Distribution network reconfiguration problem for energy loss minimization with variable load

This paper presents a study on different methods of modeling the network reconfiguration problem to take into account load variation during a period of time. This work aims to determine if the optimization process needs to take into account this fact in order to be used by a real distribution network operator. It presents a way to optimize an integral objective function. Two types of optimization are presented, a Mixed Integer Quadratic Constrained Program (MIQCP) and a Mixed Integer Non-Linear Program (MINLP). Three different processes of optimization on a defined period are presented, two avoiding the use of power flow calculation and one using it. Methods are computed using three different load scenarios on the well known Baran & Wu test case. Results tend to show that it is not useful to take into account load variation and worst case optimization is the best method.