Reconfiguration of distribution network for minimizing losses and improving voltage stability index using binary firefly algorithm

Voltage stability and losses are important parameters to measure the power quality in distribution networks. Voltage stability represents the voltage condition on each bus while losses describes the effectiveness of distribution systems. Losses in distribution network depend on the length of line and loading in the system. There are some methods to minimize losses namely network reconfiguration, distributed generator and capacitor installation, etc. The simplest method to minimize losses is network reconfiguration. This study proposes to optimize network configuration using binary firefly algorithm. The propose of this optimization method is to minimizes losses and improve voltage stability indices. Voltage stability level on a bus is measured by using Voltage Stability Index (VSI). Network reconfiguration is used for simulation by opening and closing switches on IEEE 33 bus radial distribution network. Simulation results show that before reconfiguration, the losses is 202,69 kW with the highest VSI of 0,988 and the lowest VSI of 0,683. After reconfiguration, the optimal losses is 139,96 kW with the highest VSI of 0,988 and the lowest VSI of 0,770.