An MILP approach for optimal operation of unbalanced distribution networks through coordinated network reconfiguration and SOP utilization
摘要
Peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, a prominent approach to energy exchange, can lead to violations of network security, intensify imbalances, and worsen operational conditions in unbalanced distribution networks (DNs). This paper, focusing on the DN as the physical foundation for P2P trading, recommends the benefits of joint network reconfiguration and soft open point (SOP) utilization to enhance flexibility and improve efficiency. In the proposed method, line mutual impedances are regarded, and the existence of single-, double-, and three-phase buses and branches is considered. Consequently, the single-phase reconfiguration capability is proposed, enabling radiality to be achieved independently for each phase. The AC optimal power flow model, structured to simultaneously determine the optimal network topology and SOP power injections, is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming problem. The model addresses loss reduction, voltage magnitude and angle imbalances mitigation, and P2P energy exchange facilitation. Numerical simulations executed on two IEEE unbalanced test DNs confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. For the IEEE 13-bus DN, reconfiguration alone caused a 15.38% reduction in the objective, while the combined use of SOP and reconfiguration achieved an 85.51% reduction. For the IEEE 123-bus DN, the joint SOP-reconfiguration utilization led to a 74.46% improvement in the objective.