Investigating the Effect of Load Modeling on Network Reconfiguration of a Distribution System

In order to minimize the losses of the distribution network, solving the reconfiguration problem is a vitally established issue. Modification in the bus connection reduces the system loss and improves the bus voltages as well. Major intricacy for reconfiguring distribution system lies in the development of a convex optimization model constituting voltage-dependent loads. This paper models mixed integer second order conic program for Network Reconfiguration of a Distribution System (NRDS), where binary variables depict the branch connections between the buses. A ZIP load model composed of constant impedance, constant current, and constant power type loads, has been deployed for voltage-dependent load study. Proposed ZIP load model based NRDS has been tested on 33-bus, and 69-bus distribution system. Results are compared with the existing model given in literature incorporating only constant power loads that establishes the case for adaptation of the proposed model. Simulated results of constant power and voltage-dependent load model are also validated by performing load flow for evaluated branch connections.