Maximizing radial voltage stability and load balancing via loss minimization in distribution networks

Distribution networks have to be operated under minimized loss conditions due to economic reasons. Besides economic considerations, a reconfigured distribution network operating at a minimum loss condition has some added advantages in the form of increased voltage stability and load balancing. This paper presents the relationship between voltage stability and loss minimization in which it can be shown that voltage stability is maximized when power losses are minimized in the networks. A relationship between load balancing and loss minimization is also presented. A new load balancing index is proposed and applied to a distribution network to investigate the improvement in load balancing after network reconfiguration. Test results indicate that improvement in voltage stability and load balancing can be achieved by network reconfiguration.