints to provide the best description of the real existing system constraints. In addition to the new system performance proposed index, a new algorithm of checking the system radial topology is proposed. The objective is to find out the optimum sizing, timing and location of substations, into the power distribution network. The proposed approach has also been tested on 14-bus real distribution system to demonstrate its validity and effectiveness on real systems. The proposed approach has been also tested on IEEE 37-bus model distribution system with modified parameters that are significantly larger and more complex than the parameters frequently found in literature.