Using ordinal optimization approach in power distribution systems

Abstract

This study investigates the applicability of ordinal optimization approach to optimal control of power distribution systems. This approach enables us searching for a solution good enough with high probability instead of the best for sure in solving those problems with huge search spaces. Power distribution system control is such a problem, to which a near-optimal solution can be found by evolutionary search techniques. In this study we calculated node voltages and power losses of a sample system corresponding to all possible OLTC settings and capacitor on/off statuses. We obtained these solutions exactly and approximately and investigated the coincidences between the best 1%, the best 5%, and the best 10% of these solutions correspondingly. Results show that based on approximately-calculated node voltages and power losses a near-optimal solution can still be found to power distribution system control problem by an evolutionary search technique with considerable saving in total computation time.