Mixed Integer Linear Programming Models for Network Reconfiguration and Resource Optimization in Power Distribution Networks

This chapter deals with two typical optimization problems relevant to the operation of power distribution systems. The first aims at finding the minimum power loss configuration of the network. The second is the so-called Voltage/Var Optimization problem (VVO), i.e. the definition of the most efficient operating condition of voltage control apparatus and reactive power resources. The chapter describes the various parts of the proposed mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model of problems, such as the objective function, and the implementation of the radiality constraint. Both the objective function and the maximum line current constraints require the evaluation of the square value of the real and imaginary parts of each line current phasor. Piecewise linear functions (PLFs) are adopted for the MILP representation of these square values. Also the bus voltage constraints require a PLF representation of the square value of the real and imaginary parts of each bus voltage phasor.