Electrical Power & Energy Systems, VoI. 19, No. 2, pp.

87-91, 1997
Copyright ,.('~ 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd
Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved
ELSEVIER PII: S0 ! 42-0615(96)00023-3 Ol42-o615,,97/$17.oo-o.oo

The refined strategy for substation

main transformer and feeder load
balancing
Yi J w o - H w u
Department of Electrical Engineering. Kung Shan
Institute of Technology. Tainam. Taiwan,
Republic of China

usually performed individually. However, transformer

In the normal operation of a distribution system, substation
load balancing and feeder load balancing are dependent
main transformer and feeder load balancing is important
because the load on any main transformer is decided by
since it can reduce the risk of overloads due to load changes.
the loads on the feeders connecting to that transformer. It
Load balancing is usually achieved by reconfiguring the is inefficient to perform transformer load balancing and
distribution feeders and redistributing the load currents
feeder load balancing individually. An algorithm in
among feeders and tran.~formers. In the early studies on which transformer load balancing and feeder load balan-
feeder reconfiguration, transJbrmer load balancing and
cing are performed simultaneously has been recently
feeder load balancing were usually performed individually.
proposed by the author and co-workers in order to
A heuristic search approach in which transformer load
improve the efficiency [11]. Since there are numerous
balancing and feeder load balancing are performed simul-
switches in a typical distribution system, the number of
taneously has been recently proposed by the authors in
possible switching operations is great. Therefore, feeder
order to improve efficiency. However, the solution obtained reconfiguration is a complicated combinatorial optimiza-
by using the aforement,!oned algorithm may be a local
tion problem which cannot be solved in a reasonable period
minimum. In this paper, c~refined heuristic' search approach
without making some approximations. In other words, the
for substation main trans]brmer and feeder load balancing solution obtained using the aforementioned heuristic
is proposed, in order to reach a better solution. Copyright
search approach may be a local minimum. In order to
1996 Elsevier Science Ltd
reach a better solution a refined strategy for substation
main transformer and feeder load balancing is proposed in
Keyword~: distribution ~ystem, distribution automation,
this paper.
feeder reconfiguration, load balancing, heuristic algorithm,
local minimum

I. I n t r o d u c t i o n
In order to avoid overloading resulting from load
variations, it is desirzble to operate a distribution
system such that the loadings of the main transformers
and feeders are balanced. By changing the open/closed
states of the switches oil distribution feeders, some load
currents can be transferred from heavily loaded feeders/
transformers to relatively less heavily loaded feeders/trans-
formers. In this way, the loads on transformers and feeders
will become more balanced and the risk ofoverloads can be
reduced [1 - 11].
In the early studies cn feeder reconfiguration, trans-
former load balancing and feeder load balancing were
Received 3 November 1995; revised 14 March 1996; accepted 2 May
1996
II. P r o b l e m f o r m u l a t i o n
Consider a simple distribution system as shown in Figure
1.
There are three main transformers (Ti, i = 0, 1,2), six
feeders (J), j = 0 , 1 , 2 . . . . . 5), 10 load points (Lk,
k = 0.1,2 . . . . . 9), 13 sectionalizing switches (SWi,
i = 0, 1,2 . . . . ,12). Our purpose is to change the open/
closed states of the 13 switches such that balanced
transformer loads and feeder loads can be achieved.
I1.1 Assumptions
(I) The loadings of all load points are known. Note that
only feeder loads are considered and the lateral loads
are lumped as a single load point on the feeder. In

87
88 Main transformer and feeder load balancing." Y. Jwo-Hwu

"1 f O LO L1 L2 fl E
EJ swo SWl sw2 sw3 L 3
f2
I Readin s%'stemdata

f5 SW12 SW4
2 Compute the performanceindex
L3
L9,
3 ComputeMAX(l.t optimal )
SWl 1 SW5

4 Performload transtkr
L8
L4

i SWI0 5 Recompute the performanceindex

f4 SW6
"] SW9 SW8 SW7

E J f3 L7 L6
L5 Yes ~ l s furtherimprovement in the
performanceindexby .~n~le
load transferpossible 9

['~ Main transformer × SWi : switch SWi Yes

~71s the perfo..... index i..... .';in8 ? ~
fi Feeder fi • Li : load point Li
~t No
Figure 1. A distribution system
~ 8 Is the absolute of
addition, if any switch position between two load MAX(Lt optimal ) increasing
points is infeasible, the two load points must be after a pressedload transfer
merged into a single load point.
(2) A balanced three-phase loading condition is assumed.
(3) The structure of the distribution network remains
fixed. Only the open/closed states of switches can be 0 Printout the requiredswitching operationsand slop
changed.
(4) No load point is left out-of-service. Figure 2. The proposed refined strategy
(5) Radial network structure must be maintained.
The algorithm proceeds as follows.
11.2 Definition of load balancing Step 1. Read in the distribution network structure, load
The purpose of this work is to identify a proper set of point loads, rated capacities of main transfor-
switches such that the loads on each transformer and mers and feeders and the open/closed state of
feeder can be made as close to the ideal loads as possible. sectionalizing switches.
In other words, we want to minimize the performance Step2. Compute the performance index. J = ET)
index, i.e. the sum of the squared load errors. Detailed ( A L T )2 + Er ( A L~ )2. Detailed de~riptions of the
descriptions of the performance index can be found in perfo~-rnance'~ndex'can be found in Reference 11.
Reference 11. The algorithm proposed in section 3 of Step 3. Compute MAX(Lt optimal) the maximum abso-
Reference 11 has succeeded in merging the transformer lute among the optimal value of load transfer
load balancing and feeder load balancing into a single for each open switch. Note that the source
stage in order to improve the efficiency. However, the feeder and the sink feeder for load transfer are
aforementioned heuristic search approach will give up ifa determined by the open switch incident with
single load transfer can not reduce the performance index MAX(Lt optimal)"
more. On the other hand. maybe a multi-load-transfer Step 4. Perform load transfer between the source feeder
can reduce the performance index. In this paper, a refined and the sink feeder. If the load of the load point is
algorithm for substation main transformer and feeder less than 2{IMAX(Lt optimal)]- the amount of
load balancing is proposed in order to reach a better load that has been transferred}, perform load
solution. transfer on this load point.
Step 5. Recompute the performance index.
Step 6. If further improvement in the performance index
by single load transfer is possible, go back to step
III. The proposed ref i n ed s t r a t e g y 3. Otherwise, proceed to step 7.
Figure 2 depicts the block diagram of the proposed Step 7. Check if the performance index is increasing. If the
refined strategy. answer is yes, go to step 9. Otherwise, go to step 8.

Table !. The performance index is equal to 34.0001, MAX(Lt optimal) = 2.25

To T, T2 ./i, A f., J3 A A
Actual load 2 7 1 0 3 4 1 0 2
Ideal load 3.33 3.33 3.33 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67
Load error - 1.33 3.67 - 2.33 - 1.67 1.33 2.33 -0.67 - 1.67 0.33
 Main transformer and feeder load balancing." Y. J w o - H w u 89

"1 f0 LO t:x L1 L2 fl ]- (2) In step 4, since the load of load point L6(= 1) is

E J swo SWl sw2 sw3 L

f2
less than {2(2.25 - 0)} = 4.5, load transfer is per-
formed on this load point. Then we consider load
f5 SWI2
SW4 point Ls. Once again, the condition load point load
(= 1) < 2 (2.25 - 1) = 2.5 is met and load transfer on
L3 load point L 5 is conducted. Then we check if the load of
L9,
load point L 4 can be transferred. Since
1 > 2 ( 2 . 2 5 - 2 ) = 0.5, load transfer on load point
SWI1 SW5 L 4 is not feasible. It is concluded that load points L 6
and L5 must be supplied with power from feeder f~.
L8, Therefore, we must open switch SW6 and close switch
L4
S W 8. The performance index is reduced to 14.0001.
(3) Since MAX(L t optimal) = -- 1.5, loads are transferred
SWIO
f4 ( SW6~ from the main transformer Tl and feederfl to the
SW9 SW8 SW7 main transformer To and feeder f0.

E' 3 f3
H 8.
L7
t: ~.
L6
;2 L5 (4) In step 4, since the load of load point L0(= 1) is less
than {2 (1.5 - 0)} = 3, load transfer is performed
on this load point. Then we check if the load of load
point Ll can be transferred. Since 1 = 2 (1.5 - 1) = 1,
1 • Main transformer x SWi : switch SWi load transfer on load point Li is not feasible. There-
fore, we must open switch SWI and close switch SWo
fi F e e d e r fi • Li : load point Li
as shown in Figure 3. The actual load, ideal load and
Figure 3. A distribution system load error are summarized in Table 2 and the
performance index is reduced to 6.0001.
Step 8. Check if the absolute value of MAX(Lt optimal) is (5) Since MAX(L t optimal) = --0.5, loads are transferred
increasing after a pressed load transfer. If the from main transformer To and feeder f5 to main
answer is yes, gc back to step 4. Otherwise, go to transformer 7"2 and feederf4.
step 9. (6) In step 4, since the load of load point
Step 9. Print out the required switching operations and L8 = 1 > 2(0.5 - 1) = - 1 , load transfer on load
stop. point L 8 is not feasible. Note that because single
load transfer cannot reduce the performance index
more, the solution procedures will stop here by
IV. Applications of the proposed refined using the algorithm proposed in section 3 of
strategy Reference 11. But we proceed to step 7 by using
The proposed refined ,;trategy has been applied to a the refined strategy proposed in this paper.
distribution system as shown in Figure 1. Note that (7) Since the performance index is not increased,
switches S W o, SWs, and SWig are open and the others proceed to step 8.
are closed. In addition, the load of each load point is (8) In step 8, pressed transfer load point L 8 from feeder
assumed to be 1 for convenience of demonstration. The .f5 to feederJ4 by opening switch SWll and closing
rated capacities for the main transformers and feeders are switch SWIg. Note that the performance index is
assumed to be 6 and 3, respectively. The actual load, ideal still equal to 6.0001 but absolute MAX(Lt optimal)
load and load error are summarized in Table I. The is increasing. Since M A X ( L t optimal) : 0.75,
performance index J = (-1.33) 2 + (3.67) 2 + ( - 2 . 3 3 ) 2 + loads are transferred from main transformer Tl
(-1.67)" + (1.33)- + (z..33)- + (-0.67) + (-1.67)- + and feeder ]i to main transformer To and
(0.33) 2 = 34.0001. The solution procedures are described feeder .f0.
as follows. (9) In step 4, since the load of load point Li (= 1) is less
than { 2 ( 0 . 7 5 - 0 ) } = 1.5, load transfer is per-
(l) In step 3, switch S W 8 is selected as the first open formed on this load point. Then we check if the
switch for load transfer since Lt optimal = load of load point L2 can be transferred. Since
{(-1.33) + (-1.67) - ( 3 . 6 7 ) - ( 1 . 3 3 ) } / 4 = - 2 1 > 2(0.75 - 1) = -0.5, load transfer on load point
for switch SWo, Ltoptimal = { ( 3 . 6 7 ) + ( 2 . 3 3 ) - L 2 is not feasible. Therefore, we must open switch
( - 2 . 3 3 ) - ( - 0 . 6 7 ) i , / 4 = +2.25 for switch SW8, S W 2 and close switch S W l as shown in Figure 4.
Lt optimal : {(--2'33) + (-- 1.67) -- (0.33) -- ( -- 1.33)} The actual load, ideal load and load error are
/4 = -- 0.75 for switch SWIg, and summarized in Table 3 and the performance index
M A X ( L t optimal): +2.25. In addition, the loads is reduced to 4.0001.
are transferred from the main transformer T l (10) Since MAX(Lt optimal) : --0.5, loads are transferred
and feeder f2 to the main transformer T2 and from main transformer 7"2 and feeder f3 to main
feeder f3. transformer T l and feeder f2.

Table 2. The performance index is equal to 6.0001, MAX(Lt optimal) = --0.5

To TI 7"2 Jo fl .]'~' f3 f4 -/5

Actual load 3 4 3 1 2 2 3 0 2
Ideal load 3.33 3.33 3.33 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67
Load error - 0.33 0.67 - 0.33 - 0.67 0.33 0.33 1.33 - 1.67 0.33
90 Main transformer and feeder load balancing. Y. Jwo-Hwu

Eq
E "1 f0 LO LI L2 fl I-- E "1 f0 L0 L1 L2 fl I-"
E3
/-x

J swo SWI SW2 SW3 •J s w o SWI SW2 SW3

SW4 f2 f2
f5 SWl2 f5 SWI2 SW4

L3 L3
L9, L9

SWII SW5 SWI 1 SW5

L8 L8
L4 L4

SWI0 SWl0
f4 SW6( f4 SW6
'I sw9 SW8 SW7 E] sw9 SW8 SW7

EJ f3:: L7 L6
L5
f3 L7 L6
L5

1"~ Main transformer x SWi : switch SWi ] Main transformer × SWi : switch SWi

fi Feeder fi • Li : load point Li fi Feeder fi • Li : load point Li

Figure 4. A distribution system Figure 5. A distribution system

(11) In step 4, since the load of load point L s = 1 > 2 V. Conclusion

(0.5 - 1) = - 1, load transfer on load point L5 is not
feasible. Since single load transfer cannot reduce the
performance index any more, proceed to step 7.
(12) Since the performance index is not increased, proceed
to step 8.
(13) In step 8, pressed transfer load point L 5 from feeder
.[3 to feederf2 by opening switch S W 7 and closing
switch SW6 as shown in Figure 5. The actual load,
ideal load and load error are summarized in Table 4.
Since the performance index is still equal to 4.0001
and the absolute MAX(Lt optimal) is still equal to 0.5,
proceed to step 9.
(14) In step 9, print out the required switching opera-
tions and stop. Since the performance indices in
Figures 4 and 5 are equal, the operators can select
one according to the other system operation
requirements.
Note that a performance index equal to 6.0001 is a local
minimum. Since a single load transfer cannot reduce the
performance index more, the solution procedures will
stop when using the algorithm proposed in section 3 of
Reference 11. However, the performance index is reduced
to 4.0001 by using the proposed refined strategy.
A refined strategy has been presented in this paper to reach
the desired switch operations for balancing substation main
transformer loads and feeder loads. The following conclu-
sions can be made, based on the results from this work.
(1) Feeder reconfiguration is necessary to achieve load
balancing under the constraint of the capacity limits
of transformers and feeders due to time-varying
load patterns.
(2) It is inefficient to perform transformer load balan-
cing and feeder load balancing individually.
(3) A characteristic feature of the proposed approach in
section 3 of Reference 11 is that transformer load
balancing and feeder load balancing are carried out
simultaneously.
(4) The aforementioned heuristic search approach will
give up if a single load transfer cannot reduce the
performance index more. Therefore, the solution
may only be a local minimum by using the proposed
approach in section 3 of Reference I 1.
(5) The refined strategy proposed in this paper can give
a switch operation for feeder and transformer load
balancing which is better than the results from the
proposed approach in section 3 of Reference 11.

Table 3. The performance index is equal to 4.001, MAX(L t op~maJ) = - 0 . 5

To T~ T2 fo fl A f3 f4 J~
Actual load 3 3 4 2 1 2 3 1 1
Ideal load 3.33 3.33 3.33 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67
Load error - 0.33 - 0.33 0.67 0.33 - 0.67 0.33 1.33 - 0.67 - 0.67

Table 4. The performance index is equal to 4.0001, MAX(L t opt~al) = 0.5

TO T, T2 .fo fl f2 J'3 .f4 f~

Actual load 3 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 1
Ideal load 3.33 3.33 3.33 i.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67 1.67
Load error - 0.33 0.67 - 0.33 0.33 - 0.67 1.33 0.33 - 0.67 - 0.67
 Main transformer and feeder load balancing: Y. J w o - H w u 91

VI. Acknowledgments
Financial support given to this work by the Education
Ministry of ROC and the Kung Shan Institute of Tech-
nology is appreciated.
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