Ant colony system algorithm for optimal network reconfiguration

Network reconfiguration of a power distribution system is an operation to alter the topological structure of distribution feeders by changing open/closed status of sectionalizing and tie switches. Network reconfiguration balances feeder loads and helps in managing overload conditions of the network by transferring load from heavily loaded feeders to lightly loaded ones. In this paper we have introduced an ant colony system algorithm for performing network reconfiguration efficiently so as to minimize power losses occurring in a distribution network. The main idea is that of having a set of agents, called ants, which perform search in parallel for good solutions and cooperate through pheromone-mediated indirect and global communication. Informally, each ant constructs a solution path in an iterative way. Validation of the proposed algorithm has been carried using a standard IEEE network. The results found are satisfactory and prove ant colony system algorithm to be an efficient tool for optimal network reconfiguration.