APPLICATION OF WHALE OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHM (WOA) FOR DISTRIBUTION NETWORK RECONFIGURATION SCHEME FOR POWER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Electrical power distribution networks (DN) are usually designed and operated in a radial configuration, but their topology, especially when highly loaded, is often meshed in order to improve system reliability and quality of the supply. This makes it feasible to alter the network topology after an outage to restore the service to affected areas. In addition, various power quality indicators can be improved by modifying the topology of the DNs, achieved by changing the close/open status of sectionalizing and ties switches on the feeders. However, Distribution Network reconfiguration (DNR) is a non-linear, multi-objective, constrained and combinatorial optimization problem hence, Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) technique is employed for optimal Distribution Network Reconfiguration of primary Distribution Network with the aim of minimizing the real power loss (PL) and voltage deviation (VD), as well as improving feeder load balancing (FLB). The developed method is applied on IEEE 33 and 69 test systems. To ascertain its applicability to real-life system, the developed DNR technique is also applied on 11kV RIGASA feeder in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The problems this research is trying to address are power losses and voltage deviation and feeder load balancing experienced in Kaduna electricity distribution network subject to some operational constraints. From the simulation results, substantial reduction in power loss was achieved, the voltage profile has improved and the feeder load balancing was achieved when compared with the original network before reconfiguration as well as when compared to using Runner Root Algorithm based DNR.