The Optimal Loss Reduction of Distribution Feeder

Based On Special Distribution Transformers

Reconnect ion Using Genetic Algorithm
Whei-Min Lin Yuh-Sheng Su Sung-Chien Chang Ming-Tong Tsay* Shi-Jaw Chen**
Member, IEEE
Department of Electrical Engineering, *Department of Electrical Engineering, **Department of Electrical Engineering,
National Sun Yat-Sen University, Cheng-Shiu Institute Of Technology Fortune Institute Of Technology,
Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC Kaohsiung ,Taiwan, ROC Kaohsiung County, Taiwan, ROC

Abstract: Many utility companies containing of Taiwan Power This research will try to formulate a GAS to determine
Company(TPC) used the oDen we-oDen delta (OYOD) the optimal phase sequence for load reconnections. By using
transformers to serve various customers. That causes the phase
unbalance which is one of the prime reasons of ground relay the characteristics of GAS, the performance of all the
tripping and extra line loss in the distribution system. Load combinations of the OYOD transformers with their phase
reconnection, feeder reconfiguration and capacitor placement are sequence can be evaluated.
common methods used to balance load or minimize power loss. The Many practical feeders were tested. Decimal code for
purpose of this paper is to reduce power loss by means of load GAS was used to confine the search space, and the phase-
reconnection of the prime phase sequence of the OYOD
transformers was used. The Genetic Algorithms(GAs) has been decouple load flow[9] was used in this paper.
implemented for solving the optimal problem. Practical examples of
TPC demonstrate that the proposed method is effective and
available. 11. PROBLEM FORMULATION
Keywords: Phase Sequence Switching, Genetic Algorithms,
OYOD Loss Reduction Model
Phase sequencing could be used to shift loads from the
heavy phase to the light one. The objective is to maximize the
LINTRODUCTION power loss reduction. We have
Generally speaking, many utilities used a number of
OYOD transformers for the sake of more economical for
transformer cost management and future expansion
consideration[ 11. However, OYOD connections could result
in severe phase unbalance problem. It causes extra line losses
and system unsecurity. A few papers has studied on this
problem and developed models for such transformers[2-4].
Little interests has been found to deal with this problem from
the operational point of view.
In Taiwan, a practical distribution system could have
many OYOD transformers to save cost. Intensive phase
unbalance problems might become widespread in certain Vm 5 vs 5 VM
areas. This research tries to resolve the above problem by
load assignment through prime phase re-sequencing. Both where
feeder balance and loss minimization problems will be 365*24
considered.
c Ploss,in6k: the initial total power loss in one year
k=l
It is a complicated mathematical formulation to optimize period,
objective function by changing the phase sequence to balance 365*24
load and minimize loss. Defining a direct correlation between Ploss,k : the total power loss after reconnection in one
the variables , that is, the phase sequence and the objectives k=l
is not easy. That is, the degree of phase balance and cost of year period,
loss. With the fitness hnction and the chromosome provided LC : the cost of power (NT$/KW),[ 101
by Genetic Algorithms(GAs) the formulation can be greatly Csw : the cost of changing phase sequence connection
simplified. GAS has been used successfully to solve many (NT$/changing-switch),[ 111
Cum : the number of transformers selected to change phase
power optimization problems, such as capacitor planning [ 5 ] ,
connection,
unit commitment(UC)[6], economic dispatch(ED) [7] and
network reconfiguration[8]. With the biological evolutionary Ia,r : the current of the a-phase on r-th feeder,
function, the global optimum has a better chance to be Va,s :the voltage of the a-phase on bus s ,
obtained.

0-7803-6338-8/00/$10.00(~)2000IEEE 1413
v m ,V M : the minimum and maximum of bus voltage , they
S , = SAN + SBN + SA, + ScAL60" + -s30
L30°
are equal to 0.95 and 1.OS respectively,
%VU :the voltage unbalance ratio,
&
,S, = SBc + S c A L - 60" + -s30
L30° (12)
Note that voltage unbalance is defined in sc = 0
&
Equation.(2),(3) and (4) based on ANWEEE standard.

Simplified Feeder Loss Calculation Assuming that the phase sequencing changes from a-b to b-c,
the load change AS = AP + jAQ can be calculated by
For the objective function, feeder losses can be
considered as the sum of total branch losses. Let the branch
loads aggregate at the bus for each phase. The simplified ASa = -(SAN s34 L30")
+ S,, + S , + SCAL60" + -
equations can be written as : J5
lmn(Ar)old = (Smn(Ar)old/Vm(Ar)oid)t~ (6) AS, = S , + S,, + S , + SCAL60" + y
s34 130"

smn(Ar)new = Smn(Ar)o]d As, (7)

Imn (A r )new = h n n )new )old )t
AVmn(Ar) = Imn(Ar)new * Z m n ,
pm (A, )new = ~ e a l [ ~(A,
~ m (A, 3'
Ploss,new = z P m n ( A r ) n e w .
where
A : a,b,c phase on r-th feeder,
m,n: the bus number,
AS : the changed flow after reconnection,
AV : the changed voltage after reconnection,
old : the initial state (before reconnection),
new : the new selected state (after reconnection) of
every string by the GAS.
111. OYOD CONNECTION
An integrated model for a distribution transformer and
its loads were developed in [2]. The individual phase loads
can be represented as a function of the connection and loads.
For simplification, the transformers are assumed to be
ideal. No impedance exists. Voltage drops and losses are not
taken into account. For example, a model of OYOD
transformer[2] supplying various loads is shown in Fig. 1.
abc
Fig.1 OYOD connection with mid-tap grounded at one leg
on the secondary side supplying various loads
The equivalent phase loads derived by [l] can be
calculated by
(8)
(9)
9 (10)
(1 1)
IV.THE GENETIC ALGORITHMS(GAs)
GAS process is a search technique similar to biological
evolution[ 121. Parents produce their offsprings by genetic
operators: encoding, reproduction, crossover and mutation.
The GAS process used in this paper can be delineated below.
Initialization
GAS will generate randomly a population of strings
conforming to the status of the system condition. Parameters
of GAS must be set initially such as generation size (Gen),
population size (Pop), crossover probability (Pc), mutation
probability (Pm). From those seed strings, GAS will perform
its search.
Encoding and Decoding
A chromosome string is used in this paper to represent
the primary connections of all the OYOD transformers in a
feeder. A gene represents the connection status of a
transformer such as a-b, b-c or c-a connections on the prime
side. To confme the searching space, the gene is encoded as
01112 instead of 0/1 bit. The "0, 1,2" code represents "a-b, b-
c, c-a" phase connections respectively as shown in Fig.2.
A chromosome will be encoded to represent the phase
connections of the system. If the search is terminated by the
GAS algorithm, the chromosome will then be decoded to get
the optimized connections of each transformer.
Stringcode : 1 2 0 2 1 0 2 2
0 : a - b phase connection of OYOD Transformer
1 : b - c phase connection of OYOD Transformer
2 : c - a phase connection of OYOD Transformer
Fig.2 Code of OYOD Transformer phase connection

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Fitness Function Evaluation
Fitness function is defined in (1) to mirror the
property of a solution. The more suitable solution a
chromosome is, the bigger value a fitness h c t i o n will get.
With equations(6-1 l), equation( 1) will be evaluated subject
to all constrains defined in equations(2-5). Each string
represents a system status, and will lead to a loss reduction
and a number of changing connections. If any constraint
should violate or the F value turns negative, this string will be
discarded.
Reproduction Operation
In this operation ,the mating pool needs to be formed
by the population in proportion to their elitism. Elite ones
will copy more to the mating pool. The ‘roulette wheel
selection’[ 121 was used to gurantee the occupancy of an area
equal to the string‘s share of the total fitness. Assuming that
there are n individuals, the probability of each individual
selected to the mating pool is found by
n Fig4 Mutation operation
Pi = Fi / C Fj .
j=l
By running the ‘roulette wheel selection’ n times, the
offsprings will be created with respect to its fitness in this
population.
Crossover Operation
After reproduction , individual populution will be given
a probability created at random. The probability is compared
to a fixed crossover probability Pc to perform “crossover”.
One point crossover[ 121 is applied in this paper. Each pair of
chromosomes undergoes crossing over were swapped at an
integer position k along the string. K was selected by uniform
distribution between “1” and “the string length less one” i.e.,
the interval [l,L-l]. Two new strings will then be created by
swapping all characters between positions k+l and L
inclusively[l2]. An example is shown in Fig.3. with k equals
5 and L equals 9.
I
Parent1 : 1 2 0 2 1 I 0 2 2
Parent2 : 2 0 1 1 2 I 0 1 0
Crossover Site + I
Offspring 1 : 1 2 0 2 1 I 0 1 0
Offspring2 : 2 0 1 1 2 I 0 2 2 function is used during the search, the final result will be
F i g 3 Crossover operation
Mutation Operation
The GAS process may lead to a local optimum without
mutation operation. The population may contain the same
individuals from close relatives mating. Mutation with certain
propability Pm could cause GAS search to jump from one
area to another to ensure the near-global optimum. For each
bit of the offspring, inversion of a “0” to the other two codes
“1” or ”2” or vice versa is conducted according to a
probability, Pm. The mutation probability must be small
enough to ensure that the crossover operation is the primary
means of creating new offsprings, and that the GAS will not
be reduced to a random walk. To strengthen converging
performance and enforce global optimum, Pm is not fixed. It
changes following the iteration(1T) number. If IT is bigger
than a pre-set value, Pm will be changed to a bigger value too.
Since mutation takes one among of “0,1,2”, the probability of
each is less than the traditional 0/1 code. So a bigger value is
set for Pm from 0.008 to 0.02 . Fig.4 shows an example of
the mutation operation.
Mutation bit
string:
change to
1 2 0 0 1
+
1 2 0 2 1 0
0
2
2
2
2
or
1 2 0 1 1 0 2 2
Candidate OYOD Selection
For a feeder with many OYOD transformers, the
search space could become very large. To ensure a good
performance, the state space needs to be confined. It is not
easy to define a direct correlation between the variables ,Le,
the phase sequence, and the objectives i.e, the degree of
phase balance and cost of loss. With the fitness function and
the chromosome provided by GAS. The formulation can be
greatly simplified. As a matter of fact, many transformers are
non-sensitive to objective function and need not participate in
the reconnection. Some rules are set to eliminate those
transformers.
(1) For a feeder with load heavy on a particular phase, if the
OYOD reconnection will increase this phase loads.
(2) If the load on the OYOD transformer is small.
(3) If reconnection will worsen the constraints.
V. STEPS OF OYOD PHASE SEQUENCE SWITCH
The algorithm of this research is delineated by several
steps as follows. Starting the algorithm, load flow calculation
must be executed, and the solution is used as the initial state
before reconnection. Simplified calculation for the fitness
rechecked by load flow programs again.
The steps of the algorithm are
Read network data,
Run AC load flow,
GAS initialigation,
Encoding,
Evaluation,
Reproduction, Crossover and Mutation,
If converge, go to (1 0),
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(8) If iterations being greater than IT, increase Pm and reset
IT,
(9) Add the best offspring into new generation, and go to
step (51,
(10) Decode the solution of the GAS search and print out.
Reconnection Strategy
Table 3 shows the reconnection strategies for each case.
In Case3, it needs six OYOD transformers for reconnection
because the feeder is more complex.

Table 3. The Reconnection Strategies By the GASSearch

VI. NUMERICAL RESULTS Case 1 I Case 3 1
In this section, two practical distribution feeders in the #OYOD #Bus Reconnection #OYOD #Bus Reconnection
TPC Distribution System will be tested. The first feeder [2] NO. NO. a-b to c-ato NO. NO. a-b to a-b to
has ten OYOD transformers. The second feeder belonging to b-c b-c b-c c-a
TPC has 58 OYOD transformers. Table 1 shows the buses 3 7 ** 6 134 **
with OYOD transformers. Three cases were tested to show 5 15 ** 7 105 **
the effectiveness of proposed algorithm. 7 21 ** 8 34 **
Casel: Feeder 1 with 10 OYOD transformers.
9 1271 I ** I 18 I 54 1 **
Case2: Double the feeder length of Feeder 1 and halve the
loads of non-OYOD transformers to simulate a ** : adopted strategy.
very unbalance case.
Voltage Profile
Case3: Feeder 2 of TPC with 58 OYOD transformers. Test results shows satisfactory voltage profile by the
proposed method. Casel is used for example. Table 4 shows
For Case3, the number of the OYOD transformers is so individual bus voltages of the main feeder. The most severe
large that the search space becomes gigantic. The ’ Candidate voltage violation was 0.942 p.u. on phase a of Bus 19 or 22
OYOD Selection ’ rules stated in the section IV shows the initially. And the most serious unbalance index(VU%) was
effectiveness of simplifying problem. In Case 3, there are 4.28 . There were four voltage violations and six unbalance
only 18 not 58 OYOD transformers encoded into the violations before reconnection. After reconnection, the lowest
searching algorithm. bus voltage increased to 0.953 p.u. . The most serious
unbalance index(W%) decreased to 1.215 , and no violation
Table 1 .The Relations Between Buses and OYOD Transformers for exists. Table 5 summaries the most serious violations only.
the Two Feeders
The violations were corrected after reconnections.

#Bu Before Reconnection After Reconnection

s Phase Phase Phase VU% Phase Phase Phase VU%
No. a, IVI b, IVI c, IVI a, IVI b,IVI c, IVI

Parameters Setting I I I I
19 10.942*1 0.983 0.973 4.19; 0.964 0.964 1 0.969 1 0.59
In the Gas, some parameters must be set such as the size
I I I I
22 10.942*1 0.983 0.971 4.28* 0.963 0.956 0.968 0.52 I 1
of population, the number of maximum generation , the * violative term.
probability of crossover and the probability of mutation.
These values were shown in Table 2. If generation number is
bigger than Gen-Num, the GAS search is terminated. Table 5. The Summaries of Bus Voltage Performances on Cases
1 I I
Table 2. Parameters of The GASSearch
es I Case I ICase 2 I Case 3 I

Pc I 0.85 I 0.85 I 0.9

Pm I 0.01-0.04 I 0.01-0.06 I 0.014.1
IT I 10 10 20 I

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Ground Current Profile reconnection is not only power loss reduction, but also
Severe current unbalance could lead to ground current system security increase. The creative idea proposed may be
relay trip at the substation and cause power failure. With the suitable to solve other problems of distribution system, such
proposed strategy, the current unbalance problem can be as transformer load management(TLM), optimal placement
solved. Casel is shown in Table 6 for example. Table 7 of capacitor, etc. From this research, the GAS is a very
shows the total ground current at the substation location for suitable search method to switch problem. Fuzzy set method
all cases. The unbalance problem has been improved may be an other effective method for deciding which
effectively. transformer would be reconnected. The results wili be
published in the future. They will be implemented for
Table 6. Line Current On Main Feeder of Casel planning research on the transformer’s operation strategy in
future research as above mentioned.
I la + Ib + IC I I la + Ib + IC I
63.81 VIII. REFERENCES
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9- 14 16.05 2.50 Delta-Open Delta Transformer Models for Rigorous
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and Distribution, Vol. 139, No. 3, pp. 227-234, 1992.
16- 19 I 25.02 I 1.37 I [2] T.H. Chen, Y.L. Chang, “Integrated Models of Distribution
Transformers and Their Loads for Three-phase Power Flow
Analysis,”IEEE Trans, On Power Delivery, Vol. I 1 No. 1,1996.
Max IIa+lb+lclon [3] T.H. Chen, and M.S.Chen, T. Inoue and E.A. Chebli, “Three-
I Ia+Ib+lcI L1-2 Phase Cogenerator and Transformer Models for Distribution
II BeforeReconnection II I I
I
63.8 I 63.8 II System Analysis,” IEEE Trans. On Power Delivery, Vol. 6, No.
After Reconnection 4, pp. 1671-1681 Oct. 1991.
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After Reconnection Transformers on the operation of Distribution Systems,”
Before Reconnection 79.38 79.38 Electric Power Systems Research, IO( 1986) 167-174.
After Reconnection 13.5 13.5 M.E. Baran and F.F. Wu, “Optimal capacitor placement on
radial distribution systems,” IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery,
Loss Reduction ~01.4,No.1, pp. 725-734, 1989.
T.T. Maifeld and G.B. Sheble’ “Genetic-Based Unit
From Table 8, it can be seen that the loss reduction for Commitment Algorithm,” IEEE Trans. On Power Systems, Vol.
each case was improved. Case2 improved the most since it 11, N0.3, pp. 1359-1370,1995.
was the most unbalanced feeder. The loss reduction is G.B. Sheble and K. Brittig, “Refined Genetic Algorithm-
defined as Economic Dispatch Example,”IEEE Trans. On Power System,
Vol. 10,N0.1,pp.117-124,1995.
Power Loss Reduction(%) = [8] K. Nara, A. Shiose, M. Kitagawa, and T. Ishihara,
P1os(Kw(
before reconectim)- p l O s ~ K ~ ( a f t ereconnectbn)
r
*lo@?
“Implementation of genetic algorirhm for distribution systems
loss minimum reconfiguration,” IEEE Trans. on Power System,
P 1 o s ~ Kbefore
~ ( reconectim) ~01.7,N0.3, pp. 1044-1051, 1992.
191 W.M.Lin and J.H. Teng, “Phase-Decoupled Load Flow Method
for Radial and Weakly-Meshed Distribution Networks,”IEE
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Ploss(KW)
Reduction (%) [IO] C.S. Chen, M.T. Cho, “Energy Loss Reduction by Critical
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1 10.15
After Reconnection 58.87 1993.
Before Reconnection 58.9 [ll] J.J. Grainger and S.H.Lee,”Optimum Size and Location of
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1-1 After Reconnection

Before Reconnection
After Reconnection
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VII. CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

From the operation viewpoint, try to adjust the OYOD
connection for reducing power losses. That strategy
proposed in this research, are verified very effective. On the
three practical test cases, the notable achievement after
IX.BIOGRAPHIES
Whei-Min Lin was bom on October 3d, 1954. He received his BS-EE from
the National Chao-Tung University, MS-EE from the University of
Connecticut, and his Ph.D. EE from the University of Texas in 1985. He
worked at Chung-Hwa Institute for Economic Research, Taiwan, as a

1417
 visiting researcher after his graduation. He joined Control Data Crop. In
1986 and worked with Control Data Asia in 1989. He has been with
National sun Yat-Sen University, Taiwan, since 1989. Dr. Lin’s interests
are GIs, Distribution system, SCADA and automatic control system. Dr.
Lin is a member of IEEE and Tau Beta Pi.

Yuh-ShenP Su was born on July 29Ih,1963.He received his MS-EE degree

from the National Sun Yat-Sen University in 1988. Currently, he is
pursuing his Ph.D. degree in the same school. His interests are Energy
Management Systems and Distribution Automatic System.

Minp-Tone Tsay was bom on October 1964.He received MS-EE and

Ph.D. degree from the National Sun Yat-Sen University in 1990 and 1994.
He has been with the Department of Electrical Engineering of Cheng-Shiu
Institute of Technology & Commerce, Taiwan, since 1994.He is interested
in GIS applications on distribution planning and power system operation.
He is a member of IEEE.

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