An Efficient Method to Optimal Phase Load Balancing in Low Voltage Distribution Network

In the paper, an efficient method for the optimal allocation of consumers for phase load balancing in low voltage (LV) electrical distribution networks based on the combinational optimization is proposed. The method uses as input data the topology of the distribution network (structure, number of poles, and initial allocation of consumers to each pole and phase) and energy consumption records provided by the smart meters installed at the consumers such that the deviation of currents on the three phases, at the level of each pole to be minimum. The method was tested using a real LV rural, strongly unbalanced network, the obtained results leading to a decreasing of the unbalance factor from 1.287 to 1.003. From the point of view of energy losses, a decrease of these with 65.23% was obtained over the analyzed period (one day).