Multi-objective planning of electrical distribution system using Imperialist Competitive Algorithm

The expansion planning of the distribution system is a hard multi-objective optimization problem to meet the load demand and ensure the reliability of power supply considering the technical, economic and environmental constraints. In this paper, Contingency-Load-Loss Index (CLLI) is used as the reliability index of the distribution system, together with investment and operating costs, active power loss and voltage deviation to build a more accurate and reasonable objective function, and to improve the multi-objective model of distribution network planning. The Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) is used in the multi-objective distribution planning to determine the optimal HV substation and MV feeder routing; ICA parameters were efficiently coded to improve the computing speed and convergence of the algorithm; Greedy algorithm was used to generate the Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) to ensure the radial configuration of the network. The example simulation and sensitivity analysis results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the model and algorithm.