Bi-Level Phase Load Balancing Methodology with Clustering-Based Consumers’ Selection Criterion for Switching Device Placement in Low Voltage Distribution Networks

Gheorghe Grigoraș, Bogdan-Constantin Neagu, Florina Scarlatache, Livia Noroc and Ecaterina Chelaru
Additional contact information
Gheorghe Grigoraș: Department of Power Engineering, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Bogdan-Constantin Neagu: Department of Power Engineering, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Florina Scarlatache: Department of Power Engineering, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Livia Noroc: Department of Power Engineering, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Ecaterina Chelaru: Department of Power Engineering, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, Romania

Mathematics, 2021, vol. 9, issue 5, 1-36

Abstract: In the last years, the distribution network operators (DNOs) assumed transition strategies of the electric distribution networks (EDNs) towards the active areas of the microgrids where, regardless of the operating regimes, flexibility, economic efficiency, low power losses, and high power quality are ensured. Artificial intelligence techniques, combined with the smart devices and real-time remote communication solutions of the enormous data amounts, can represent the starting point in establishing decision-making strategies to solve one of the most important challenges related to phase load balancing (PLB). In this context, the purpose of the paper is to prove that a decision-making strategy based on a limited number of PLB devices installed at the consumers (small implementation degree) leads to similar technical benefits as in the case of full implementation in the EDNs. Thus, an original bi-level PLB methodology, considering a clustering-based selection criterion of the consumers for placement of the switching devices, was proposed. A real EDN from a rural area belonging to a Romanian DNO has been considered in testing the proposed methodology. An implementation degree of the PLB devices in the EDN by 17.5% represented the optimal solution, leading to a faster computational time with 43% and reducing the number of switching operations by 92%, compared to a full implementation degree (100%). The performance indicators related to the unbalance factor and energy-saving highlighted the efficiency of the proposed methodology.

Keywords: distribution networks; phase load balancing; consumers’ selection criterion; switching devices; unbalance factor; energy-saving (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/9/5/542/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/9/5/542/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jmathe:v:9:y:2021:i:5:p:542-:d:510549

Access Statistics for this article

Mathematics is currently edited by Ms. Emma He

More articles in Mathematics from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().