Power Distribution Network Expansion and Location Optimization of Additional Facilities: A Case Study

Urooj Javed, Saif Ullah, Muhammad Imran, Asif Iqbal Malik and Nokhaiz Tariq Khan
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Urooj Javed: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila 47080, Pakistan
Saif Ullah: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila 47080, Pakistan
Muhammad Imran: Department of Operations and Supply Chain, NUST Business School, National University of Science & Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
Asif Iqbal Malik: Department of Hotel and Tourism Management, College of Hospitality and Tourism, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Korea
Nokhaiz Tariq Khan: Department of Business and Management, Information Technology University, Lahore, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-26

Abstract: Planning the power distribution network is critical and challenging; the main challenges include the multiple costs involved, selecting the appropriate locations of different nodes of the network at minimal cost, and minimizing the cost of energy loss for both the primary and secondary networks. Literature on the power distribution network presents different approaches, however, lacks to address the several issues of the complex power distribution networks and many aspects are yet to be explored; for example, the uncertain cost of energy loss. This study intends to address the gaps in the literature by proposing a four-phased approach. In doing so, first, an integer linear programming model is formulated with the objective of cost minimization. Secondly, fuzzy variables are used to tackle the parameters with uncertainty; cost of energy loss. In the third phase, a fine-tuned genetic algorithm (FT-GA) that uses the Taguchi Orthogonal Array is introduced to solve the mathematical model. It is worth mentioning that during the design of the experiment, the input parameters are crossover rate, elite count, and population size. In the last phase, a pragmatic approach is adopted and a Pakistan-based case study is used to validate the proposed model and its implication in real-life scenarios. The results exhibit that our proposed approach outperforms traditional methods like the genetic algorithm (GA) and inter-point methods in terms of fitness function value, number of generations, and computational time. This research contributes at both theoretical and managerial levels and may help decision-makers to design networks more efficiently and cost-effectively in Pakistan, Asia, and beyond.

Keywords: distribution network expansion; uncertain energy losses; Taguchi Orthogonal array; fine-tuned genetic algorithm; facilities; location-allocation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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