Optimal Operation of Flexible Interconnected Distribution Networks

With large-scale distributed generation (DG) being integrated into distribution networks, the idea of using power electronic devices to improve distribution network operation have attracted increasing attentions. The transition of distribution networks into flexible interconnected ones, which contain considerable penetrations of AC/DC converters and soft open points (SOPs) is foreseen. In this paper, an optimization framework to improve the operation of the new form of distribution networks is proposed, where a novel searching technique is developed to determine the optimal set-points of the power electronic devices with increased efficiency. A generic power flow algorithm considering different modes of the controllable devices is presented, where the power flow problem is formulated into a set of nonlinear equations, and a globally convergent Newton-trust region method is adopted to solve it. Results of the case study demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed method.